Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-03-06


appalling discovery every one-even
the firemen-seemed for moment par
slyzed.
One person alone did not hesitate. Il
was Walter Hesly, who bad asked where
Bessie was. Without an instsnt's pause
be dashed to the door of the burning
house; but the next instant reeled out,
blinded and scorched, for the stairs and
the hall were a mass of flames. Then
he ran around 10 the side entrance,
where was a narrow stairway which the
flames had not yet caught, though they
were already licking their eager tongues
against it. One msn would have stop
ped him.
''Ifyou go up there you will never
come down alive! Don't you see that
in one. moment ths stairs .xih -bein
names"
e He wrenched himself loose and flew
upward.
Help him I" shrieked Mrs. Blakey,
seizlng winder by the arm and shaking
him In her mothers agony. "0h, Solon T!
you who say that you love Bessie-help
him to save her!"
Nothing can be done now" he re-
piled gloomily. "It is certain death to
enter that house. II had only known
In time! But now IL is too late. Poor
Bessie !"
Men were busIed in setting up lad
ders against the house. But the flames
were already creeping along under the
caves and up the wall, and the top
rungs Of the ladder were instantly on
fire, and the men forced TO retreat.
At that moment mans form was
seen to rise above the levol Of the roof.
he had something in his arms, and at
the sight a great shout arose, and al
most every man In the crowd rushed
forward.
"He's found her! But they must jump
for chance Of their lives"
He had found her indeed-on her
knees, with her face buried In her arms,
and her hands bleeding with efforts she
had made to wrench open the door
which she had closed upon herself, In
order that she might not be found there
crying. 1t was rusty old lock, which
had been for years unused, and which
when the girl In her bind haste at
tempted to open, only fastened the door
more securely upon her.
There was n little pent-wlndoT In
the roof, admitting light aud air, but
IL was out Of her reach. She could see
through the cracks under the caves the
crowd without, and she screamed for
help and beat upon the walls, but none
could see or hear her.
And finally, when red. fiery eyes
seemed gIsring at her, and the hot
tongues Of flame came licking through
the floor and the roof, as II eager for
their victim, she sunk down aud buried
her face In her arms in an agony Of ter
ror and despair.
"Bessie! Bessie !"
She knew the voice. He was beati ng
at the door, which at length with
crash gave way. Then he had her In
his arms, End she clung TO him, gasping,
as she buried her face in his bosom:
owe will die together, watr"
Ii was no time even TO answer her.
With one rapid glance he took In the
whole situation. The stair was IN hames.
He tore down the rope which, hung
with clothes and blankets, was stretched
across the attic. He threw blanket
about her, tied the rope securely around
her waist; and then climbed with her
through the opening ia the roof.
IL was then that the crowd, seeing
them thus, broke into q shout, and
rushed toward spot where 1t was sup
posed they must leap for the only
chance OF their lives.
But the young man lowered down his
burden into the eager arms outstretched
to receive her, and instantly followed
the rope, seized by the advancing ftnme'
giving way before he had quite touched
the ground.
Eager hands dragged him into place
of safety just as the FIRE, bursting into
the attic, enveloped the whole roof ID
a sheet Of fame.
"Yes." said Mark Blakey. confden'
TALLY, to his brother John, rs the mex
day they walked about the charred re
mains of the ancestral home-"yes, III
a pretty bad loss, TO be sure, but .
might have been worse. In the frs'
place, there's the insurance; and mex
the house was mere rotten old concern
which the next high wind might hav'
blown away. Why, bless your hear
part of my business In B yestsrda.
was 20 see about pulling down the oi'
house and putting up new one. Th'
fires saved me tie expense " the frs
and reckon that can carry cut my
plan, though palmer fashion than
had thought Of"
"I'n glad to And It's no worse 70
you, Marx. And what will you do 70
young Healyf,'
Mark Blakey's hard face softened
Tears sprang to his eyes.
"I'll give him what he asks forbes
sIe. He'll fnd her prize worth an!
mans having. But 1 won't be able u
do much for them, under present cir
cumstances. They must wait, as %,
wife and I did. Why, you know vi