The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-09

partitions, the paper shriveling into scrolls
There was an old picture in the passag,
with wreath of FIRE for frame, and a
he turned glance upon it a red tongu
licked out the face and powdered hair ant
white rufiles, and there was nothin" left
This room with red door-posts was hers
He knew it, He stood on the threshold
and saw at first only leaden smoke an,
scarlet blaze. Then low down on tn,
floor something the flames had not touch
ed yet-a figure in white.
"Ada " he cried, and seized it in hi
arms.
Then he sped back again, not KNOWN.
whether what he held was living woman
or a lifelcss form. His way was nov
through fire as well as through smoke
but he reached the window at last, anc
the crowd below welcomed him with erie,
aud shouts as he appeared upon the lad
der, his hair burnt, his lashes scorched
his clothing burning upon him.
The next instant he stood upon the
grass, and laid his burden down and un.
covered its face The FIRE had not touch
ed it, and it was the face of a living
woman. But as the eyes opened he saw
that it was not Ada He had saved the
life of young servant girl, who had come
to take service with the Romers.
She-Ada-was still in the burning
house.
With a wild cry he dashed towards the
door, which had at last been battered
down. A sheet of fame rushed to meet
him, and he fell scnseless to the ground
The next morning the Romer mansion
lay in ashes.
The poor girl who had been saved lay
raving 10 delirium, and unable to give ac-
count Of the origin of the fire.
And in the darkened rooms of the par
sonage the young minister lay suffering
and dis6gured upon whath the doctors had
little doubt would be bed of death.
Three weeks had passed since the fire.
There had been search among the debris,
but the bodies Of the old man and his
granddaughter had not been found.
There it lay, an unsightly heap, which
Reuben Eden was glad that he could not
see as he sat in his invalid chair by the
window.
The young clergyman was getting better,
and one day he would be quite we'll, but
at present he was simply wreck of his
former self. He was unable to take a
step alone, and his eyes had been so injur-
ed that it would be months before he could
read and write. Even the faces of those
about him were dim aud indistinct to his
vision. As for his heart, it would never
know peace again, it seemed to him, as he
kept saying over and over to himself
"lf had not quarrelled with Ada, she
would have been here beside me, safe and
well. She would not have been in the
old house when the flames destroyed it for
she would have been my wife,"
He was dreadfully miserable, and with
the irritability ola convalescent came a
delegation Of those kind, gossipy matrons,
who had nursed him so teuderly and so
faithfully. He wished them away with all
their inquiries and sick room talk, their
camphor and cologne and jellies and good
looks. And one day he confded to his
friend and fellow clergyman, old Mr..
Ormsby, that a man to wait upon him
would be q great relief
"The ladies are so oppressively kind,
you know" he said.
The other understood.
A few days after, little note was
brought to him by Mr. Arlington's wife,
who was then presiding over the sick-room,
and who, since he could not read it him
self, read it to him:
Dear Eden-I think you will find the bear.
er OF this letter very good nurse and attend.
ant The-Mission brought him over.
lie understands English perfectly, and is as
gentle as woman, and notas talkative. Try
him. ORNsRY,
"Let the young man come" said Mr..
Eden.
And forthwith entered little creature
with long blue cotton blouse-a costume
scarcely masculine in effect, with his long
hair braided in a pig tail, and his eyes cast
humbly to the ground.
Mr.. Eden engaged him at once, and the
lady members of the little flock were se-
cretly delighted.
Even clergyman, when he becomes as
cross as Mr. Eden was in his uucomforta-
BILE conyalescence, grows wearisome.
Ching Fo--a young Japanese-was in-
stalled at the parsonage, and in the little
slippers which he wore in the house went
noiselessly about his work, and petted and
nursed his master with a strange tender
ness.
He never spoke unless spoken to.
But when he was not busy, he liked to
sit on low stool close to Mr.. Eden's in
valid chair, and Mr. Eden liked the little
man well.
Once as he crouched there, the master $
thin hand was outstretched, and rested for
moment on Ching Fo's smooth head.
While it lay, the Japanese sat quite still,
and when it was about to be removed he
caught il and pressed il to his lips, and
showered kisses on it.
"He has very tender heart" thought
Mr.. Eden.
Winter has gone, spring has come.
All the grass about Laughing Brook was
green and fresh and tender. The Young