Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-05-19

a tumult in her brain. Do what she might
they came trooping in upon her ears, llk
unbidden guests. Over and over agai
she tried to Danish them. She sought t
stimulate her Imagination pleasantly abou
the future. She strove to think of he
new home and of love between her an
Luke daily deepening into calm, IN
broken, full-toned peace. All in vain
Turn where she would, the vista ended Il
tomb. At length, in despair, she close
the curtains on the setting moon, and
with plea of delivery from her fears
went to bed.
| At two O'Clock the moon set. A ligh
wind rose and blew the vapors from tn
plain and famed the stars into trembling
flame. Soft music wandered through vi,
trees. e.
Still she could not sleep. AS she lay, tn
striking of the distant clocks came to he
on the wind Three O'Clock drew Fear
The murmuring of the leaves, and fatigue
began to dull her hearing She was grow
ing drowsy at last.
II shall be asleep before three" sht
unused, dreamily, s:and when 1 awake il
will bs day, and he will come in the even
ing"
At half past three she awoke with VIC
lent start. She had had a fearful dream
which she was unable to recall. But there
had been great noises in it, great noises OF
bells and s.-outings of despair.
She sat up. The easement Was now
ute dark She brushed back her hail
and listened. All the clocks in the city
were striking together. What noise they
made in the silent night And how long
they continued striking! She had been
listening several minutes and they were all
striking still!
She pressed her hand over her face, and
rose and went to the window and looked
down at the city in the plain.
The air was cool and clear. The sounds
came fuller and deeper. No clocks now,
but bells. The bells of the city ringing an
alarm, and in the cor, Of the city red
patch like the hectic flush Oh a dull cheek.
Sonnet hing in the sound OF the bells and
sight of the fire stimulated her strangely.
Size drew back, dressed herself hastily,
and stepped with great caution out Of the
house, and stood awhile a. the low garden
VIII watching the throbbing spot in the
plain. She turned his eyes inquiringly from
right to left. No foot of man or beast
passed over the grass! Drawing her shawl
tightly around her she descended to tile
path and moved rapidly in the direction Of
the bridge. When she gained it she lean
ed over The parapet.
The clamor of the bells could now be
more distinctly heard, and she could see
that a great fire WAS raging in the most
populous part of the city. A vague ter
ror took possession of her. His words were
still wandering through her mind. His
talk of death now seemed pertinent pre-
face to a great catastrophe. Driven by the
breeze the fire crept in the direction of the
glen. His house lay straight in the way
of th3 flames. Where was he now? Had
those awful bells aroused him? Was he,
like her, looking at the conhagration, or
was he sleapinY in the patti of the
destroyer.
She turned her white face to the calm
stars and then glanced round the glen. She
felt half conscio us that her alarm was ex-
aggerated, that the risk was slight but as
often as she quoted her heart some silent
spectre seemed to point to the city, and
some mysterious voice cried out she knew
not what. fearless and terrified, size
grasped the parapet and watched. Her
nerves tingled and her breath came quick
and short. At length a last volume OF
smoke, and sparks, and flame shot into the
air. Then for d while the fire abated, Pres
emily bitter, eager tongues flew up towards
heaven nearer to his house, closer to where
he, perhaps, lay sleeping and dreaming Of
her. The effect WAS electrical. She had
no con .ciousness of having moved until
she found herself at the end of the glen
beginning to cross the plain. For one
brief moment the threw herself on her
knees and lifted up her hands and heart.
Then she rose and ran onward, without
looking right OF left.
Luke had hoard the first alarm. He had
risen and gone out. The fire originated in
a large carriage mandatory. Full of in
flammable substances, the place burned
with amazing fury; nothing could save
that building. All efforts were directed
to arresting the spread Of the element.
But, aided by the wind, it soon extended
its lines until.one whole side Of the street
was blazing.
Luke had been among the earliest vol
unteefs. The fire brigade was entirely insult
flcient to deal with so colossal an:enemy.-
Therefore the rank and file Of the brigade
became captains of amateur bands.
When the ruin had reached the end of
the street people thought it would travel
no further. The flames were not long
enough to bridge the roadway A barrel
of varnish, saved from the carriage manu-
factory, had, with other salvage, been
thrust into an arclway under house on
the opposite side. Suddenly, when all bad
begun to hope the worst was past, came d
dull explosion from the archway, and g
roaring mass of flame broke out of it into
the street and up the front Of the house
like an inverted cataract. A wild cry OF
terror burst from the people as they dashed
backed in dismay.
"My daughter ~ shouted an old gray
bearded man, breaking from the gen
eral mass of the crowd and standing il
front Of the doomed house.
"Any one there ?" demanded fireman
standing by.
eyes; my daughter! My daughter
Jane! Help, for Heavens sake Look
She is at the Window