The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-04-27

least expected rescue lie had saved me
from fate terrible hey ond conception.
Three weeks had pass ed since the de.
structipn Of the theater.
During this time had lain on a bed
OF sickness and insensibilty. NV life
had been well-nigh dcspalrcd OF, and
mad had very narrow escape of sue.
cufabing 70 "A severe attack OF BRAN
fever
But, thank heaven was at last on,
OF danger and well on the road to con.
valescence
AS l reclined upon a couch babe
Fred tell me the story Of my rescue.
II was this:
On the night of the fire he went tc
the theater 10 meet me. After waiting
IN vain for some time ne concluded
that he had missed me. On his ar.
rival at my home he learned that I had
not yet come; thus il was that, in the
hope OF ascertaining the cause OF my
absence. he returned 10 our usual
trysting place, which was at one OF the
back entrances.
AS he passed the Office window he be.
held. from the opposite side. the rcfec.
ton OF flames. and was about 10 call
assistance when my screams reached
his ears.
With as little delay as possible he
procured ladder and bravely saved me
at the risk Of his own dear life
"Ah, Fred, how can / ever repay
your l cried. pressing the hands
which lay locked in mine
by trying To get we'll as quick as
You can. y he gently replied. showering
kisses upon the lips which had never
responded to the caresses Of another
man.
Come, darling, when will you be my
wife?"
What. Fred, would you really marry
a woman whose face is forever disfig.
ured and rendered ugly?'
How well knew what his answer
would be. | think negative would
have broken my heart
Folding me in his arms, ne said:
MY little Stella. To me those sears
are as proofs of virtue and love When
ever gaze at your dear face feel that
you suffered all for my sake; for had
you not the option of leaving thai
building rs you entered it-a woman OF
beauty and attractions? Though tn,
world may consider you somewhat dis
figured, l shall ever think that those
marks but tend to enhance the fascina
lions of those sweet checks who's. rose.
l claim
And Zetch-what is become Of him?'
! tinidly inquired
Fred averted his face and was silent
After "A pause repeated my question
Taking my hand kindly in his, hi
gazed scarchingly into my eyes ano
said:
stella, are you strong enough
brave enough to learn the TRUTH
Yes" | gasped.
you will never again be trou bled
with his atten tions. for he is dead"
There was a reverential compassion
in hi, voice, as he spoke Of the mis-
guided man who had tried SO hard to
wreck our happiness.
Dead" echoed. ''Thcn he was
Buried among the ruins Of the
.heater.'
Did no one try to save him?" in
quired.
could not help feeling pity for one
who had suffered as had done
Yes Fred responded, somewhat
responsibility l thought, yes the fire.
men were u brave lot of fellows, but all
efforts to rescue him proved useless.
But failing their assistance. did you
think that would see man die so
awful death without exerting every
endeavor to save him?"
Dear Fred. l know that you are the
best the bravest man in the whole
world"
The real cause Of that fire was never
known. But it is my opinion that in
my hurry to overturn the lamp. it must
have ignited with something milan
mable. l cannot bring myself to think
that Fetch was so utterly heartless as
TO carry into operation his cruel, un-
manly threat. Yet this is the belief
Of most people.
Sometimes. as my thoughts wander
back 10 that night, cannot but feel
BFtttlui LOT the MIRACULOUS ueliSeT-
ance from the hands OF him from
whom l should have met with little
mercy. II seems, however. as though
the conflagration which at first so ter
rificd me. had proved, in the end, to be
the work of a kind and watchful Provi-
dence.
That page Of life's history has entire
~ changed my career; for after the
events which | have just recorded. a
peculiar dislike for performing in pub
lie grew upon me. and have long
since abandoned all idea Of doing so.
Somc,i mes my husband gently remon-
strates with me for this. and says it Is
pity that clever musician should
withhold her talent from the world;
but | laughingly tell him that my
blemished features wouli be pre-
ventive to my securing an engage
mcnt, an argument to which he play
fully gives way and conforms to my
superior Judgment.
II would, indeed. be untrue to say
that mourn the alteration In my life.
for ~ the wife Of the man whom
love, l am happier now than ! could
ever have been other wise, and the sweet
| and peaceful solitude Of our little home