Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

WlbnbO COulu loon through tudt WIN
blind which covered her window.
Presently | saw ner shadow; she mus
have moved the lamp 20 the back OF Oh
room. No one can judge what person
. actions are from shadow on the blind
but was more puzzled at one movemen
Of that dark figure II seemed 10 noun
on chair or something 70 raise Il ant
was stretching rs sbadowy arms above II,
head was watching IL disgnsted witt
my inability TO read the meaning Of tbs
action, when suddenly the light In tn,
room appeared 10 grow ten times NOR,
brilliant, and the shadow Vanished. Be
fore had time TO think what had occurred
heard piercing shrIek--the blind was
torn down from the window and saw
Mrs Merton standing there developed In
| flames. The look OF terror on her face
froze nv blood. II was but for a
second | saw her. She rushed away
from the window and disappeared. had
seen enough TO show me that some dread
ful accident had happened. Quickly
throwing on my coat ran down stairs,
and in few moments was hammering at
| Mrs, Merton's door eager 10 render what
! aid | could. For q while no one re-
sponded 10 my summons, but ] could
I hear piercing shrieks inside the house
| Then the door opened suddenly, and
young Merton, with very little clothes
upon him, rushed out nearly oyerturniDg
me. "My motherl The doctorl" heard
him gasp as he passed, and ran wildly up
the road. | entered the house, and
closing the door behind me went upstairs.
In such a moment there was no need Of
ceremony, so at once proceeded 20 the
room whence those cries OF anguish
came. a fearful sight met my eyes
Mrs. Merton was lying on the floor
writing In agony, like a worm beneath
the heel Her body from the waist down
wards was only covered by mass Of
charred, hah burned garments The arms
we're bare, the sleeves of her dress hav-
ing apparently been burned off, aud her
hands and arms were pitliuily scorched
no doubt In her efforts TO extingush the
flames. Her daughter, half distracted,
was kneeling beside her, and the servant
was wringing her hands and almost stupid
with fright.
The situation needed no explanation.
In some way, no doubt when saw her
reaching up, the poor woman had brought
her lower garments in contact with
the fame OF the lamp. The moment
she found out what had happened, pres
ence of mind had deserted her. In
her pain and terror she had frs Of all
rushed to the window as If to seek sue. !
cor In, that direction. Afterwards she |
must have run wildly to her daughters
room, where the flames were either ex- 1
tinguished or burned themselves out; but |
not before severe, probably fatal, In. |
jurles mad been inflicted.
/ lifted the poor wretch from the floor. |
and carrying her as tenderly as could to |
her room, laid her on her own bed. Her |
,ufterlngsappeared to me TO be excruci.
iting, and deeply regretted that 1t was
not In my power to allay the tortures, the
severity OF which was clearly shown by
he spasmo lie contractlons of the muscles
u her face could do no more to help
Ter than the woman. We could but wait
md hope that the doctor would arrive.
He came at last, and as he examined his
'aticnt shook his head ominously. III
Ilayed In the house as long as there was
my service | could render to the poor
'eople, then | went across to my own
luarters, but before going asked the
Ioclor to give me call when he left Mrs
icrtOn.
He remained with her for hours, apply
ny what remedies he could, trying to the
'est OF his ability TO make the anguish
'earable. Then he came across to me.
''lt's a bad iob--a very bad job,n he
aid
''Will she die2n asked.
al don't see how she can recover. She
terribly burnt. II she mad only shown
resence Of mind enough to Jump into bed
nd roll all the clothes around She would n
ave come off with few scorches. No,
IKE tue woman, she rushes out and
creams for help"
sis she in immediate dapger?n
mo, think not. | shall know better {
hen see her by-and-by. Good morn
ig"
The doctor left me, and sat down to {
INK was OF course much upset by
lie scene had witnessed. A fellow crea- !
are reduced In second, by an act of !
irelessness, to such pitlable condition I
lust ouch the hardest heart No one
luld see his worst enemy ia such plight r
'ithout feeling moved But | had more =
ian sentimental reasons to distress me
That II Mrs. Merton should die with her
ps sealed? Her death would then do.
troy every hope OF getting at the bottom /,
Chesham's villalny. / could scarce :
believe such thing could be =
ossible. preferred to think that even :
'ls tragic affair was all of part with the :
Their iortuitous circumstances which had =
ded my quest. Either Mrs. Merton 4
ould recover, or II she died would speak Il
le truth. was anxious, but was not
} fearful OF her carrying her secret to the
rave as 1t seems natural | should have
zen.
However, she fingered on for several 5
lys. The doctor held out little hope, ~ ,
, not think she can recover" was his
instant opinion. was regular with my I
qulries at the house, and really pityiug u
e distress OF the boy and girl, begged +"
EN- TO make use OF me in any way they n
ished | ardently longed for a few
inutes' talk with the dying woman. Per d
ps, with the fear Of death before her, L
g might consent To tell all she knew
smiled as thought OF how many des- "
lies might be changed by few words
1m her lips Lady Estmere's, Sir Lau- T
nee Estmere's, Valentines, and in a p
'ser degree my fathers, Caudlne's, and ST
Inc, grew more and more anxious as
y days passed by and the doctor still W
ook his head
One morning, before the Doctors visit, SO
ung Merton told me that he believed m