The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-14

ship"
Aunt Sabine was not so certain. She
wondered If it we're not some feeling warm
or than friendship which made Margaret so
impatient if the doctor did not come at
his usual time. So tout of sorts " il any
thing kept him away for day or two,
which made the color rush to her cheeks
at the sound of his wellknown ring. But
DR.. Stolberg grew daily in aunt Sabine's
good graces, so she watched and waited
in silence.
If the doctor had any suspicion that
the little blind god had crept into the
beautiful temple which Margaret had
raised to friendship, he also was wise
enough to be silent.
One night as DIR. Stolberg was seated
at Margaret's piano, there broke in upon
the music that cry so terrifying to vii
lager, Fire Fire"
As the doctor and Margaret listened
they heard in moment the rumbling Of
the engines, the jangling of bells, the com
mands of the engineer Numbered through
his trumpets, the Aye, aye, sir " of the
men mingled with the cries of the crowc
fastening by the house,
"Where Is the fire ?" shouted the doc.
tor from the window.
"The asylum came back in half 8
dozen voices from the street.
90 God " cried Doctor Stolberg. awe
must save the children " And waiting
not to snatch his hat from the rack ht
rushed into the street.
A branch from the orphan asylum il
the neighboripg city had been established
at Wilton. Just now the building wa.
crowded to its utmost capacity by chill
dren who had been sent to spend the sum
mer in the country.
City people wait for the fire to come Il
them, village people 60 to the fire.
Aunt Sabine waited only to get the ja
of lime water and oil which she Away,
kept ready for burns. Then Margare
and she joined the crowd that was still
hurrying by the house.
| Reaching the fire, they found scene o.
the widest confusion. Women will
shawls over their heads, children whit
ought to have been in bed, men who wer,
of no more service than children, wer,
running against each other crying ant
wringirg their hands.
| "Take this shouted man, thrustin,
the headboard of a bedstead into aun
Sabine's hands.
Aunt Sabine took it meekly, and hav
ing confded the jar of lime water t,
Margaret, started off Juggling the head
board.
| "You take this" cried second man
handing Margaret an pan of rusty nails.
Margaret, bewildered by the confusion
was about to follow aunt Sabine's exam
pie, when DR.. Stolberg came hurryinl
along with child in each arm; recogni7
ing Margaret he said:
"Put that worthless thing down, an,
take these children to place of safety
What is in that jar ?"
| Slime water and sweet OIL"
"Take it along some of the childre
are badly burned; that largest child ca
walk"
Margaret msrshalled her charges throug
the crowd to house on the other side Q
the road, then went back to see what els
she could do.
Spite of the misery the fire was caus
ing, Margaret could not help stopping TO
an instant to gaze at the splendid spec
tacle. The main building of the asyluI
was stone, fianked on each side by win
OF wood; at the end of the left wing, an
connected with it, was small brio
building. The right wing had caugh
fire first, and was entirely consumed
Where it had stood was a cleaning wa
of Goals. The floors and wooden parts @
the stone building were going fast. Eve
and anon long tongue of greedy fam
would thrust itself out the empty windo,
places, as if seeking something more t
devour.
The sight that stopped Margaret wa
the falling of the main roof.
There was carnival of fire. Fror
every window burst forth masses of rec
black fl ,me. As Margaret gazed, ther
arose above the cracking of timber an
the hoarse cries of the fremen a clea
piercing shrek, joined, before it die
away, by cry which, once heard, ca
never be forgot. The horror cry of gres
multitude.
Turning with those near her, Margare
saw, standing in window of the burr
ing left wing, little child. 1t stood wit
arms stretched appealingly toward tn
crowd, which was powerless to help.
"a ladder a ladder in Gods name
| iduuci, CIlcu VOICE. winch Mdrgare
recognized as DR.. Stolbergs.
A ladder was brought and placed at tn
window; a thousand anxious eyes watche
the doctor as he ran rapidly up. Their
was not moment to lose, for already tn
child was wrapped in smoke. The dot
tor had taken the child in his arms, whe
a second cry arose from the excited pee
pie, as ladder and building fell togethe
in seething sea of fire.
With that cry in her ears, Margart
fell in faint. When she came back I
consciousness two women were standin
near her talking of the scene just d.
scribed.
Horrible Burned to death in an il
slant; such noble young man as ths
DR.. Stolberg was Strange that it is a
ways men like him who are taken, me
who are needed in the world"
Margaret waited to hear no more, bu
fastened homeward as fast as her tren
bling limbs would bear her. Down b
the piano, where less than an hour befol
they had sat together, she fell upon hs
knees.
The veil which hung before her hea
had been burned away. She knew no
that sh6 loved DR.. Stolberg with the Oh
love of her life.
40 God !" she moaned. "This is to
bitter, too bitter; why need know tn
| love of mine when the knowledpe of