Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-02-20
wildly around in search of some means of es.

cape.
The shutters being dry, were already nearly
consumed, but the bars of thick, green wood
were only blackened and scorched.
Selling the candle.end she placed it on one
of these bars the heat causing it to melt al
most instantly and saturate the wood.
Now the flames seized on it greedily, curl
ing and creeping inward and upward, slowly
yet surely performing their mission. Now the
bar cracks-what terrible noise it makes
Bertha pants with fright, and gazes toward
the door, listening with every nerve strained
no, there is no sound, the housekeeper still
slumbers in profound and blissful unconscious
ness of what is going on near her The next
bar is blazing now also ; soon both will be con-
sumed if three of them can be removed she
thinks she can get through b the opening. Mean
while the smoke grows denser, and her nervous
fears increase.
The flames spreading outward, and growing
stronger in the fresh night air, progress stead
lily toward the corner of the house, finding in
the time-seasoned timber a ready prey. A
lurid glare now rises toward the sky, casting
fantastic shadows on the ground beneath the
trees in the dark shrubbery, and making the
tender light of the stars grow pale by con-
trast.
Now the whole of the wooden shutter gives
way, and falls outward, on the ground The
cold air rushes in, blowing the flames in all
directions and scattering, for moment, the
cloud of smoke Now there is sound in the
next room-surely the noise has awakened
Mrs. Ford, and in another instant flight will
be impossible. Quick as thought the maniac
applied light to the pile Of combustibles
against the door, then with desperate hand
tried the burning bars. Two have given
way-the third cracks, yields to her efforts ;
the flame and smoke blind her, and she is con-
scious of a terrible pain in her arm-her
sleeve is blazing, she feels the fire mounting
up to her shoulder, its hot breath scorches her
cheek; she loses all selfcommand, and stand
ing helpless in her terror, utters shrek after
shrek for aid. The shrieks are echoed from
the adjoining room; the door is burst open,
and the house.keeper, appalled, at the scene
that meets her eyes, and greeted by rush of
sufocating vapor, staggers back in bewildered
alright, screaming "Fire" and "Murder p
with all the force she can command.
In an instant the whole household is astir,
and hurrying footsteps, and voices raised in
terrified enquiry, echo through the long cor
ridor.
Another moment, and Stanley has caught
Bertha in. his arms; he tries to smother the
flames that surround her, but they battle his
efforts, and he looks vainly around for rug,
or blanket, or other heavy article to wrap her
in. He carries her, now insensible with pain
and fright to the bed, and rolls her over on
the mattress, and at last, after repeated en-
deavors, succeeds in crushing out the fire.
"My God |" he cried, as he bent over her,
"she is burned to death"
At this instant Lucy came to his side.
"Alfred!" she cried, in voice trembling
with terror, "tell me, who IS she?"
Stanley made no reply, but lifting the
scorched and unconscious form in his arms,
bore it from the burning room to place of
safety.
The whole of the west wing was now
blazing, and Stanley rushed out to obtain aid
in extingushing the conaagration. All was
noise, hustle and confusion the frightened
negroes ran hither and thither, hindering
rather than helping each other; household
goods were dragged out and piled up about
the grounds and, in addition to this bewilder-
ing scene of terror, there lay on sofa, in one
of the rooms furthest removed from danger, a
seemingly dying woman, around whom was
assembled a shivering, awe-struck group, not
one of whom could in any way account for
her presence there, or form the faintest idea Of
her identity. Lucy, in the midst of her fears
and perplexity, mechanically applied all the
restoratives she could think of, assisted by
Melissa, who gave vent without ceasing, to
CALCULATIONS Of wonderment; and poor little
Claude, rolled in large cloak, looked help
lessly on, shaking with cold and agitation.
After the lapse of nearly two hours, and
with much difficulty, the fire was at last put
out, but not beforea considerable portion of
the house had been destroyed, and other parts
injured almost beyond repair.
Toward daylight, Stanley was slowly pur-
suing his way to the house, having been on
an errand to one of the outbuildings, whittier
some articles of value had been removed.
"Good- morning, Mr.. Stanley" said voice
at his elbow. "Allow me to offer you my sim
cere coincidence, in regard to the misfortune
you have sustained through this melancholy
accident"
Stanley turned with muttered oath to en-
counter Leroy's keen, sinister gaze. In his
present mood, he was ill6tted to support an
interview with his enemy, whose mocking
voice awoke every fierce passion slumbering
in his heart
"Monsieur Leroy" he said brusquely, ~
am in no humor for conversation at present.
Will you do me the favor to let me proceed
undisturbed on my way?'
III am grieved to disturb you" said Leroy
in bland tones; "but indeed, Mr.. Stanley, l
joined you on purpose to have little CONVEX
sation and I don't like to be baked in my
aim. Cannot you spare me few moments of
your valuable time2"
"Now thundered Stanley, turning fercely
upon him. "Begone, I say, and don't tor
ment me any farther! Are there not enough
devils worrying and tearing at my heart al