The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-10

"TOR A MOMENT I STOOD BY The
WINDOW. SPELLBOUND."
tremendous outcry rose all around me;
and, at last, in the midst OF it detected
the horrible word 'Firel
almost instantly a swirl Of smoke
rose up to where / stood. Turning, l
rushed to the door, and into the hall.
The frightened maid, who should have
thought only of her charge in that mo-
ment of peril, was fleeing down the
stairs. / looked down after her, and
saw a sheet Of flame sweep across her
path. She dashed through il, her gar
ments taking fire. 1t appeared that
she escaped, but no one could have gone
down that way after her. he passage
was blocked. / ran TO other stair
way. 1t was impossible with smoke.
NEARLY stifled, rushed back to the
window. The smoke whirled after ne,
driving me to the roof. Then part
Of the light fabric OF the house, upon
my left, blazed up. All was bright rs
day. Below me 1 saw many faces, and
among them my uncle's, and the agon-
lied countenance OF lffs wife. She was
on her knees. Her arms were extended
towards the window of her childs room.
"In the sudden glare my own form
stood out clearly. Instantly great
shout arose. Some called for ladders.
Others cried to me to descend, this way
or that. ! knew the way well enough,
and climbed along the roofs with ease.
But at last the fire came SO near that
i was forced TO jump. IL was only n
little distance, but, hampered by
my burden, which no danger would
make me relinquish, / did not alight
squarely upon my feet, and so l sus-
tnined painful injury. But the child
was wholly unharmed. The wrappings
about his head had prevented him from
inhaling fire or smoke. / placed him
in his mothers arms, and saw her tears
fail upon his face.
"a trihing exercise of ingenuity en-
abled me to account for my presence.
said that / had been lettering in the
grounds, listening TO the music. After
receiving the concentrations of all,
made my way to my lodgings with great
difficulty, for, when the excitement had
in some degree left me, my injuries as
serted themselves. l took my bed at
once. and summoned a physician.
''The next day my uncle called, as I
knew he would. l had prepared my
self for the interview, and had resolved
TO take no more of the bounty that his
gratitude would offer, than enough for
my frugal needs at college.
my uncle thanked me cordially, and
presented to me, q silver watch which
had longs been an heirloom-so long, in
fact, that ii had ceased to have any
nlue as timepiece. In subsequent
years l spent much money i'll the vain
attempt TO have ii repaired.
II was in bed four weeks, but by the
great skill of my physician 1 escaped
being cripple. His bill was two hum
dred and seven dollars, and rs L had not
the money, referred the matter my
uncle, who advised me not to pay, or the
ground that the charge was exorbitant
j did not take that view of It; simply
told the doctor that had nothing. He
then put the matter in the hands of IN
attorney.
Now gentlemen, was 10 not clear
bill? thought so then, and have never
seen reason to change my mind. I
argued and pleaded with him but he
refused. There was but one way in
which could make him do h;- duty and
save the reputation of our family. I
secured one of his check blanks, and
drew a check for the sum, signing my
lafp In. a of nj nd nNp
petent manner. The check, as argued.
would hardly be noticed in the bank ac-
count of n man so rich as my uncle was
reputed TO be. Yet, strangely enough,
the check came back. not because of the
signature but because the account was
already overdrawn.
"The Doctors attorney made n great
outcry about IL, and that led TO the dis
covery of the fact that my uncle's
wealth was bubble. II also burst that
bubble. His credit was gone, and that
was all that he had had 10 live upon in
some years.
"Of course he detected the forgery,
but before he could get the machinery
OF Justice at work against me, cc.tain
complications In his own affairs forced
him 10 ieave the country forever. My
crime was never brought home 10 me;
yet ID seems 20 me that was sufficiently
nunished Nv the loss of the college
course which I should otherwise have
had, and by the great Trouble with that
old silver watch.
'Such, gentlemen. Is the story Of my
first crime. frankly told. trust that
you will respond in the same spirit
with plain. unvarnished narratives"
"You can rely on me for that" soid
Bill Harris, gazing at Newcomb with
admiration. III am only a second-rntc
liar, anyway. and have no business In
the present company. However, will
tell true story by and by. hut I think
that Prank Gleason had better follow
our friend Woodbury.. IL there is no OBJ
ietion."