The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-01-16

ONE" There was n cessation OF all
motion for second or two. | stood
petrifed with fear ana amazement, half.
believing was in dream, for reason
refused to accept the evidence Of sense.
Could that he message for me? II 80,
what hand had sent it? The bell again
sounded with clangor still more loud
and unearthly, and after few uncertain
movements, the magnets repeated the
words "Come home-come home THE
handles moving as before. could re-
main at my post no longer. Come what
might, felt had no alternative but to
obey
| ran to The house where the clerk
lived, and on rousing the inmates, and
gaining admission, told him he must
take my place Immediately, as ] had
been suddenly called away. In minute
or two was dashing along the road on
horseback in the direction Of home. |
shall never forget that ride. Although
! urged my horse with whip and voice
until he flew rather than galloped, the
pace WIS far too slow for my excited
mind and at last. breathing and pant.
ing, we clattcred mp the long street OF
the village near which lived. Sud
denly horse and rider appeared at the
other end Of the street, and n hoarSe
voice uttered cry "Firew At the
same instant, the church bell was rnng
| violently, aud ut once the whole village
started into life.
Great Heaven my worst fears were
realized IL was my own home. ]
chokcd d own the agony, and arrived at
the scene Of the fire. The house was
large old one, and when | reached it
smoke was Issuing in thick, murky vol.
umcs from the windows Of the second
Hat while fierce tongues Of flames were
already leaping along the roof. A crowd
Of men were hurrymg confuscdly about
with buckets and pals Of water. "My
wife |" | exclaimed, ns ! rushed forward.
"whcre il she? 2" "God knows. sir, " said
! ono of the men. without uttcring u
word, | entered the house, and ran along
HE lobby-the woodwork on each side
onc mass OF blazing and cracking flame.
Before ! had taken three steps, ] fell
back, blinded, hali.suilocated with the
smoke. Two men caught me III their
arms, and tried 10 restrain me by force.
"Let 90, you towards !! | cried US soon
M could speak; and with the strength
Of madness, dashed them aside. ] rushed
up the stairs, and this time reached the
first landing in safety. The room which
we used as our bcdchambcr led of {
small parlor on this fiat. Cropping IN,
way through tho smoke, ] found TIN
door, but, to my horror, 1t was locked
: | dashed myself against it again AM
again, but it resisted all my efforts.
Despair gave me strength and iftinI
my foot, struck li-violently against ON
Of the lover panels Of the door. An
other blow and it was driven in.
"Mnggic! Maggie I" / shricked
"wlerc are you?' but no answer wa
returned. Crossing the parlor, gaine'
our bedroom door. To my joy, 1t wa
open, and stretched on the floor foun,
the apparently Iiiclcss form of my wife
bent over her, md ON placing my han,
ON her heart, found 1t still beating.
lifted her gently and carried her IN m.
arms to the window, which ! brok
open. OF what followed am only diml
, conscious; | have confused rcmen
l brance Of men bringing II ladder, M
strong arms helping us down, and th
people cheering; but it IL all very
g vague. Ny next recollection il that {
" finding myself in my fathers house n
bruised and weak, with my wife bendin
" over me. We had been burned ont.
: On the evening Of the next day, whe
n the winter twilight was closing rour
and the snowlllkcs were falling, Mngg
u drew n stool close 10 the couch on whit
o | lay, thinking over the strange even
b here related. | had said nothing IN m.
u body regarding the warning which ] ha
o so mystcriousy received.
y "Willie," snid the soft voice OF N
o wife, "if you had not come"
Q "lIush, darling, Don't talk lii
!, that"
II "But it might have been. And d
| you know, Willie, had such n stranf
1t dream that awful night. You remer
u Der" said she drawing closer to m
T. "the evening You took Mary and n
l, into the telegraph Office, and told us I
N about the batteries and things which v
10 couldn't understand, though we pr
IL tended to do SO, lest you should thin
10 M stupidp'
I'd "Pcrfcctly."
"And you remember how, when
| said I should like to send n mcssn:
10 with my own hands, yOn made me tnl
=. hold Of the handle, and then you guide
It it,, while ] sent message to yor
r brother, who wns in the Office at Loves
n loft then? And the end Of il wa
o Come homo-come home ! which I r,
3 pcated over and over, until could do
: without your help"
I turned quickly round, but she di,
( not perceive my startled look.
. "Well," she continued, "tho nigh
, before last, when You were away,
, couldn't sleep fora long time after wen
e to bed then | drcamcd-such II hon
y rihle dream ! thought was in you
& Office again and / hud fled there b,
II cause l was chased 10y some terribl
O thing. did not know what it was, bl
Il 1t was close behind me, and nohod
t, could save me but you. But you WEI
le not there, and 80 seized the handl
q aud signed the words, Como home.
come home as you had taught IN
=, thinking that would lie sure TO brir
/ YOU. Then, when you did not com
y felt its hot breath on my neck, M if
d were just going to clutch me In its drcn
~ fnl arms, and screamed 40 loud that
h avoke. The room was all dark, a
+, filed with smoke 20 thick that when
i inpped mp. tainted for want of n
/. And, Oh, Willie, II you mad not con
= just when you did, / might"
a "Therc, Maggie, don't let us think
/, it. - Chambcrs'S journal.
= A Case OF Conscience.
| g