Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-02-13

companies, hurried across fields, pitying
the poor Blakeys, and fervently hoping
that the fire would not be put out before
they got there.
Meantime the people who had first
arrived had not been idle. Their first
step was to remove the children and the
old people from the house. Grand'ther
Blakey has been carried forth in his
chair, and securely deposited in the
grassy yard, with an open umbrella in
his hand, as a protection against both
the early dews and the falling sparks;
but the old lady positively refused to leave
the house so long as she could be of any
use within it.
While the people were rushing in and
out, removing the furniture, she heroic
ally went around, gathering up soap and
match boxes. kitchen spoons and black
ing brushes, with other useful articles of
the kind, which, as she justly observed,
no one but herself would trouble them
selves to save.
She was seen by one person wrestling
with bag of dried herbs, hanging on a
hook in the pantry, and by others to
lean out of a window with the teapot
which had been filled for supper, and
make laudable efforts to stop the pro-
gress of the fire in that direction by
pouring tea from the spout upon an ad-
vancing squirt of flame.
This was before the arrival of the
Rushbottom fire engine; and when that
event occurred, the old lady condescend-
ed to be prevailed upon to quit the burn
ing house, and placed herself in COM
mand of the fremen, earnestly directing
them where to play the hose.
Meanwhile, it was discovered that
Grandther Blakey's umbrella was on
fire, from the falling sparks, upon which
his wife went to his assistance with a
bucket of water, to the relief of every
body.
In the midst of all this, robust and
! florid faced young man came up to where
Mrs. Blakey, dazed and bewildered, was
hugging her little ones close in her arms,
and dcspairingly watching the progress
of the flames.
1t was Solon Winder, the rich store
keeper.
II don't see Miss Bessie anywhere, {"
he said, looking around among the
crowd. 81 suppose, though, she's safe,
of course"
At this moment the flames caught the
roof of the main part of the house and
sprang up with an exultant leap above
the chimneys.
Mrs. Blakey shuddered and clasped
her baby to her breast
Suddenly some one pushed through
the crowd and stood before her, with
white, set lips and eyes that fairly gilt
tered in their eager anxiety.
"Where is Bessie?n
The look and the tone aroused her.
She gazed wildly about and uttered a
piercing shrek.
In the atticl in the attic !" she cried,
and thrill of horror ran through every
breast.
All had taken it for granted that Bes.
sic must be safe with her friends some
where in the crowd; and now at this ap-
palling discovery every one-even the
tiremen--seemed for moment para
lyzed.
One person alone did not hesitate. 1t
was Walter Healy, who had asked where
Bessie was. Without an instant's pause
he 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 to the side enterance,
where was narrow stairway which the
flames had not yet caught, though they
were already licking their eager tongues
ocroinot II nnn rNoC would houa OF
him.
"If you go up there you will never
come down alive! Don't you see that
in one moment the stairs will be in
fames?"
He wrenched himself loose, and flew
upward.
"Help him!" shrieked Mrs. Blakey,
seizing Windcr by the arm and shaking
him in her mothers agony. "Oh, Solon
you who say that you love Bessie-help
him to save her!"
Nothing can be done now!" he
replied, gloomily. ''It is certain death
to enter that house. If had only known
in time! But now it is too late. Poor
Bessie!"
Men were busted in setting up ladders
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 level of the roof. He
had something in his arms, and at the
sight great shout arose, and almost
every man in the crowd rushed forward.
"He's found her! But they must
jump for chance of their livesl"
He had found her indeed-on her
knees, with her face buried in her arms,
and her hands bleeding with the 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 blind haste
attempted to open, only fastened the
door more securely upon her.
There was little pent-window in the
roof, admitting light and air, but it 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
!glaring at her, and the hot tongues ol
flame came licking through the floor and
the roof, as if eager for their victim, she
had sunk down and buried her face in
her arms in an agony of terror and de-
spair.
Bessie! Bessie"
She knew the voice. He was beating
at the door, which at length with {
crash gave way. Then he had her il