The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-04-15


the flames, and at the sides, were men
with branches of trees beating the fire
out as well as they could. But more
than once they had to retreat, as the
tongues of fire darted suddenly at them,
and licked up the grass and gorse almost
under their feet. Three parties of men
were converging towards an old decayed
tree-a hollow dry trunk, as dry as touch
wood. In few minutes that tree would
be in the very heart of the fire; nothing
could save it.
Then the wind suddenly changed, and
we saw the fire spread. We waited, and
watched the great towering flames. Mr..
Hemphill, the doctor, and other gentle
men came rushing up, darting hither
and thither, beating, calling, directing.
Mr.. Cardewe, at the head of the laborers,
was equally active. The fire was increas-
ing. The old solitary oak was doomed
Nothing could save it. Poor old treel
Every one was sorry. 1t had been a
landmark for years and years, and was
called the Ladies Tree" There was
some tradition, some old prophecy,
about it, as it marked Mr.. Anderson's
property where it was divided from Mr..
| Hemphil's.
/
effect that when the tree was dead the
Hemphill's would be childless-
| "When passes away the Ladies' Tree,
No Babes in Hemphills hall shall be-"
The verse came into my mind, and 1
said to the ladies' maid, who had run
out with the rest to see the sight:
"a poor lookout for Miss Gladysi"
But we had no time to talk much.
| lNalin IN, fIa
legend or not, were doing all they could
to prevent the fire from reaching the
tree. They did not succeed. The flames
seemed to rush round, and even to spring
from the tree itself. We cried out,
"Save the tree!" but no one could get
near it, until the flames had united round
the trunk and utterly concealed it, so
| fierce was this famous "bush-fire."
my gracious me, Eliza, what's that?
Look! There is something in the tree!"
1 exclaimed. "There is something alive!"
HSure enough, it looks like It'll" cried
Eliza. @See, it comes outl It's a
v5oman!"
A cry of alarm and horror rent the
ir-a groan of anguish from all. The
figure was now plainly seen-the
woman was standing upon one of the
lower branches, waving her hand wildly!
1t was Miss Anderson herselfl She
was calling for help. Help, indeed! But
it looked as if no help could ever reach
her. heard her voice plainly now; and
you will scarcely believe me-she was
laughing, a queer, wild laugh.
"Save herI Save herI" screamed men
and women.
But no one would venture The flames
formed barrier impossible. Death-a
cruel death-awaited any one who
crossed the terrible belt of fire, which
roared and cracked like the furnace of
Nebuchadnezzar.
Mr.. Anderson spurred his horse reck-
Iessly toward the belt of fire. The ami
NAL reared and nearly threw him. Miss
Anderson had, as we supposed, got into |
the tree thinking hsrself safe, but sud-
den shift of wind had carried the flames !
toward her, and she seemed doomed.
Five hundred pounds to the man who !
will make the effort! Five hundred apiece |
to any of you'll"
One man had not waited. A man with |
his nose and mouth tied up IN wetted |
handkerchief rushed through the smoke. !
1t was Mr.. Hemphill, true to the last. |
But his courage was of no avail. He |
nearly reached the foot of the tree, but |
fell. Three men rushed in, but only two
reached him; the third, black and |
scorched, came out agaiE staggering, |
blinded, burnt. The others did succeed |
in reaching him, and at the peril of their |
lives dragged Mr.. Hemphill to the wind
ward side of the flames, which were still |
roaring to leeward, as Charley said
We were all silent and Mortified, when
suddenly a loud shout came over the
fields. A man, riding a beautiful black
horse, leaped the hedge, and dashed,
squirting hard, across the common land.
The horse was blindfolded, and rushed
recklessly on. The rider scattered the
workers and spectators. They paused
for moment, and then, with a cheer,
the horseman plunged into the flame and
smoke, which were passing away from
the tree now at the base, but the tree it
self was burning. In another moment
the rider was off his horse, which rushed
away blindly by itself; The gentleman
swung himself into the smouldering tree
with desperate courage, tore Miss Ander-
son from her place between the branches,
where she sat, half-insensible, and low
cred her to the ground. She fell in a
heap, apparently dead.
The gentleman dropped down and
lifted her up. By this time some labor
ers had summoned up courage too, and
rushed in as the fire abated. Between
them they lifted and carried off Miss
Anderson, who was borne to our little
house, quite insensible. 1 hurried after
them, and met them at the door. There
came face to face with Capt. Martyn
Henryl He had saved Miss Anderson,
thenl Poor Mr.. Hemphill!
She remained insensible for some time,
but we got her round by degrees; and in
our house she remained for three weeks.
Mr.. Hemphill called every day, and more
than once day, and at last was per-
mitted to see her. She was sitting up
then, and gave him her hand. You can
imagine his greeting; but she was very
quiet, and scarcely spoke. At length,
after awhile, she said q heard her;
couldn't help it, as 1 was in the next
room);
Arthur, you have been very kind and
brave. hear you risked your life to
save mine. How can 1 thank you ? You
have suffered, too, 1 see. And for mel"
my darling, there is one way in
which you can make me supremely
happy. If you will become my wife
soon-dearest-"
"Oh, don't, don't please can not i!
Oh, Arthur-Mr. Hemphill-I can not
speak of that!"
well, not just now perhaps, Gladys,
darling, But when you have quite re-
covered-when am more presentable,
then we will arrange it all"
She murmured something, and then
she said aloud, as if she had nerved her
self to speak out:
Arthur, would you think me very
wicked if 1 said / can notI would
rather not marry you? Oh, forgive me
I can't marry you; indeed can'tl"
Poor Mr.. HemphilIs SCARED face be.
came white. peeped out, and saw him
kneel down and take her hand.
you do not love me, Gladysl Is that
the reason? I have fancied so when vofl