The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-31

1ner6 was a rustic ana y nuLooA "a
lin, the sound of a light, springy step the
glimpse of fairy form, and Mrs. Winsie"
stood before me.
She was not very beautiful, but spark
ling and vivacious, with glow OF health
| on her cheek, and with the light OF health
In her eye.
The baby had reused now, to be sure
no more Of its quiet and calmness-no
moro of its thoughtfulness and serenity.
Its little form fairly f1uttered with plea
| sure. 1t laughed and clapped its dlmpieo
hands.
you've come to stay all day with me,
haven't you? And the baby had such
good company while mamma was gone,
hadn't it? ?'' she said, in light, ehirrtpy
way, that sent off the little fellow with re-
ncwed delight.
Her invitation had only seconded my
design to remove my bonnet and mantllta,
and while she sat down on the rocker and
took the baby, we prepared to enjoy the
day and each others society.
1 can't tell you what We talked about
No, it was not of balls, nor operas, nor
lions, nor sights. No, not a neighbor's
character was dissected. No, the infirm-
ities of the clergyman were not shown
up. No, not tnorsel of private scandal
was cut and carved. But the time heW
swiftly and pleasantly after dinner, and
when the great round sun was sinking be-
hind the trees that burned and glowed in
the rich, warm Light, she came to where
was sitting, and without a word, laid a
portrait upon my lap. 1t was that of a
noble looking man, with expressive and
| faultless features.
sIs chat your husband ?'' asked.
MY husband asa he was" she answer
ed, heaving little sigh. You have seen
him ?''
replied in the negative.
''You will remain with me this even
| ing?''
replied that should be happy to form
! his acquaintance, and again looked at his
| portrait.
''He doesn't look like that now," she
| answered, wiping away q tear, ''yet he says
| he shall ever have cause to bless the fire by
which he list his good looks, but which
| won him what he esteemed thousand
| times more valuable"
''What was it 2'' l asked, with ttiac-
| countable dullness of apprehension.
She pointed archly, with atsmile, to her
| wedding ring.
'EDO tell me the story-l should be de-
| lighted to hear it..
| Again she smiled, saying:
II do not know that you illsconsider it
| very interesting however, several reasons
| conspire to make me wish that you should
| know all, and since you have never heard
| it, perhaps l may as well tell it to YOU"
| Certainly, certainly"
gan his attentions to me, l wasn't at all
! pleased. He was handsome, l knew, but
| had set my mind, very foolishly, upon
having n rich husband, and one that could
| keep me above the necessities OF work.
So | slighted and repulsed him on all Oc-
| casiOns, treating him not merely with in
| difference, but with actual loathinE and
scorn. Such treatment, one might have
supposed, would have quickly Oblterated
| his passion; on the contrary, however; it
only seemed to increase it.
| 'About this time | formed the acquain-
tance of a city gentlemen, whom rumor
reported immensely rich, and whose in
tense selfishness was veiled beneath man
ner of the utmost suavity. His attentions
to me were marked, and not to be mista-
ken-and though he had not spoken OF
love, he looked and acted it, and believed
in him.
SIT was in October, think the atmos-
phers was dry and cool, with night winds
when, as We were returning from party,
late at night, | was surprised and shocked
at the appearance in the distance of q red
light that seemed to climb the sky and
quench the very stars. A wild and awful
presentiment OF approaching evil at the
} same instant crossed my mind.
| IF that should be our house I almost
| shr, e+ed.
"tlNGrsense !; it is much farther off, ex-
claimed Barton.
| s.Rut was not satisfied, and Ikhurried
| on eagerly, q Tagging him with me.
eve came nearer, nearer. My fears
| uere all too true IT was indeed our beau
| +;r,I bop,e 1vraDneo in one broad sheet of
| smoke and flame, or with iorked tongues
| lappinp the pillars and shooting from the
windows, while up at one of the skyilghts
| my mother was standing i'll L er u lght dress
| s'With one wild shrek I cz.!led the at
tention of the crowd to her SITUATION
| Hundreds of people by this time hid col
lected, though chiefly, as it seemed, Tor
the qualification of their curiosity. some
| were running with ropes and ladders, while
many others were shouting and giving or
ders, which no one seemed inclined to
obey.
"'My mother my motheri' I cried.
| will no one go to the assistance % my
mother?
"Every moment the flames increased
with astonishing rapidity, surging and
roaring like q sea Of storm. Still my moth
er stood there surveying the scene with
the resignation of a martyr.
Barton! Bartonr shrieked, for Gods
sake help my motherP
I 'fHe stood still.
81 implored and urged him. At length
he turned toward me with frown, and
said
''I cannot risk my own life to save even
your mother
"Great heavens and have loved this
man.
s:The thought rushed heavy and seeth-
ing through my brain.
There was shout, an exclamation, an
utterance of brave, strong words. Some
nervous arm had placed ladder, and a
man was rapidly mounting-on through
the dense smoke wreaths-throngh SINCE
ing flames, scorched by the intense heat
The crowd swayed and murmured like
wind-swept wave.
'sHe appeared again. saw my mother
in his arIns-I knew that she was saved.
There was a crash of the roof mingled
with exclamations-a great. mist swan be-
fore my eyes-a noise not unlike that of
the roaring flames, was IN my ears, and
lost the consciousness of surrounding OBJ
jects.