Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-03-27

i This done, up he went and in at tn
easement. Great clouds of blindin,
smoke greeted him as he entered; bu
he CROPPED his way on, shouting as b,
went. The flames were bursting through
the partitions, the paper shrivelling int,
scrolls.
There was an old picture in the pass
age with wreath of fire for frame, ant
as he turned glance upon tia red tongue
licked out the face and powdered hai
and white ruffies, and there was nothing
left.
This room with red door-posts was
hers. He knew it. He stood on thu
threshold, and saw at first only leader
smoke and scarlet blaze. Then low dowr
on the floor something the f1smes hat
not touched yet-a figure in white.
"AdaW he cried, and seized it in his
arms.
Then be sped back again, not know.
ing whether what he held was living
woman or a lifeless form. His way was
now through fire as well as through
smoke, but he reached the window at
last, and the crowd below welcomed him
with cries and shouts as heappeared up
on the ladder, 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 q living wo-
man. But as the eyes opened he saw
that it was not Ada. He had saved the
lifeDf young servant girl, who had re-
Gently come to take service with the
Romers.
She-Ada-was still in the burning
house.
With wild'cry he dashed towards
the door, which had, at last, been batter
ed down. A sheet of flame rushed to
meet him, and he fell senseless to the
ground.
The next morning the Romer mansion
lay in ashes.
The poor girl who had been saved lay
raving in delirium. and unable to give
any account of the origin of the fire.
And in the darkened rooms of the par
sonage the young miRjster lay suffering
and disfigured upon what the doctors
had little doubt would be bed of death.
Three weeks had passed since the fire.
There had been search among its 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 bet
Ter, ana one day he would be quite well,
but at present he was simply wreck of
his former self. He was unable to take
step alone, and his eyes had been SO
injured that 1t would be months before
he could read and write. Even the faces
OF tnose ABOUT him were dim and lndis-
tlnct to his vision. AS for his heart, it
wcuid never know peace again, 1t SEEM
ed 10 MIN, as ne Kept saying over and
over 70 himself: =,
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 destroy
ed IT, Tor she would have been my wife. Z"
lie was dreadfully miserable, and with
the lrrltabllity OF a convalescent came a
uetestatlon OF those Kind, gossipy ma
irons, VINO mad nursed him SO tenderly
anu SO iaitn!uiiy. lie wished them
away with all their inquiries and sick
room ta!k, tEelr campnor anu cologne
ana Jeilles and good looks. And one
day ne connded 10 MS friend and fellow
clergy man, old Mr.. Ormsby, that man
70 wait upon MIN "onld- De great re-
i1ei; In,
Ihe ladles are $3.50 oppressiyely
KIM, you Know. ne salu.
Inc otner understood.
"A rev days after, little note was
brought 10 hlm by MT. Arlington's wife,
VINO was then presiding over the sick
room, ana VINO, since he could not read
II nlmselI, read 1t to him:
Lear Eaen-l thlnk you Will md the
bearer OF thls letter very good nurse
anu attendanI. Inc " MISSION Drought
MN over. lie understands English per,
iectly, ana Is as gentie as woman, and
not as laxative. Try him. Yours,
- ORMsBY.
Let the young man come" said MT.
Euen.
ana Iorthwith entered little creature
win a long blue cotton biouse-a cos
ms long halr BRAIDED In pig tail, and
us Eyes cast numoly 70 tne ground.
MI. Eoen engaged MN az once, anu the
l laoy members Of ms little hock were Sc
clT,ly ueHghteu.
Even q clergyman, when ne becomes
as cross as Mr.. Eden was IN his un-
comfortable convalescence, grows weari-
some:
Cnlng fo-a young Japanese-was IN
ssalieo at the parsonage, anu In the lttle
Shippers wnlcn ne wore IN the mouse
went nolseiessly about his work. and
petteo ana nursed DIS master with q
strange tenderness.
ne never spoke unless spoken TO-.
But wnen ne was not busy, ne liked
70 slG on low stool close 10 MT; Eden's {
lnvaild cnalr, ana Mr. Eden liked the
ilt1ie man wen.
once, as ne crouched there, the mas,
ters tnin hand was outstretched, ano
restea Ior q moment on Cning Fo's
smootn nead. Wniie II lay tnere, tnt
japanese SAY qul.e SUI, ana When II Wai
aDout 70 pe removed ne, caugnt IL aho
psesseu y ~ 70 MS iips' anu sno"eleu KISS
eo gu II.
~, ne nas very tenoer heart' thougn'
MT. Eueh.
Winter nas goue, spring mas co,ne.-
Al the grass aoout LaugnlngrBrook e. wal
green, Ifesn anu tehuer: me young
leaves Hss were on ms trees AZ .ne WINDOW
lne young LII mlsSel, wnuse sisi9n va
yet uln, coulu near tne zap anu lIpp!t
" tne waoeI y t over '4e s.ones' =; H., ~.