Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-04-26

and was almost certain be was thinking Of
| "DRsh, Dasher," etc but he said nothing, and
| Blanche looked as il she wished herself away.
II shall only stay till tomorrow" she said, as
| We left the table together " Don't try to keep
me il you do, III run of and go home"
| Very we'll We'll see when tomorrow comes
Grace, the old cook, came up for orders after
| tea.
I'm not past usefulness yit, Aunt Anne, she
said to me, though my Cruel don't suit. 80,
Now, Grace exclaimed Aunt Hannah, Wild
| q reproachful glance
| "Iaw, Miss Hannah. don't mind me-" whim-
/ pered Grace who idolized her mistress, IN
/ past eighty, you know" She went closer to the
bedside, aud looked wistfuny down INTO the lit
tie care-worn face. man. >,
- kiesed ye often when ye were q little one,"
she said strange. yearning look in her eyes.
| Kiss me now, Grace just fancy I'm little
/ one again. " said Aunt Hannah.
| The old woman bent lower, touched Aunt Han
| nah'r forehead with her shrivelled lips, and left
| the room. At the door she turned back.
1.-The Lord ha mercy on us all J. she said
/ solemnly, and was gone.
| Il shouldn't wonder" said Aunt Hannah, in a
/ low voice, ''if Grace was going to die.
| sat up late that night reading, while Aunt
/ Hannah slept. The house was very still as
| houses in the country are. heard Uncle Dash
| lock up the house-he always carried the key to
| his study Twelve o'clock struck Aunt Hannah
| still slept. fell into doze blythe side of the
| bed How long had been asleep cannot tell,
i
| Il had to shake you, dear" said Aunt Hannah;
there's trouble-t heard frightful scream.
/ What shall we do I"
sprang up the cry was repeated it was the
voice OF Blanche.
my dear there's unusual light it's not the
/ moon-it's fire I" screamed Aunt Hannah, sitting
bolt upright 1.-THE Lord have mercy on us
| and we 30 far from the town."
l flew into the hall The atmosphere was
sitting. Presently Blanche met me, nearly
/ dressed, her eyes wild and glittering
ITS on the study-foorl" she grasped, "al
/ that wing is on fire it has broken ont IN my
/ room. Don't for the love of heaven open the
/ door! it will feed the flame The smoke made
/ me stupid II hadn't heard Gracel o Anne poor
i old Graoel" she sobbed. What shall We DOR now
shall We gel your aunt out and where IS your
/ uncle o Anne his sleeping-room ls ON the
/ study floor, and we have not heard linn yeC;
/ Surely IL he had escaped he would have warned
i u.s. Hark hear tho flames roar God help us
/ Quick, Anne we must take your aunt down Pc
/ fore the fire gets through. . my GOD. what
| We hurried into my aunt'a room nearly frantic.
| Blanche shouting - Fire" all the way. 1t seemed
/ to me as if they must hear 1t at the town Wheh
/ her voice sounded loud and shril from the OF en-
/ window. We helpedpoor, ,bewildered Aunt nan,
/ nah downstairs, the fire following u.s. undld
the fastenings of the parlor-windoWs, and were
i soon outside.
/ dear old house goy" crIed Blanche. white with
/ terror "And poor old Grace burned to death,
/ and your uncle" she caught her breath.
| flew around to the wing where the study was
half deiirious with apprehension. The awful, ,hor-
| rble sight The whole interior OF that part OF
/ the house was a mass OF whirlinB red hame.
i Where, indeed, my uncle he Woul1 not
i have gone for help leaving us in danger Twas
| almost parayzed with dread-it all come so sud
i denly. Aunt Hannah clung to me hatt tainthB'
moaning her brothers name.
| At that moment the clang of the church Dell
Il smote upon the night. ,u
i - lnO H. ~ cried Blanche. Zoo
| late Hear the fire roar Oh, what pitiless de-
mons tie flames are and see how the sparks
and brands are falling Garry your aunt to the
field Wonder; poor soul, all ID lost!
| Aunt Hannah at these words seemed sud
| denIv to lose what little strength she had
| between us Blanche and bore her out of danger
| and laid her upon the ground MT
| This is too dreadful !. moaned Blanche,
whose great fearless eyes were strained and
bloodshot '' See now the people are coming.
How it lights their faces up J she added shud- %
dering ''They can't save anythng-the Whoie
house is in fames-see them work cant we 40
something, Anne 1 shall go mad II don l.
o Anne, where is he ?" a.,
:" Don't Blanche" said, shuddering, and ma
my face; ov .h., he ia
gone ; l will say be was the dearest, best, most
noble creature God ever made. o Anne, Anne,
only God knows how loved5 him )! and win .
cry that embodied all the bitter agony, OF her
soul she fell into my arms sobbing and moan
q Anne. let me take her." said voice
that sent shudder and thrill through every vine
| Of INV heart l turned there stood the rector,
and Aunt Hannah was sobbing like child.
| blanche ia here !" cried joyfully look up
dear. he is saved" but she did not hear me, sne
had tainted quite Ieway, go placed her IN nus
| arms and he held her close to his heart, ms
flashes wet his lips quivering as from the 1uli-
ness Of his heart, he gave thanks to God, ana
he told me holding her still till more help came
how he had left the parsonage stealtmly sone-
where near the hour OF midnight and gone over
| to the church-study to look for some missing pa
pers how after long search, he hao Iound iii,
them and then the whim took him TO write IN
| the clock in the tower struck one that then ne
, ieft inc church for home, and when he had gone
| few steps he saw the fire, and thought It was
in the direction of the parsonage that ne ran
back long enough to give the hre-aiarm ahd
then hurried home. -, r
@Did YOU hear what Blanche said 2" l
whispered. / had no need to ask his race
was revelation. 1 learned that he had
loved her always--had struggled in vain 10
overcome the love which, to bm, seelneo al az
| most sin, because, apparently, she was 80 dll-
ferent from his ideal-so vain and worldly 3"
40 far away in heart and mind. Oh, how little
he had known of the sweetness, strength anu
4 | purity of the merry and true hearted glrl!
Amt Hannah was carried to Daisy Lodge:
Blanche recovered sufficiently to walk there
leaning upon the arm Of Uncle Dash. -,
{ There's another parsonage now, and aunt
| Hannah, who is an invalid still stays at DAISY
= Lodge with me. She ia very fond OF Blanche
i | and tells everybody who will listen, that nei
: brother has found prize in bis wife Bul
vino would ever have thought she ADDS
that a girl 80 full of mischief would make sncl
0 | an excellent woman!