The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-05-27

wide halls, and was echoed from the
colored quar- ter, In every variety of the
tones of horror and alarm.
The mistress of the mansion, awak-
ening at the cry, spran9 from bed, and
hurriedly began to dress, gazing
around bewildered. For a 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 houte.
Suddenly, to add to the confusion OF
the scene, the chamber door was flung
open, and q crowd of female servants
rushed in, hocklng affrightedly to-
gether, like a covey pursued by the
sportsman. They closed around Mrs.
Stewards bed, screaming, weeping,
wringing their hands and depriving
her of what little presence of mind
had been left.
ooh, missus, we shall be burned to
death, we shall, all of us. The fire
has caught the staircase. The blessed
Lord above hab mercy on us |" These,
and similar ordinations, filed the
air and distracted her attention.
Meantime the conaagration became
more serious each minute. Had that
terrified group listened they could
have heard the roar of the flames 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
frantically.
All at once a 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 a center.
table, which stood in the middle ot
the apartment, covered with books,
pretty triaes 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 reassurei
his mistress. Juba was about her owl
age, had been born in her father
family, and had always shown the mos
devoted attachment to herself per
| sonally. Above all the servants OIL
the plantation, be was distinguished
for a strict, religious performance o
his duties, for Juba was consistent,
pious. He was also shrewd, and ready
in every emergency, and Mrs. Stewar
felt that he would save her, even a
the peril of his life.
Juba, even while speaking, ha,
seized her hand and dragged her to
ward the staircase. But now "a gus
of wind drove such volumes of thick
black smoke toward them. that sh
was almost suffocated, and she paused
unable to proceed. 1t was not tim
to hesitate, so Juba, snatching her j
his arms as he would a child, an
dragging the cover entirely over he
face, dashed into the. rolling volum
of smoke, and down the great stair
case.
He was not moment too soou
Scarcely had he reached the bottom
followed by the affrIghted maids, be
fore the passage was closed entirely b
a dense wall of flame. Neither he nc
the female servants, indeed, escape
entirely unhurt. But the table-cove
eifectually protected Mrs. Stewart
Juba had scarcely, however, place
his mistress safely on the lawn, b'
fore she started up, crying, "Whel
is the baby? Who has seen the child
Oh it is in the house yet" Aud 81
would have rushed toward the blazi1