The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-09

this part of the house aud cut off your
retreat"
"Thank you, sir" said the man; "our
furniture is insured, and we haven't
much besides we should care to save.
"Have you got your watchf = inquir-
ed his wife. On his replying in the
negative she went back to the room,
and soon returned with the watch and
q few additional articles OF clothing for
each, and we were all about to leave
the house, when the woman turned
with one foot over the thres-
hold and uttered a startling cry,
"Where is Mr.. Jefferson
''Oh, he's got away all right, you
may be certain said her husband.
"Come along, and be quick
"No; / don't feel as If 1 could leave
him there to be burnt she replied.
"i must do something"
"Nonsense ~ said her husband.
"What can you do7' 1t is very unfor.
tunate, of course, but it isn't our fault.
"But, Matthew, you might try to
save him. she said
"1es, and be burnt to death for a
man who doesn't even belong to me
that's very likely" was his rough re-
joinder, as he stepped determnedly
through the doorway into the street.
"Wbo is Mr.. Jefferson p | inquired,
after listening to this brief dialogue
with all my sympathies on the wom'
ans side.
"He is our lodger, sir" she replied;
"and it seems too shocking his being
left to die like that"
$50 it does,' said l; "but the stairs
are impossible by this time" .
"The front ones are" she replied,
"but there's way to his room the 9th
er side which doesn't seem to have
caught fire yet | think one might get
to him and perhaps down again in
safety
"1'll try, at any rate, said resolute-
ly, and after a few brief directions
from her | went back to the house and
CROPPED my way along the passage she
had indicated until | reached dark,
narrow staircase, where the atmosphere
was certainly clearer halted here a
second to gain breath, then ! a-cended
the steps three at time and got to the
top of the landing. A sudden turn to
the right, another long passage, which
seemed TO lead me towards the flames,
ard | stood painting and irresolute with
a living bridge of fire in front of me
and the sparks flying about my ears.
"Who is this man that should sac
rifice my self for himt' was my thought
and then, ashamed of this cowardly in
stinct, which tempted me to draw back
before the perils of the undertaking,
leaped over the burning barricade in
my path, forced the door opposite and
found myself in MIR. Jefferson's bed
room.
l don't know why should have beer
surprised to recognize him. Under
these circumstances | was thorough,
surprised when found myself face tt
face with Annals unfortunate hero
but even she would have been forced
to deny him any heroic attributes haC
she seen him at that moment. So ab
ject and intense was his terror that h,
was actually covering in corner will
his face hidden in his hands When
touched hirr he shuddered and writhec
and gave me hopeless, helpless look
but did not attempt to rise.
"Come, sir" said sternly, "do yo
know that you are endangering Dotl
our lives by your hesitation? 2" III
stared at me vacantly then he began t.
sob. Every WE'LL" continued, II ar
not bound to throw my life away fo
nothing"
| turned to look at his face, an
found, with inexpressible horror, tina
he had tainted. The landing fell i
with a crash, and the fire burst in q
our door. Irushed to the window
opened it wide, and shouted madly I
the crowd below
"a ladder, in heavens name if yo
would save two human creatures frol
miserable death !"
They heard me, for they swaye
forwards with hoarse murmur, au
7 one voice rose clear amidst the din
"Hold on, have courage, and we wi
e save you both !"
4 Oh, those seconds of wretched su
pense which seemed like hours !
4 At this moment there was a lon
y loud murmur below, then deep lull-
y the lull of expectancy. was score
: ed, and half suffocated, but manag,
TO lean out again, and uttered G
/ of thankfuluess when saw ladd
- trembling against the wall as it balal
Y ed itself. Still my difficulties We
Il not over. To descend alone won
e have been nothing, but what was
:, do with the unconscious man, WI
l. by the mere fact of his unconscior
t ness, appealed so strongly to my fe
2 ings that | had no heart to secure n
d own safety whilst he was perishing
'e dared not even glance below at Il
1t heaving mass of human heads, lit
W strangely by the lurid light of t
Il burning house. Carefully testing t
n strength of each step ere | trusted
re with the whole burden it would ha
e, to bear, very slowly descended, a
Or at last, with a thrill of unexpressil
50 relief, my feet touched solid groul
% | was too faint and dizzy at first
ell.anything that happened; but l so
q, came to myself and found that n
,e Jefferson was slowly recovering
Of senses, attended by his former landla'
ut who had given such an exaggerat
account of my deeds to the crowd tn
,g to my surprise and dismay, awoke
n find myself famous.
IL In month Mr.. Jefferson sailed
p. Australia, and Anna actually laugh
IT. when | told her the news.
's- We were alone together one
er and Anna was in gracious mood.
h "Jerry," said she, show is it that
ce Jeffersons hair got so burnt Yo
ed wasn't touched"
ed because il is not such au inha
We mable color replied.
" "rrue," said she, "his always was
n red as fire.
he a thought it was auburn, Ann
ke said |, mischievously.
os HIlnn't Ia ahaurd Iarrv " ai1 Ohio