Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-06-19

my horse with whip and voice until
he few rather than galloped, the
pace was far too slow for my excited
state of mind. Woods, bridges and
the Inoonlit. streams whipping bene'th
them, farm houses, where the deep-
voiced watch dogs were wakened by
the loud beat of hoofs, shot past me
like thingsin u dream, and ut last,
breAthless and painting, we clattered
up the long cause-wayed street ofthe
village near which lived. All was
dark and silent in the houses, and the
windows seemed to stare blank and
vacantly in the white moonlight.
Suddenly horse and rider appeared
at the other end of the street, and a
hoarse voice uttered Il loud cry, Fire"
AT the same instant, the church bell
was rung violently, and at once as if
bya u common impulse, the whole VII
lage started into life. Lights appear
cd in the houses. and hundred win
dows were dashed quickly up. saw
the white figures i'll them, and heard
voices cry, Nv hcrc!' Checking my
horse with L jerk whick threw him
on his hauuches, l listened Tor the
the reply.
"Craigsidc House,
Great heaven. NV worst fears
were realized. 1t was my own home.
| choked down the agony which al
most forced Il cry, and pressing on
ward with redoublcd speed, soon
arrived at the scenc of the fire. The
house was a large old one,and h II
reached il snake was issuing i'll thick
OF the second flat while fierce tongues
of flames were already lcaping along
the roof. a crowd of men were
hurrying conluscdly about with
buckets and pals of water. In the
centre Of group Of women | found
our maid, Mary, stretched Oh the
grass IN u swoon. "Mv wifew l eX-
claimed rs l rushed forward, "whcre
is shc!" "God knows, sir" said one
of the men; "we have tried twice to
reach the second flat, but were each
time driven back by the smoke and
4 m,
entered the house, and ran along tho
lobv. The stair, fortunately, was
built of stone, but the woodwork
on each side was one mass of crack
ling flame. Before l had takci
three steps il fell back blinded, faint
ing and half sutl'ocaicd with til,
smoke. Two men who had followed
me caught me in their arms and tried
to restrain me by force from cndrav.
oring to ascend again. "Don't at
tempt it, they said, You will onl!
losc your own lie. and cant SAVE
hers LET 20, You cowards!'
cried. as soon as could speak; and
with the strength OF madness, dashed
them aside. rushed up the stairs
and this time succeeded in reaching
the first landing i'll safety. The ROOM
which we used as our bcdcliambcl
led of to a small parlor which wa
situated on this flat. Cropping III.
way through the smoke | found tn,
door, but to my horror, it was lock
cd!I daShcd.myselfagainst it again ant
again, but it resisted all my efforts
To return as had come was now i'm
possible. and | knew that the oul,
hope of saving even my own life wa,
to go forward. Despair gave mt
strength: and lifting my foot strucl
1t violently against one of the lower
little. Another blow and it was
driven in. crrpt through the open
inr, but so thick was the smoke il
the parlor tha, could distinguish
nothing. "Maggie. Mag%r!!'' 1 shrik.
ed. "whcrc are vou:' hut no answer
3 WAS returned. Crossing the parlor
gained our bedroom door. To my
JOY. il was open. and stretched OH
the floor | found the apparently life,
les. form of my wife. bent over
her. aud on placing my land on her
heart. found it WAS still beating.
lifted her very ienderly and gently,
and carried her in NV arms to the
window. which | broke open. CT
what followed am only dimiv con-
scious;l have confused remembrance
of men bringing ladder. and strong
arms helping us down, and the pco-
pie cheering; but il is all very vague
and indistinct. NJ next rccollcc.
! tion is that of finding myself i'll my
fathers house all bruised and weak
but with my own life bending over
me, and tending me with loving
hands. We had been burned out OF
house and hold. Fortunately every.
| thing was insured; but even had il
not been so. had been content, sc
long as she was spared to me.
On the evening of the next day
when the short winter twilight was
fast closing round. and the first snow
flakes were falling. Maggie drew lit.
tie stool close to the couch on viii eli
| lay, thinking over the strange
events which have related. had
said nothing to anybody regarding
the warning which had so mystc
riously received, and when question
ed as to wliIt caused ne to return So
opportuncly. had always made some
cva>ive answer, for feared that Tho
reality would never have obtained
belief.
"Willie.'' said the soft. low vote,
of my wife, ''if you had rot come
homc''-
"Hush. my darling. Don't tall
like that for can't bear even to think
of it,"
"But it might have been. And dc
YOU know. Willie, had such :
strange dream OH that awful night?'
"a dream, Maggie: Tell me what
it was