The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-24

ried astride his neck an sold man of the
sea-" which he seemed incapable OF
shaking off. lie never goi uproariously
drunk, and never went on tipsy bouts
but he appeared to be afflicted with pc
riodical thirst, and at recurring periods
he would drink down large quantity
Of liquor-he was not connoisseur as
to the brand-drink ii down as tray
eler with parchcd throat. in desert,
might quaff down pure cold water.
1t was a cold, clear December eve.
ming. Hurley's mill was running night
and day TO keep up with the orders for
It's goods. The cozy little Office was
bright, warm and comfortable. Some
thing unusual had happened to Pepin-
his machinery had got out of order. lie
was sick abed, and Mr.. Hurley had SET
himsclf'this evening to unraveling the
accounts, which, since losing the untir.
ing Pepin's care, had been getting into
a slightly tangled condition. Just as Mr.
Hurley was well into his work, the of.
flee door opened, and, her cheeks ROSY
with the keen air outside, wrapped in q
scarlet cloak, and looking like modern
little Red Riding Hood, in came Lily
She first silenced the exclamation of her
father with a kiss, and then explained
that she had run in (Afr. Hurley's resi-.
dence was but short distance from the
MILD to pass the evening with him and
see him safely home. After few play
ful reproofs, Mr.. Hurley went to his task
again, and long silence ensued, broken
at last by his laying down his pen, look
ing up and saying:
"There if hadn't to 90 home after
that paper, I'd be done, Lily''-h he
stopped; the child was curled up in O
large armchair, her curly head resting
on one chubby hand, fast asleep.
Mr.. Hurley thought to himself: "Nev-
er mind-I won't wake her. It's but a
step. III go homo, get the paper, and
come down with the horse and sleigh,
and give her a ride back. So, shutting
the door softly, he went out. Passing a
pile of long bags of wool, as he was 60
Ing through the store-room on his way
out, he noticed by the dim light of a
swinging oil lamp, what at first glance
he took to be an old coat thrown in a
corner. But looking closer he saw II
was a man lying in limp heap, half OH
the floor, half OH the bags. Mr.. Hurley
knelt for moment beside the heavily
breathing figure, and then got up with q
vexed, angry look on his smooth, plump
face.
"Drunk againv' lac muttered. "The
man is irreclaimablc, afler all! |
shouldn't have thought to make a silk
purse out of a sow's ear" And leaving
Beclzebub in his lethargy, he passed on.
Ten minutes, perhaps, after Mr.. HIur-
ley stepped from the mill, small, grea-
sy-faced boy in the card room on the
second floor saw something that caused
his eyes to bulge out with wonder. II
was his duty TO feed one of the many
clacking monsters around him with
wool. He had put fresh supply of
provision OH its way to the insatiato
nav which never was full, and was sit
ting near the edge of the feed-board,
wearily knocking his heels together,
and possibly wondering what malign
fairy had presided at his birth, that he
should bc toiling away at night when
numberless children were being tucked
warmly in bed by loving mothers. Tired
of watching the whirring wheels before
him, he let his eyes wander to the cell
ing-let them run over the whitened
ratters, till they met the bell-rope com
ing down from above into the room.
Then they stopped. What was that blu
ish white coil coming down the rope as
If alive, clrcling round the rope, de-
scending slowly, with sinuous, graceful
movement? 1t came from above through
the small hole in the ceiling whore the
rope came through. What was it? The
smeary-faccd boys heart leaped to his
throat. He sprang from the board, ran
TO man in shirt sleeves standing near,
and pointed one little index finger at the
coil now growine black at its base, and
pouring down the rope like an angry
serpent. The man followed the bows
finger. His face blaMchel; he lost his
presence of mind, and opening his
mouth, above the clicking and clatter-
ing, uttered n wild yell OF 'Firew
The greasy-faced boy gave shrill,
echoing, frightened scream of, "Fire p'
dashed for his hat and coat, and loined
in the blind helter skelter scramble to
escape from the jaws Of the fiery demon
which lowered above.
Hurley's mill was lofty wooden
structure, Its tlmbers were old and
saturated with oil. Once ignited, il
burned like tar barrel. In few min
utes the whole front was ablaze, the
wild glare putting the soft moonlight to
shame, and turning night into day. The
crowd OF people which soon collected,
seemed incapable Of doing anything to
stay the progress of the flames. Men
who had rushed from warm, flre-side
corners stood back with their hands III
their pockets, chatting in groups, sur.
veying the burning building, estimating
the probable loss Ia the owner involved
in its destruction, and debating whether
or not he deserved TO lose 1t. Women
with shawls thrown hastily over theil
heads, and little children, with tccil
chattering in spite of the furnace of iir,
near by, clulching their gowns, stood il
pairs, laughing and talking, and making
the most of the show which the -mal
village seldom Afforded The fussy lit
tie engine, which came rattling TO thu
scene, was of no avail. It's water wa
only thrown upward to be sent back :
puff of steam by the intense heat.
Suddenly, loud, hoarse shout wal
heard in the distance; and the crowd
turning their heads from the dazzling
light, saw, coming down the long bill
which led to the mill, man who stood
upright in sleigh and lashed his horse
furiously onward. 1t was Mr.. Hurley
Down the white, smooth slope cam,
the horse with flying leaps over thc
snow. lie reached the mill, and Mr.
Hurley sprang out. While the horse
careered wildly past, his owner graspeC
by the arm a stout bearded man, who
came towards him, and said, in voic,
husky with excitement:
"Where is she, Holmes? Safe?"
"SafeT returned Holmes. Whoi
Is" the workman stopped; his jaw
dropped: white scared look crcpi 6vel
his r'u2l features.
"Caod God" said Mr.. Hurley, fierce
ly. ''llaye yon men stood here and le
the child burn up with tho mill? Didn'
you know Lily was fast asleep In the
officer Here, this way!"
Only the forcible efforts of Holme,
and the others prevented the maddeneC
father from rushing insanely into the
blazing mass.
"Let me go!" he shouted, struggling
In the strOnO arlna that hali him - u