Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-05

tracted with look of hopeless despair
And little wonder The house which he
had just left was noted gaming house
He had been tempted by bad companions,
and had gambled aud lost, lost far more
heavily than be could afford. One sin
brings on another. In the vain hope Of re-
covering his losses with the insane per.
suasion common to all gamblers, that he
must win In the end if he could but play
little longer--he had taken without leave
alarge sum Of his employers money, and
had staked il, and lost. And then, all at
once, horrible remorse, mad despair.
seized upon him. Now that il was too
late he saw the full magnitude Of bis
crime he knew too well that the money
which, when he expected TO be able to re-
store it secretly, be had thought Of as bor-
rowed, the law would call by very dif.
ferent name He knew now that, disguise
it as he might, the taking Of that money
was theft. Already he felt 10 imagina-
tion the officers hand upon his collar, the
handouts on his wrist. lie could see the
witnesses come forward to bear tcsti.
mouy TO his crime he could hear the voice
OF the judge pronouucing sentence on the
thief. He dared not meet the consequences
of his sin; and in his mad despair, fearing
to face offended man, he had resolved to
rush, by suicide, into the presence of an of.
Tended God. He was now hurrying home
to drink his last draught on earth, the
draugbt that brings the awful sleep whose
waking is eternity. With his hands clench.
cd, and his hat crushed down upon his fore.
head, he was rushing madly on, when he
heard sound Of shouting, and the tramp
Of galloping horses. He looked up, and
saw that the sky above him was red with
lurid glare-snd then runner passed him
with terrible cry Of =" Fire !" A house
was on fire on one of the streets through
which he had to pass, and with strange
feeling of reprieve, he turned aside from
the road to his death-to see the sight He
elbowed his way through the crowd, which
gave way right and left at the pressure Of
his muscular arms. The dwellers in the
burning house had been somehow got out,
and now stood half naked and shivering 10
the street. ALI, it was thought, were safe
but just as he reached the group there was
fearful shrek, for it was found that there
was one, the youngest, missing. The poor
mother sobbed and screamed, and was only
held back by force from re-entering the
burning house, and perishing with her little
one. The father, wringing his hands like
one distracted, offered thousand pounds to
the fremen, if they would but rescue his
child.
1t can't be done, SIR" said one of them
Not if you said hundred thousand, it
couldn't be done. The floors will fall in,
in five minutes, and it's certain death to
enter that house again"
The red fame was already shining through
the first floor windows, and through the
open door could be heard the roaring of the
fire, which was fast gaining hold upon the
staircase. A thought flashed across the
young mans mind, his minutes we're num-
bered, his life was worthless its last act
should be worthy Que, and if he persisted
in the attempt, he would be guilty of one
sin the less. With quick, eager questions
he ascertained where the child was. The
fireman Guessed his intention, and held. him
back.
1
wasting two lives instead of one. We're
not towards, sir, but this is certain death.
If you attempt it, the Lord have mercy
upon your soul !"
Amen J" said the young man and
throwing off the hands that held him back,
he rushed into the house and up the stair.
case, which cracked and cracked under his
feet
The fire was raging on the first floor, the
child was on the floor above. The first
floor landing was already in flames, but the
young man with fierce leap, sprang past
the burning spot, and in another second was
in the room where the child lay. The room
was already filled with smoke, and here
and there the flames were darting through
the crevices of the flooring. He could not
see the bedstead, but little frightened
voice sobbing, Papa, dear; do come,
papa z" guided him to the spot where the
child lay.
81 will take you to your papa, dear"
he said "don't be frightened" Then,
quick as thought he wrapped the little one
IN the blanket, and began to retrace his
perilous route. Quick, however, as he had
been, the flames had gained ground and
scorched his feet rs he stepped over the
burning floor. He rushed to the window,
thinking that by means of ladder they
might escape that way; but pouring from
the window below him was sheet of fame.
The burning staircase was the only road.
Tying his handkerchief round his mouth and
nose. to keep out the sufocating smoke, he
groped his way to the door. To his horror
he heard crash-one half Of the staircase
had gone.
A deadly terror seized upon him the
last hope of escape was lost. The life
which few minutes since had seemed
burden too heavy TO bear suddenly grew
unutterably precious. His eyes we're blind.
ed, his throat scorched by the thick, black
smoke, and the tongues Of fame were leap. |
ing up around him seeking to devour him.
With awful distinctness all the evil of his |
life crowded into that one fearful moment
shone out clear rs monday before his eyes
Instruction wasted, good advice spurned,
good resolutions broken rose up before him
and one and all seemed to drag him down
lost, lost, lost for ever and ever a mo-
ment since he had not dared to live, now he
did not dare to die. That awful horror
lent him almost superhuman strength.
Threading his way through the flames,
which were now rising all around him, he
crept down as far as he could, aud then
grsspng the broken hand-rail, swung him
self over, dropped as best he might, depth
Of some fifteen feet into the hall below.
Fearfully burnt, he had just strength--stll
holding his burden in his arms--to stagper
into the street, and fell senseless into the
firemans arms.
For many weeks he hovered between life
and DEATH in the inteDsest physical aud
mental agony. For the most part of the
time he was delirious, and haunted by the
memory Of that awful moment when, stand
ing on the brink of death, he had looked
over into the abyss Of eternity. As he
regained his reason a new terror came over
him, the dread Of the consequences of his
crime. He never woke without fearing to
6ud the officers Of justice at his bedside,
waiting to carry him before the judge
But this last fear had lost its former hor-
ror being, as it were, swallowed up in his ,