Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-02-22

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,'"heimlng feeling of awe,
"a'cned the dials intently while the let
.siS We're again signaled. and this time
iNn III m e." There was cessa-
,iVli oi all motion for second or two.
s'oou petriiied with fear and amaze
nisn' half believing was in a dream,
~ reason refused to accept the eyi
uen'c Ct sense Could that be a mes
sage Tor me? If so, what hand had
SEM h' The bell again sounded with a
'i"ngor sui more loud and unearthly,
'ua aiter few uncertain movements,
wy magnets repeated the words Come
loine-eome home THE handles
uio'ing as before. | could remain at
my post no longer Come what might,
lelt | had no alternative but to obey.
| ran to the house where the clerk
iiVel' and on rousing the inmates and
saihlhg admission told him he must
'ake my place Immediately, as had
Deen suddenly called away. Ina min
u'e OF two | was dashing along the
ROAD on horseback iii the direction of
home | shall never forget that ride
Although | urged my horse with whip
and voice until he flew rather than gal
loped, the pace was far too slow for my
excited mind, and at last, breathing
and painting, we clattered up the long
street Of the village near which lived.
Suddenly horse and rider appeared at
the other end of the street and a hoarse
goice uttered a cry "Firep At the
same instant the church bell was rung
violently, and at once the whole village
started into life.
Great Heayenl my worst fears were
realized itgwas my own home
pShoked dob the agony, and arrived
at The seene of the fire. The house
was A prge, old one, and when reached
It smoke was issuing in thick murky
Volumes from the windows of the sec
ond flat, while fierce tongues Of flames
We're alread leaping along the roof. A
crowd of men were hurrying confused
ly about with buckets and pals of
water. "My wife" ! exclaimed, as |
rushed forward, where is she 2" God
knows, SIR said one of the men.
Without uttering a word l entered the
house and ran along the lobby-the
woodwork on each side was one mass
OF blazing and cracking flame. Be
fore had taken three steps l fell back
blinded half-suffocated with the smoke
Two men caught me in their arms, and.
tried torestrain me by force. "Let go
youcowards. | cried as soon as /
couldspeak; and with the strength of
Madness dashed them aside. Irushed
up the stairs, and this time reached the
first landing in safety. The room
which we used as our bedchamber led
OIL a small parlor on this flat. Crop
ing my way through the smoke, !
found the door, but, to my horror, it
was locked l dashed myself against
1t again and again, but it resisted all
myefrorts.
despair gave me strength; and lift.
ing my foot. l struck it violently
against one of the lower panels of the
door, Another blow and it was driven
in.
Maggie Maggie 1 shfieked.
"where are you?" but no answer was
returned. Crossing the parlor l gained
our bedroom door. TO my Joy, it was
open' and stretched on the floor found
the apparently lifeless form of nv
wiie' bent over her, and on placing
my hand on her heart | found it still
oeatlng lifted her gently and carried
her IN my arms to the window. which
oroke open. OF what followed 7 am
ohi! uiiiliy conscious; Ihave a confused
remembrance of men bringing a ladder
and strong arms helping us down. and
the people cheering; but it is all very
vague. My next recollection is that Of
nn~ng myself in my fathers house
bruised and weak, with my wife bend
Ing over me. We had been burned
out. -"
oh The evening of the next dav
"neh the winter twilight was closing
round and the snowfakes were falling
maggie drew stool close to the couch
On which | lay, thinking over the
o'.@hge events here related. | had
s"lu nothing to anybody regarding the
s WIllch | had so mysteriously
received.
i, "illle' SAID the soft voice of my
""e, III you had not come"
nush' darling; don't talk like that"
nut 1t might have been. And do
yOu y, Anow' Willie. | had such strange
S.ea,h lhat awful night. You remem-
os'' 81 sad she, drawing closer to me,
'a0 evening you took Mary and me
O 'ne telegraph Office and told us all
Ou' 'ne batteries and things which
80. y couldn't understand, though we
ta'' p's'enaed to do so, lest you should
think US stupidY