The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-30

time to sail, and how. often my heart failed
me, need not say. Enough that Joined
tne hlng Cole on the Doth. When passing
me IN tne evening on deck, Richard called
my husbands attention to me by remark
ing merrily:
None too handsome about the figure
mead, Ell! Not likely to give any of the
| boys heartache, is she?"
MY husband gazed after the spare figure
terest. AZ
Among the passengers was dashing New
YORK belle named Florence Greedy who in
sisted on my husband making love to her
by thousand coquetries, torturing me
WIN her glances, But Malcolm, as his
brother said, "like an insensate brute, .
| would not repay her witcheries with
the homage they doubtless deserved ed.
we had fair voyage, passed with
out anything worthy of notice. The
night before we landed Richard rem
dered me great service by saying to nv
husband: "Look here, old boy, if YOU
anchor at New York, and set up a crib of
your own, you will want woman of some
sort to look after your house. / wish you'd
take that timid, nervous soul, the steward
ess; she's lost aboard ship"
lcould have Rugged Dick when Malcolm.
IN his listless way, that was now habitual
to him, agreed to accept my services It
so much desired.
month later | was installed in a hand
some house, having under me two maid
servants. My husband had never ex-
changed dozen words with me- or glanced
my way as many times. Dick had ar
ranged everything. And now | passed
three months in watching nv husband
working himself to death in his new nrac-
tice.
despaired of ever having sufficient
courage to make myself known to him, and
lat.S one night sat down to write to Lady
Janet, asking her advice: After writing
my letter l tried to read in my garnet
under the roof. Then hearing my husband
retire to his chamber, put out my candle
and went to bed, where L fell quickly
asleep, worn out with thinking and sorrow.
[ don't know how long [ slept, but l was
awakened by sitting sensation of heat,
and heard fearful cries of "Fire!" and l,
away from every one else, was up in a
small room, close under the roof.
| dashed open the window, but there was
no way of escape from there. flew to the
door, but only to behold there a sea of fire,
with flames leaping forward, as it seemed,
to caress me. | shouted madly for help,
but heard no reply, save the hOarse shouts
of the mob and the thump-thump of the
engines. Then, remembering ladder that
led out on to the roof, | crept toward it,
and had only gained the summit when the
floor fell in with fearful crash.
Springing to the parapet, | waved fran
tically the blanket had wrapped around
me, and screamed loudly for help. A
shout from below told me my signal was
seen; then upon the staring crowd there fell
fearful hush, for at each moment the
house was expected to fall, and it seemed
madness to attempt my rescue. | realized
this as [ saw a fireman, who had CALAMITY
offered to be the forlorn hope, fall back
from the fire escape fainting from the heat.
Then from out the seething mass of hui
man beings there sprang a man who fought
his way from the hands who held him back,
and, amid universal shout of admiration,
swiftly mounted the ladder; but not more
swiftly than the flames that leaped about
him, scorching his very eyes.
Nearer and nearer he came, and / could
see his prayerful though blackened face.
God it was my husband. Another
moment and he stood by me, shouting
wildly: ''This way, if you value life!
Quicklyw
l followed him, climbing like cat 10 the
extreme end of the parapet. Then l saw
why he had hurried me from the spot
where he had mounted, for burning walls
were falling in, bearing the escape with
them.
A groan of horror like dirge, burst
from the multitude below But all was not
lost yet, for about his waist and arm was
coiled rope, which, after covering me
with the blanket, he tied securely beneath
my arms Then I lost all presence of mind,
ana implored: "Notye o Malcolm my
love, my husband, save yoursef!"
At the sound of my voice he reeled, and
but for me would have fallen. Then with
out a word, for / had turned faint, | felt
myself swinging in mid-air, steadily guided
by firm, strong hand. In a few seconds
lay a helpless heap among the shouting
crowd.
And slowly down from hatfearful height
there slid a swaying form, which, when it
was caught, bruised and bleeding, by
friendly outstretched hands, was welcomed
with such a shout as rent the thick air, and
which even now often finds an echo in my
dreams. Then, like the castles built only
to see them fall, down came the burning
house, a ruin.
A few days later I sat by my darling's
bedside, praying that his dear eyes might
open with the light of reason. On the
white coverlet lay his splintered arm; the
side of his face which lay toward me was
branded by the flames. But to my anxious
eyes the face was far handsomer than when
it won my girlish fancy, for now | fully
understood its strength and great nobility.
Presently the steadfast eyes | used to
fear Enclosed, and the dear voice called my
name; and | fell on the true heart and sob
bed out my Joy, for, o! his tones were
those of love and pardon. ........
Aunt Janet vowed she never would for
give two such idiotic young people; but a
year later, when our boy was born, she
sent to say he should be her heir provided
Dick and his wife stood sponsors, and his
name should be, after her dead husband,
Guy Malcolm Ponsonby.- IERSley's Maya