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

A few started forward, and then shal-
ing their heads, shrank back into the
crowd. The risk was too great. Risk |?
II was no risk; itswas certain, horrible
death.
With the exception of narrow space
on the upper story, at the rear, the who'll
building was now wrapped in flames.
Over a door in this small, ,sdark spot, "a
yet untouched by the roaring, raging
flend which whirled and eddied around
it, and seemed every moment about to
engulf ii in its red throat, short bean
ran out, with pully fixed TO its end. 1t
was used for hoisting the long bags of
wool in the store room up to tho pickers
in the attic.
This door suddenly opened; and a
man staggered to the threshold so ab-
ruptly, that he barely missed topping
over. He appeared like vision to The
astonished eyes of the upturned faces
below, who surged round to obtain a
full view of him. How did he get there:
By what miraculous power had human
being been ablo 10 pass through fire
without being burnedp For the MAJ
appeared to be unharmed, though evi.
IDENTIFY choked and blinded by sulphur
Gus clouds of smoke around him.
With breathless interest his move
ments were watched by the people be-
low. Ho was half carrying, half drag
ging after him small figure cnveloped
i'll a red cloak-a small figure whose
golden hair foatcd out over its shoulders
i'll wavy masses. A great deep chee
was borne up to the mans ears, through
the black smoke and cracking flame, a,
the. crowd saw that he held Lily HurleS
In his arms.
But was he not too late? The fire
above him, below, and even behind, shot
out forked tongues, as if reaching out
after him-maddened to think he might
escape its fury after all.
"Can we help him?" each man asked
his neighbor eagerly. GA ladder! A
ladder!' Alas A ladder would moi
reach half the required height.
Meanwhile the man above was not
idle. Reaching out to the end of the
beam over his head, he drew In the
tackle towards him, and then after
second let 1t swing slowly out. A thrill,
and then hushed and anxious murnul
ran through the crowd as they saw he
was lowering human freight. The man
above held the rope in his hand, and he
paid it out swiftly. Lower and lower.
the golden tipped red bundle came down
till it reached the level of the hundred
arms held up to receive it. Then anoth-
er great shout went up. The little girl
was saved! In the general whirl of Joy
the man was forgotten for the moment
He was quickly remembered, however;
but, as all eyes were turning up to him
again, gust Of fire swept from the era
ter behind him, and hid him from view.
Then the flame rolled slowly back, and
they saw him wildly, blindly olutching
at the rope. Then another molten food
rushed over him, and shudder of hor-
ror thrilled the crowd, as a dark form
shot out of tho flame, and descending
swiftly, fell with sickening thud on
the ice, at the very feet of the nearest
bystanders.
Kind hands picked up the limp.
scorched, crushed form, and, bearing it
a short distance, laid it gently down on
the soft snow, while doctor pressed
forward.
A moment OF stiffness; then Mr.. Hur-
ley, wild with joy, now elbowed his
way through tho throng.
"Where is hc?" he cried, tears run
ming down his face. "Show me the
brave fellow. God bless his noble soul.
the money is ready for him. Who is
he"
"Ilush." said the doctor, rising from
the side Of the blackened figure exlond-
cd on the snow-"IIush! II is Dccl1c-
bub; and he is dead"