The Osceola times., 1883-03-31

around her, but as | did 40 the ladder
gave way, burned through by the flames
that glshed furiously from the lower
window, and ! felt that ] either must
jump or try and descend by the stair
case.
There was no time for thinking, so
climbed in, lifted Matte in my arms,
feeling the dress crumble in my hands
as touched her, and the horrible odor
of burnt hair rose in my nostrils, as
saw her Wild and biackened face turned
TO mine.
"Dick! Dick !" she gasped, "save me !"
and then she tainted.
Fortunately, ! was as much at home in
the house as in my own, and making for
the staircase through the flames and
smoke, reached it in safety but below
me was what seemed to be fiercely
blazing furnace.
Irecoiled for moment, but it was my
only hope, and recalled that the lower
floor was as yet untouched by the fire
It was the one beneath me that was blaz-
ing away so furiously.
so, getting a good tight grip on my
treasure, rushed down the burning
stairs, feeling them crackle and give way
as bounded from one TO the other.
1t was a fiery ordeal, but in few sec
onds | was below the flames and had
reached the hall, where, painting and
suiiocating, l 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 il fell back. | beat feebly at
the door, but there was only the roar of
the flames to answer me- and as | made
one more supreme effort, painting and
struggling to reach the fastening, / was,
as it were, dragged back by the weight
of the burden / still clasped to my breast.
1t was more than human endurance
could bear, and | felt that the end was
near, and to make my suficrings more
poignant, Matte seemed to revive, strue-
Cling with me for her life, as she kept
repeating my name and clung to me,
till -
"Dick-dear Dick wake; pray wake
Are you ill?"
started up, to find Matte clinging to
me; and clasping her tightly to my heart
a great sob burst from my breast as |
kissed her passionately again and again,
hardly able to believe my senses.
'Oh. Dick" she painted, "you did
frighten me so couldn't stay to sup
per at the Wilson's, dear, for | could do
nothing but think of your sitting herd
alone, and cross with me. So-so-so, |
was SO miserable, Dick, and | slipped
away and came home to find you lying
back here, painting and struggling; you
wouldn't wake when | shook you. Were
You i'll ?"
ooh no, not at all, | said, as / kissed
her again and again, feeling now for the
first time sensible of a smarting pain in
one of my feet.
"You've burnt yourself, too, Dick look
vt your foot"
must have been in contact with the fire,
and it was burned completely off.
"But, Dick-dear Dick" she whisper
ed, are you very angry with your little
wife for being such girl ?"
| could not answer, only thank God
that my weak fit of folly was past, as |
clasped her closer and closer yet.
"Mattie," ! whispered at last, in very
husky voice, "can you forgive me for be-
ing so weak?'
could say no more for the hindrance
of two soft lips placed upon mine; and
while they rested there I made vow l
hope | shall have strength to keep, for
real troubles are so many, it is folly to
invent the false.
At last, when | was free, / took the
rose from where it nestled in her hair
and placed it in my pocket book, while,
in answer to the inquiring eyes that were
bent on nina, merely said
"For a memento of fearful dream"
By the way, never finished that
pamphlet