Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-06-08

wide halls, and was echoed from the
colored quart ter, In every variety of the
tones of horror and alarm.
The mistress of the mansion, awak.
ening at the cry, sprang from bed, and
hurriedly began to dress, gazing
around bewildered. For moment
she was conscious only that her hus-
band was absent. She was recalled to
something like herself by the shrieks
OF the maid who had slept in the
room, and who. instead of assisting
her toilet, was pointing. with terrified
gesticulations, to the ruddy reflection
playing against the trees IN front of
the house.
Suddenly, to add to the confusion of
the scene, the chamber door was flung
open, and crowd of female servants
rushed in, focklng affrightedly to-.
gether, like covey pursued by the
sportsman. They closed around Mrs.
Stewards bed, screaming, weeping,
wringing their hands and depriying
her of what little presence of mind
had been left.
"Oh, missus, we shall be burned to
death, we shall, all of u.s. The fire
has caught the staircase. The blessed
Lord above hab mercy on usl" These,
and similar ordinations, filled the
Dir and distracted her attention.
Meantime the conhagration became
more serious each minute. Had that
terrified group listened they could
have heard the roar of the hames in
the hall outside, and the cracking
sound that announced the approach
of the fire to the woodwork near the
staircase, warning them that, if they
would save their lives, their flight
must be instant. But they only hud.
died the closer together, sobbing,
moaning, embracing one another
fxantically.
All of once q man dashed into the
room, with agitated face and dress
disordered. Thrusting aside the ter
rifed maids, he hastily approached
his mistress.
ely" he cried, breathlessly, "this
moment, or you'll be too late" And
glancing rapidly around the room, he
snatched the rich cover from center
table, which stood in the middle of
the apartment, covered with books,
pretty trides and flowers in vases.
This he threw around his mistress, ex-
claiming, "It will keep the fire from
catching. Come"
The sight of his face had reassured
his mistress. Juba was about her own
age, had been born in her fathers
family, and had always shown the most
devoted attachment to herself per-
sonally. Above all the servants on
the plantation, be was distinguished
for q strict, religious performance OF
his duties, for Juba was consistently
pious. He was also shrewd, and ready
in every emergency. and Mrs. Stewart
felt that he would save her, even at
the peril of his life.
Juba, even while speaking, had
seized her hand and dragged her to-
ward the staircase. But now gust
of wind drove such volumes of thick,
black smoke toward them. that she
was almost suffocated, and she paused,
unable to proceed. 1t was not time
to hesitate, SO Juba, snatching her in
his arms as he would a child, and
dragging the cover entirely over her
face, dashed into the rolling volume
of smoke, and down the great stair
case.
He was not a moment too soon.
Scarcely had he reached the bottom,
followed by the affrlghted maids, be-
fore the passage was closed entirely by
dense wall of flame. Neither he nor
the female servants, indeed, escaped
entirely unhurt. But the table cover
effectually protected Mrs. Stewart.
Juba had scarcely, however, placed
his mistress safely on the lawn. be.
fore she started up, crying, "Where
is the baby? Who has seen the child
Oh it is in the house yet" And she
would have rushed toward the blazing