The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-04-18

. D-NNASA~3 - Ate-O NOutcMpkuCud UlQ9
in her manner; aif.a woman is only
usefulp'
81 hope you don't think we were
born merely to be ornamental, nv
dearp said 1.
81 don't know-peghaps," she an
sWered pettishly; ''there-the cruel
! is made"
I carried it up to Aunt Hannah
in the best china bowl It was "de-
lightful," just the flavor exactly;
just what she had been wanting so
long. What a treasure 1 Wasl and
now she was sure she should get
well, for nothing had tasted like that
Cruel Why, where did you learn
how, my dear-you were never sick
or with sick people?'
She was at the last spoonful now,
so / gathered courage to say. as /
took the bowl and turned away. that
| IInever made a dish of eatable cruel
| in my life-that Blanche Heath made
it.
Her face relapsed into wrinkles.
"Wouldn't q touched q mouthful
if Pd q known il" said Aunt Han
nah, with a disguised air; whereup-
on, in my small way, and with due
Difference to her superior wisdom, 1
gave her a lecture upon tile sin of
prejudice, and almost won her over
to think well of my favorite.
At the tea-table that evening
Blaneh looked eharming-not girl
ish, but youthful; and the gentleness
of her manner would, I was sure,
make a pleasant impression upon
Uncle Dash. / missed the wit and
sparkle Of her conversation, and it
was evident she felt herself in the
presence of one who had misunder-
stood her, and was perpetually on
her guard. Once she alluded to
some little incident that lighted his
whole face with hardly-suppressed
merriment, and I was almost certain
he was thinking Of aDash Dasher,"
etc, but he said nothing, and Blanche
looked as ifshe wished herself away.
Il shall only stay till tomorrow
she said, as we left the table togeth-
er. "Don't try to keep me; If you
do Pn run off and go home"
Very we'll; well see when to-mor-
row comes" was my reply.
Grace, the old cook, came up for
orders, after tea
sPm not past usefulness yit, Aunt
Anne" she said to me, 'though nv
cruel don't suit"
"NoW Graeep exclaimed Aunt
Hannah, with a reproachful glance.
Claw, Miss Hammer, don't mind
me" Whimpered Grace, who idolized
her mistress, "Pm past eighty, you
know" She went closer to the bed
side, and looked .Eistfully down into r
the little careworn face.
81 kissed ye often when ye we're
a little one" she said, a strange,
yearning look in her eyes.
"Kiss me now, Grace; Just fancy
I'm little one again." said Aunt
Hannah.
"The Lord ha' mercy on US allr'
she said solemnly, and was gone.
81 shouldn't wonder" said Aunt
Hannah. in a low voice, "if Grace
was going to die"
I sat up late that night reading,
while Aunt Hannah slept. The
house was very still as houses in
the country are. I heard Uncle
Dash lock up the house-he always
carried the key to his study. Twelve
O'Clock struck; Aunt Hannah still
slept. I fell into a doze by the side
Of the bed. How long I had been
asleep l can not tell, but I was rude
ly Wakened.
81 had to shake you dear," said
Aunt Hannah; "there's trouble-I
heard a frightful scream. What
shall We dof"
/ Isprang up; the cry was repeat
ed it was the voice Of Blanche.
"My dear, there's unusual light;
it's not the moon, it's firer scream
ed Aunt Hannah, sitting bolt up
right. "The Lord have mercy on
us! And we so far from the town"
/ flew into the hall. The atmos-
phere was sitting. Presently,
Blanche met me, nearly dressed, her
eyes wild and glittering.
dts on the study foor!' she gasp
ed, ''all that wing is on FIRE; it has
just broken out in my room. Don't
for the love Of heaven open the
door! it will feed the fame. The
smoke made me stupid. If I hadn't
heard Grace! o, Anne, poor old
Gracew she sobbed. "What shall
we do? how shall We get your aunt
out? and where is your uncle2 o,
Anne! his sleeping room is on the
study floor, and we have not heard
him yet. Surely if he had escaped
he would have warned Us. Hark!
hear the flames roar! God help US!
Quick, Anne, we must take your
aunt down before the fire gets
through. o, my God, what nightP
We hurried into my aunt's room
nearly frantic, Blanche shouting
afrei' all the way. 1t seemed to
me as if they must hear it at the
town when her voice sounded loud
and shrill from the open window.
We helped poor, beWildered, Aunt
down stairs, the fire follow
ing us, u1did the fastenings Of the
pallor window and were soon out
side.
80, Anne! can nothing be saYed2
must the dear old house goY' cried
Blanche, white with terror. Sand
poor old Grace burned to death, and
your uncle'-she caught her breath.
l flew round to the wing where
the study was, half delirious with
The horrible sight!
The whole interior Of that part Of
the house was a mass Of Whirling
red fame. Where, indeed, was my
unelep He would not have gone for
help, leaving us in danger. I was
almost paralyzed with dread-it had
all come so suddenly. Aunt Hannah
elung to me half fainting moaning
her brothers name.
At that moment the clang Of the
church bell smote upon the night
"They know it noWi" cried
Blanche. "ToO late! too latei hear
.he fire roarl o, what pitiless de-