Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-02-13

watched the dials intently while the let
ters were again signaled, and this time
read I'll o IN e." There was Il cessa-
tion of all motion for second or two
stood petrilled with fear and amaze
ment, half believing was in dream,
Tor reason refused to accept the eyi
dentc CT sense. Could that be mes
sage for me? II SO, what hand had
sent it? The bell again sounded with a
clangor still more loud and uncarthly,
and alter few uncertain movements,
the magnets repeated the words Come
home-come home THE handles
moving as before. | could remain at
my post no longer. Come what might,
felt | had 10 alternative but to obey.
| ran to the house where the clerk
llyel, and on rousing the inmates and
gaining admission told him he must
take my place Immediately, as | had
been suddenly called away. Ina min
ute 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 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 hoarse
Toice uttered a cry-"Fire" At the
same instant the church bell was rllnc
violently, and at once the whole village
started into life.
Great Heaven, my worst fears We're
realized. 1t was my own home. l
choked down the agony, and arrived
at the scene of the fire. The house
was large, old one, and when reached
ii smoke was issuing in thick murky
volumes from the windows of the sec
ond llat while fierce tongues of flames
were alread leaping along the roof. a
crowd of men were hurrying confused
" about with buckets and pals of
water. "My wife" | exclaimed, as |
rushed forward, where is she?? God
knows, sir" said one of the men.
Without uttering word | 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 fell back
blinded, half-Suifocated with the smoke.
Two men caught me in their arms, and
tried to Orestrain me by force "Let go
you cOwardS." | cried as soon as |
could speak 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
Off small parlor On this fat. Crop
ing my way through the smoke, |
found the door, but, TO my horror, it
was locked. | dashel myself against
il again and again, but it resisted all
my efforts.
Despair gave me strength; and lift.
ing my foot struck it violently
against one Of the lower panels of the
door. Another blow and it was driven
in
Maggie Maggie" l shrieked,
"wherc 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 | found
the apparently lifeless form of my
wife. | bent over her, and on placing
my hand on her heart | found it still
beating. lifted her gently and carried
her in my arms to the window, which
| broke open. OF what followed | am
only dimly conscious; | have a confused
remembrance of men bringing ladder
and strong arms helping us down, and
the people cheering; but it is all very
vague Ny 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
cGt
On the evening of the next day,
when the winter twilight was closing
round and the snowilakes were falling,
Maggie drew stool close to the couch
on which l lay, thinking over the
strange events here related. | hal
said nothing to anybody regarding the
warning which L mad so mysteriously
received.
"Willie," said the soft voice of my
wife, IF you had not come"
Hush, darling; don't talk like that
"But it might have been. And do
you know, Willie, had 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 told us all
about the batteries and things which
we couldn't understand, though we
pretended to do so, lest you should
think us stupid9"
Perfectly"