Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-27

nv post no longer. Come What mlght'
7 felt I had no alternative but to obey.
I ran 10 the house where the clerk
lived, and on rousing the inmates and
gaining admission told him he must
take place immediately, as l had been
suddenly called awav. In minute or
Two was dashlng along the road on
horseback IN the direction of home.
| shall never forget that ride. Al
though 1 urged my horse with whip
aud voice until he flew rather than gal
loped, tie pace was far too slow for my
excited mind, and at last, breathing
and painting, we clattered up the long
street on the village near which l lived.
a horse and rider appeared at
the other end of the street and hoarse
voice uttered a cry-'Fire y AT The
same instant the church bell was rung
violently, and at once the. whole village
started into life.
Great Heaven my worst fears were
realized. 1t was my own hone. l
choked Gewn the agony, and arrived al
the scene of the fire. The house was
large, old one, and when reached it
smoke was Issuing IN thick nurky
volumes from the windows of the sec
ood fiat, while fierce tongues OF flames
we're already leaping along the roof. A
crowd Of men were hurrying confused
ly about with buckets and pals OF
water. My wife y exclaimed, as
rushed toward, where is she God
knows, cir, said one OF the men. With
out utterir z a word L entered the house
and ran along the lobby-the wood
work on each side was one mass oil
blazing and cracking fame. Before /
bad taken three steps | ttl back blind
ed, half suffocated With the smoke
Two men caught me in their arms, and
tried to restrain me by force. Let 60,
you towards y | cried as soon as. |
could speak and with the strength OF
madness, dashed them aside. rushed
up the stairs, and this time reached the
first landing 10 safety. The room
which we used as our bedchsmber led
off small parlor on tnls fat. Crop
lug my way through the smoke, | found
the door, but, to my horror, it was
locked! l dashed myself against 1t
again, but ii resisted all my efforts.
Despair gave me strength and lift
ing my loot, struck violently against
one of the lower panels OF the door,
Another blow and it was driven IN.
Maggie Maggie!' = l shueked'
where are you? but no answer was
returned. Crossing the parlor gained
our bedroom door. To my joy, it was
open, and stretched on the floor l found
the apparently lifeless form of my wife.
bent over her, and on placing my
hand on her heart l found it still beat
ing. lifted her gently and carried her
in my arms to the window, which L
broke open...O ..Of what followed lam only
dimly conscious; 1 haYe confused re-
men. .brlDging ladder and
strong arms helping up down, and the
people cheering but it Is all very
vague. My next recollection is that OF
finding myself in my fathers house
bruised and weak, with my wife bend
ing over me. We had been burned
out.
On the evening of The next day, when
The winter twilight was closing round
and the snow fakes were falling, Maggie
drew stool close 10 the couch on
which | lay. thinking over the strange
events here related. | had said moth
ing TO any body regarding the warning
which had so mysteriously received.
'Wilhe,' said the soft voice Of wife,
If you had not come
Hush, darling; don't talk like that.
But it might have been. Aud do
YOU know, Wi. / bad such strange
dream That awful night. You remem
ber,' said she, drawing closer to me,
the evening you took Mary and me
into the telegraph Office and tcId US all
about the batteries and things which
we couldn't understand, though we
pretended 10 do 30, lest you should
think us stupid p
Perfectly
Aud you remember how. when l
said | should like TO send a message
with my own hands, you made me take
hold of the handle aud then you guided
il. while sent message 10 your
brother who was 10 the Office at Low
estoft thenP AID the end OF 1t was,
come home-come home! which l re-
peated over aud over, un ii l could do
it without help.
1 turned quickly round, but she did
not perceive my startled look.
We'll, she continued the night be-
tore last, when you were away, !
couldn't sleep for long time alter !
went 10 bed then l dreamed-such
hurriole dream |! thought Il was IN
your office again aud had h'd there
because was chased BY some terrible
thing. lid Lot know what it vas,
but it was close behind me, and no.
body could save me but you. But you
we're not there, so | seized tue handle
and sigued the words, Come home I! as
you had taught me, thinking that would
be sure to bring you. Then. when
you did not come, felt Its hot breath
on my neck, as If 1t were just going to
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