The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-08-02


sitting Presently Blanche met me, nearly
dressed, her eyes wild and glttCring
ITS ON the study floor" she gasp.d, "all
that wing is on fire; it hns just broken oUt in
my room. Don't for the love OF heaven open
the door it will feed the flame. The smoke
made me stupid. If hadn't heard Grace,
o, Anne, poor old Grace" she sobbcd "Nhat
shall We do? how shall we get your aunt out?
and where isyour uncle? o, Anne, his sleep
ing room is on the study floor, and we have
not heard him yet Surely, if he had escaped
ne would have warned us Hank, hear the
your aunt down before the fire gets through
., my God what Il night"
We hurried into my aunt's room nearly
frantic, Blanche shouting Fire! all the way.
1t seemed to me as though they must hear it
at the town whoa her voice sounded loud and
shrill from the open window We helped
poor, bcwldcred Aunt Hannah down stairs
the fire following us, undid the tastcnings of
the parlor windows, and were soon outside in
the open air.
80, Anne, can nothing be saved must the
dear old house co." cried Blanche, white
with terror, "And poor old Grace burned to
death, and your unClc'-shC caught her
breath.
| flew round to the wing where the study
was half deliriOuS with apprehension. The
awful, horrible sight, The whole interior Of
that part of the house was a mass of whirling
red flame Where, indeed, was my uncle?
He would not go for help, leaving us in dan
ger was almost paralyzed with dread
it had all come 50 suddenly. Aunt Han
nah chung to me half tanting, moaning her
brothers. mare
At that moment the clang of the church
bell smotc upon the night
They know it now" cried Blanche TOO
late too Late Hear the fire roar o, what
pitilcss demons the flames are! and see how
the brands and sparks are falling! Carry
your aunt to the field yondcr poor soul, all
Is lostr'
Aunt Hannah at these words seemed sud
denly to lose what little strength she had {;
between Us, Blanche and bore her out of
danger and laid her upon the ground
This is too dreadful moancd Blanche,
whose great fearless eyes were strained and
bioodshot. See, now the people are coming.
How it lights their faces up, she added shUd-
dcring
They can't save anything-thc whole
house j., in tlamcs-,cc them work can't we
do something, Anne: | shall 90 mad if
don't ., Anne, where is hc:'
lid nv r,cr
~ 81 y:ilI ,,jU fail, about him NOW. that he
iy como, will saw he wa, fLc dearest hest
most rnh'o rrnotnrr God ever made O An,
me, Anne, God only knows how loved him"
and with a cry that embodied all the bitter
Jin% and moonin@
a. ro int me- t7l,o Lrr s,iI % voice flat
sent a sbnddcr and thrill tbrourL every vein
81 nv, Lo9rt I turned there stood fine rector
and Ami Hannah sobhinr IKE q child
"RIanchr i've i, brrrr I cried ioyrnIIy.
ulool, IN dear he is saycd"' but she did not
I,n.r me- shc Lad tainted cutie AWAY so |
mIacci her in III. arms. and he held her close
f. his heart nj, la,hrs wet his Inns oliycrinc
~ from ,Lr frlnc.s or his heart ne cave thanks
90 GJ and hn toIJ me hnidin% her still tiIl
,,nro I,o,n ramn how ne Ind lclt fine n9r,on.
nv" '1g' siralthiIy somewhere near the hour Of
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