The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-08-17
he was a very proper person to keep

Doing hlpWu W las EVuLA LuE tne
night he went to bed and was soon
asleep. Rowena went the rounds OF the
house with Bridget, and secured every.
thing as we'll as she could, after which
she shut herself in her chamber. She
felt wakeful and anxious, and when she
tried to rest, her pillow seemed to
burn under her head. She heard tho
clock strike ten, eleven, twelve, and
then che arose and slipped on her wrap
per and sat down BY the window TO
watch. She had waited there perhaps
a quarter Of IN hour, when dark OBJ.
ject in the garden by the grape-arbor
fixed her attention. It was perfectly
motionless, and Rowena could not dis
tinctly make out its shape, but she was
sure Il did not belong there,
II was not horse or o COW, for she
had heard no noise, and such q creature
/ In the garden would be sure to be feed.
ing. II hardly resembled a man, for IL
was too short aud too thick. Rowena
watched and wondered till presently
the figure moved and went crouching
along the garden wall TO the small barn
in the rear OF the house. Thoroughly
terrified now, Rowena ran to Aaron's
room and knocked hurriedly on the
door.
she called. "Get up this minute.
Somebody's gone into the barn. o
dearl" JllH
Aaron sprang out Of bed and drew on
his clothes in trioe.
"Dou't be frightened" he said,
encouragingly, as he slipped by Rowena
down the stairs. Probably some one
has gone into the barn TO sleep on the
hay"
He lighted q lantern, unlocked tho
back door, and went out 10 the barn. It
was well he was not q second later.
Opening the barn.door he was met by
the sight and smell Of smoke, and rush.
ing In TO see whence II proceeded, he
found . small pile Of hay on fire in
front OF the horse.manger. In mo-
ment more the flames must have mount.
ed to the scafiold, and blazed beyond
human control.
Aaron ran TO the large stone tank in
the yard, and quickly tillinga pail that
stood by, he dashed water over the
burning hay, and this he repeated
several times. Five minutes OF active
effort sufiiced to put out the FIRE. Ro.
wena's watchfulness and Aaron Dykes
prompt courage had saved the barn,
and probably the whole homestead,
from destruction.
Then came the question, "Who and
where was the incendiary?" Some one
had been seen to enter the barn, but
no one had been seen to emerge from
1t. Picking up his lantern, Aaron
searched every part Of the building,
but made no discovery. Pshaw !"
said he to himself, ~ might have
known nobody would have set match
TO a barn and then stay in II to be
burned up. That fre-bug is far enough
from here by this time" ,t
He went back to the kitchen, where
he found Rowena and Bridget crouch.
| ing down together, both frightened
nearly out Of their wits.
"Miather Akron, / blaye me sowl
somebody come int the house f'gasped
Bridget, her teeth chattering; and
Rowena, unable TO uttera word pointed
to the baok.door,
Just then loud, piercing scream
from Willie's room completed the ter.
ror Of the poor female. Aaron rushed
from the kitchen, and bounded up
stairs-two steps at time.
"What's the matter ?" said he, as he
sprang into the chamber where tile lit.
40 dear, o dear |" .sobbed Willie,
convulsiyely catching Aaron by the
coat as he came near the bed, and
looked wildly at o dark figure in the
corner. A low, kissing sound came
from that part OF the room, and for an
instant the bold young man himself was
startled. He held to his lantern, and
by It's light he could distinctly see the
form Of q tattered old woman, with o
haggard face and long streaming gray
hair.
"Martho Cam !" exclaimed Aaron,
suddenly recognizing her, how in the
world came you here?"
I" Revenge revengel Didn't he help
heui NY VuLAtn w pllbou Auu w dthtu
piped the wretched old maniac, and
darting from the chamber she rushed
down stairs through the kitchen out Of
the house.
Pursuers were promptly put on the
track Of poor Martha Cam, whom, Of
course, it was no longer safe TO allow OF
large. She. was found in tho morning,
in the glen that had onco been her hid
ing-place--dead.
Nobody doubted now who II was
that had burned Simon Pinkham's barn.
When the merchant and his wife and
daughter returned from New York,
Rowena told them the story Of the
night adventure, and you may be sure
they listened to It with deep emotion.
1Aaron," said Mr.. Roman, one day
shortly after, "you have been q con.
slant blessing TO me ever since you
came into my employ"
Aaron's eye grew moist, and his lips
quivered.
"All that 1 am, and all that hope
to become in life," he answered, 81
owe 10 you, Mr.. Roman. my truest and
best friend. You took me when my
name had been robbed Of every virtue,
and my heart Of all light and hope.
False suspicion and slander had filed
my soul with passion and hate. You
saved me from acts Of desperation and
perhaps crime" ii.
The friendship so cemented never
failed. At his death, twenty years after
the event above narrated, Mr.. Roman
left his clerk the means 10 pursue
prosperous business, in which he readi-
ly gained wealth. His character, once
more rescued by his benefactor, grew