Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-05-05
darting out in long fiery tongues from half

darting out in long fiery tongues from hal
the upper windows, while at several there
were people crying piteously for help.
fought my way through the crowd, and
tried to run up to the house, but half dozen
officious people held me back, while Tx
men with the fire-escape tried to rear i,
against the house but it would not reach
because of the garden in front, so that they
had to get the wheels of the escape over the
iron railings, and this caused great delay
Let me gow | painted to those who held
me. "Let me go! Some one---some one in
the house."
As l freed myself from those who held
me, and ran to the escape, it was to find
that the man who had assembled it had just
been beaten bac!, by the flames.
It's no use," he said; "we must try the
back"
He was about to drag the machine away.
when l heard my name called: "Dick
Dickw in piteous tones, and as l was once
more seized, l shook myself free, rushed up
the ladder, with the flames scorching and
burning my face and, painting and breath
less, l reached window where Matte
stood stretching out her hands.
l got astride of the sill, the flames being
waited away from me, and threw my arm
round.her; but as did so the ladder gave
way, burned through by the flames that
gushed furiously from the lower window,
and l felt that must either jump, or try
and descend by the staircase.
There was no time for thinking SO
climbed in lifted Matte in my arms, feel
ing her dress crumble in my hands as
touched her, and the horribl. odor of burnt
hair rose in my nostrils, and saw her wild
and blackened face turned to mine.
"Dick, Dickw she gasped, "save me p
and then she tainted.
Getting good tight grip of my treasure,
l rushed down the burning stairs, feeling
them crackle ard give way as l bounded
from one to the other
1t was fiery ordeal; but in few sec
onds was below the flames, and reached the
hall, where, painting and suffocating, !
struggled to the door, reached it, and fell.
If | could but open it, | knew we were
saved. But was exhausted, and the hot
air caught me by the throat and seemed to
strangle me- raised my hand to the lock,
but it fell back. beat feebly at the door
but there was only the roars of the flames
to answer me; and as made one more su
preme effort painting and struggling to
reach the fastening, l was, as it were
dragged back by the weight of the burden l
still clasped to my breast.
1t was more than human endurance
could bear, and felt that the end was near,
and, to make my sufferings more poignant,
Matte seemed to revive, struggling with
me for her life, as she kept repeating my
name, and clung to me, till
Dick---dear Dick wake; pray, wake? E?
Are you ill?"
started up, to find Matte clinging to
ne; and clasping her tightly to my heart,
L great sob burst from my breast, as l kiss
ID her passionately again and again, hardly |
,ble to believe my senses.
"Oh, Dick" she painted, "you did fright
N me SO. 1 couldn't stay to supper at the
dear; for could do nothing but
hink about your sitting here. alone, and
ross with me. So---so---so, was 80 miser
bile, Dick, and 1 slipped away and came
lome, to find you lying back here, painting
nd struggling; you wouldn't wake when l
hook you. Were you ill.,"
"Oh, no; not at ALL" said, as I kissed
er again and again, feeling now, for the
rst time sensible of smarting pain in one
Dot.
you've burnt yourself, too, Dick; lock
your foot. il