The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-05-02

home many hours, and sees the red glare
arising in the direction of his own house
without pang Of anxiety, il not of terror.
How well founded was this sensation in the
present case was made evident ere / had
walked another two hundred yards. Yes,
merciful powers, it was my house that was
on fire !
can scarcely record what followed
only know that somehow | found myself in
the midst of the police and firemen. That
| explained to the superintendent who
was, and that under his escort soon ascer.
tanned that all the inmates of my house, my
children, their governess, and the servants,
were in safety, and had been taken into a
Deig ghbor's at the rear that as soon as
found this to be the case, /, accompanied
still by the superintendent, mounted to the
top an adjacent residence, whence the fire.
men were directing the hose upon the
flames
Once on this vantage point my mind re-
verted to the white ohest. Was it still there?
Yes the Hames, though bursting out from
all the windows of the upper stories, back
aud front, had not yet done more than
wrench and crack portions of the glass case
For time it seemed as if this would be the
most that might happen. The water SEEM
ed to be getting the upper hand, and as it
fell in torrents on the hot roof such clouds of
steam were thrown up with the smoke as
would have completely hidden everything
from view, but that our position had been
skillfully selected, and was well to wind
ward of the burning mass. But presently,
amid the roar Of the flames, there came
dull, heavy rumble for moment, and then,
with tremendous ..crash, the roof fell in.
With it, of course, went the fragments and
frame work of the glass case, aud the now
charred and backened chest ITSELF | had
my eyes upon it at the moment, and down
it went deep into the obscurity of the dense
smoke and steam which always succeed ds to
the climax of a conflagration. For several
minutes nothing was TO be discerned through
the overwhelming wreaths of black gray
fumes. But presently, though the light
from the fire had been quenched, there be.
gan to be visible, by the aid of the increas-
ing light of the morning, the depth of this
pit of Acheron. Yet it was not so very deep
after all, for the fire having originated on
the second floor, the falling roof had only
crashed down as yet as far as the drawing
room, and there, when my eyes had become
accustomed to the spectacle of the ndescri-
bable debris, plainly beheld resting slant
ways across a stubborn remnant of wall what
had been the white chest it was now split
and smashed and its contents were reveal
ed
Good heavens what was it that l looked
down upon | turned my face away for Il
moment with a shudder, for there protrud-
ing through the splintered fragments of lis
once creamy white wooden case, was a large
leaden coffin, which in its turn melted and
bursting with the heat, displayed within
the unmistakable form of a shrouded corpse
was in the act of draw ing my companions
attention to it in horror, when suddenly
there flew up around it with redoubled fury
such a mass of flame and smoke that it was
entirely hidden, and soon the fire had so
spread and burst out again that the horrible
spectacle of this unintentional incremation
was shut from sight, and the house was fl
nally burned to the ground.
l pass over what Immediately followed af-
ter had made my way back to my friend
l,,a ah,la ,ub ba bary Of 10 IL a,
were snugly sheltered. In few days they
were settled again in another home, fortu-
nately not very much the worse for the ter
rible scare. In due course the time arrived
for looking into my losses, and when l was
doing so | received letter from Mr.. Gay
ling, who had come to town requesting an
interview. | was glad of this for foresaw
it must lead to some explanation of the
strange circumstances surrounding the agree
ment had signed. My curiosity as to the
contents of the white chest had been rudely
satisfied, it was true, but what had been the
reason of placing such an object in such a
place And this | was determined to find
out. Unexpectedly, Mr. Gayling disclosed
it to me Immediately we met. 81 have ask
ed for this interview, sir, he said, abruptly,
because / am ruined man."
But" interposed, Il am told you were
fully insured"
That has nothing to do with it he an
swered mo insurance can restore the
$4,000 year which lose by what has hap
pened. | am simply going to tell you GER
tain facts because when you have heard
them | shall put it to you whether you will
or not, out of your ample means, feel that
some compensation is due to me. The fact
is that it has been during your tenancy of
my house, and through accident or negli-
gence on the part Of some one for whom you
are responsible, that my ruin has been
brought about
81 don't understand you"
Listen, sir he went on, and you will. !
was brought up to the sea, and followed il
| till mid-life, for was entirely dependent on
my own earnings. My only relative at this
| time was an old uncle, also a sailor and a
| most eccentric man, as you will presently
Sec Fifteen years ago he suddenly came
into large sum of money never knew
how but he retired and took that house. Tie
had only been in it three years when NOR
tai sickness overlook him he sent for me
| Tom, said he, i am dying, and don't like
it ; not so much at the thought of death a;
at the thought of burial sailors grave
would not mind, but to be boxed up anG
thrust into the earth no, no, Tom, l won't
stand it. look to you to see that it doesu't
happen, aud | have taken measures to make
sure that you do see that it doesn't happen
I've made my will Tom. I've left you al
| | possess, but on one condition, and it il
that you are my heir so long as | am wei
above ground, and no longer-mark the
words well above ground Directly an
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