Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-01-29

half dozen ofiicious people held me
back, while the men with the fire es-
cape hurried to rear 1t against the
house /; but it would not reach because
OF the garden In front, 80 that they had
to get the wheels Of the escape over the
iron ratings, and this caused great de-
lay.
"L,t me- g. !" painted to those
who held me. "Let me go Some
one-some one is In the house !"
You can't do any good, SIR" said
a policeman, roughly. "The escape
men will do all that can be DONE"
But struggled frantic lily, and got
loose, feeling all the while horrible,
despairing sensation, as l knew that
my poor darling was one Of the Shrek
ing suppliants for help at the windows,
and that but Cor my folly might haye
saved her.
AS freed myself from those who
held me, and ran to the escape, it was
to find that the man who had ascended
it had just been beaten back by the
flames.
"It's no good" he said ''we must
try the back of the house."
He was bout to drag the machine
away, when heard my name called in
piteous tones aud as I was once more
seized, shook myself free, rushed up
the ladder, with the flames scorching
and burning my face, and painting and
breathless, I reached q window where
Matte sto.d stretching out her hands.
got astride of the sill, the flames
being waited away from me, and threw
my arms around her but as did 80
the ladder gave away, burned through
by the flames that gushed furiously
from the lower window, and felt that
I must either jump or try to descend
by the staircase.
There was no time for thinking. 80 I
climbed In, lifted Matte in my arms,
feeling her dress crumble in my hands
as touched her, and the horrible odor
OF burnt hair rose to my nostrils as /
saw her wild, blackened face turned to
mine.
"Dick, Dick !" she gasped, 'save
me !" and then che tainted.
Fortunately, I was as much at home
in the house as in my own, and max
ing for the staircase through tue fame
and smoke, I reached it in safety, but
below me was what seemed to be a
ferceIy blazing furnace. l recjiled
for a nom snt. but Ii was my only hope.
and / recalled that the lower floor was
as yet untouched by the fire i: was
the one beneath me that was blazing so
furiously. So, getting a good tight
grip of my treasure, rushed down the
burning stairs. feeling them crackle
and give way as bounded from one to
the other.
1t was fiery ordeal, but in few
seconds I was below the flames, and
reached the hall, where l struggled to
the door, reached it AMI fell. Ii 1
could but open it l knew we were saw
ed but was exhausted, and the hot
air caught me by the throat and SEEM
ed to strangle me. I raised my hand
to the lock, but it fell back. l beat
feebly at the door but there was only
the roar OF flames to answer me and
as made one more supreme effort,
painting and struggling to reach the
fastening, l vas dragged back by the
weight of the burden still clasped to
my breast.
1t was more than human endurance
could bear, and I felt that the end was
near and to make my sufferings more
poignant, Matte seemed to revive,
struggling with me for her life, as she
kept repeating my name, and clung to
me, till
"Dick dear Dick Wake-pray
pray wake Are you i'll ?"
started up. to find Matte clinging
to me and, clasping her to my heart
a great sob turst from me as I kissed
her passionately again and again, hard
ly able to believe my senses.
"Oh, Dick, ,".she painted, ''you did
frighten me 80 I couldn't stay to
supper at the Wilson's, dear, for I
could do nothing Lut think about your
being here alone, and cross with me.
$3.50 1 was so miserable, Dick, that
I slipped away and came home, to find
you lying back here, painting and strug-
CLING you wouldn't wake when l
shook you. Were you i'll ?"
"Oh, no, not at ALL" I said, as
kissed her again and again, feeling
now for the first time sensible of a
smarting pain in one foot.
"You have burnt yourself too, Dick;
look at your foot"
1t was quite true +; the toe of one
slipper must have come in contact with
the fire and 1t was burned complete.