Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-10-21

but she hadn't let go Of the cage. AZ I
soon as recovered my breath and wet
my clothes in two CT three places where
they were On fire / splashed water in
the girls face and she recovered con-
seriousness, but she was SO fustered and
excited that she didn't know where she
was or remember what had happened.
"We could look up the river and see
the burning house. 1t made huge
blaze and threw bright glare across
the river. I remember the peculiar
effect of this glare on the windows OF
the houses across the river. It caused
them to glow as if the houses were filed
with live flames. The girl was SO fright
ened that she thought all the houses
were afre.
"When I got ready to row back,
discovefed that hadn't any oars. Inc
current was swift, and we were drift
ing rapidly, SO I pulled out seat board
and used it as a rudder, and In few
minutes made landing near a house
occupied by Mr.. Wesley. Miss Jaynes
was still SO weak and nervous that she
could hardly walk, but assisted her to
this house and aroused the inmates.
They would hardly believe my story at
first. but they could see the burning
house up the river, and they recognized
Miss Jaynes as seen as the lights were
brought
sThe woman Of the house was very
kind. She cared for the young lady
tenderly for about two hours and had
one Of the boys drive us back to Crosby
vile. Now, in the general excitement
we had forgotten that the people IN eros
| byyille had no reason to believe that
we had escaped from the burning house
Miss Jaynes said several times, Il sup
pose father is wondering where am,
but she had no idea that he and all the
| others were convinced that we had per-
ished in the flames. However, you
couldn't blame them for thinking SO.
| The window from which I had leaped
was well hidden by trees, and there was
no one at the river bank when we leaped
| into the boat. We learned afterward
that the men had pulled down the burn
| ing veranda and had planted ladder at
the front window where we had been
seen, but the blaze was SO fierce that
they had been driven back.
ssEvery one supposed, OF course, thai
we were lost, SO you can imagine Whal
happened when we drove up in front Of
the ruins about z o'clock in the morn
ing They were already searching fo'
our bodies. Yes, sir, they thought we
| were ghosts. AS soon as I explained t.
! them how we got away you never hesrt
such cheering in your life. They llftet
|! Miss Jaynes out Of the wagon and tool
her over to neighboring house t.
which the cal tain had been taken. E'
had been almost wild with grief Ihos'
! who went over to the house say it We
one of the most affecting meetings tina
could be imagined First he wept Xix
a baby, and then he jumped up ant
laughed like a boy and said he dldn
care for the loss of his buildings so lcnl
as his daughter was safe. l suppose hl
daughter must have given him yer.
favorable account of my efforts IN he
, behalf, for presently he came out OF tn
house and walked up to where wa
standings and said: Mr.. Horne, yo
have done ne the greatest service tina
one man can do another. All that
have is at your command now and fol
ever. once did you an injustice. 70
have repaid me. Will you take the han
, of man who honestly admits himsel
beaten and huniliated?' l said to him
Captain, you are a brave and gallan
man, but you were mistaken for once
Let us say no more about the misunde1
i standing of the past. We shook hands
and from then forward we were friends
He was man of passions and preJr
dices, but if he came to know you an
like you he was the truest friend a ma
ever had
"There's only one thing needed
j make that good story, suggested tt
f dentist "You ought to say that yo
married the captains daughter. I"
t 81 am not going to sacrifice truth
: order to make fancy romance. r
piled "Doc Chicago Record
n