The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-05

as / turned over in my ped, and lis
tened. half asleep, 10 a confused mur-
mul>Gg in the distance. which seemed
to rise and fall. gathering force and
distinctness as the moments passed. 1
was always a light sleeper. worse luck.
and. turning on my pillow, 1 thought
there must surely be some busy Lon
don street nearer TO the hotel than l
imagined.
tried 10 dismiss the matter. but was
evidently in an augumentative frame of
mind / knew the Royal well, having
often stayed there. and Ii puzzled me 10
remember what noisy thoroughfare ex-
listed In the neghborhood. Had II not
been for it's freedom from the turmoil
OF metropolitan traffic / should not
have graced the hotel with my august
presence.
was thinking of this more and more
in my half f-dazed, dreamy fashion when
with start l awoke TO fuller con-
sclousness ErpH the farther end OF the
street came the nose OF galloping
horses, and the roar of firemen as they
shouted the dread cry OF "Fire! Fire"
was young and, nfust-adffit IL,
foolhardy, and, without a thought /
sprang from my couch opened my
balcony which ran alongside. Far be-
low me i could see the engine, like
child's piaything rapidly approachihta
The glare OF the street lamps was re-
fiected on the brass helmets OF the fire.
men as they swung 10 and fro with the
oscillation.
Fire! Fire. Fire." And the eddying
sparks fell like a shower OF lurid rain
released from the steamers funnel. a
moment later IL had passed the hotel,
and, swinging round a corner, van
ished out of sight. The clattering OF
the horses hoofs and the warning cry
OF the men as they went to their work
OF rescue grew fainter and fainter in
the distance.
/ then began to feel / had been very
unwlse in venturlng out in such light
attire ON November night U was
wearing only my robe de nuit), and a
cold northeasterly wind was blowing. /
gave hurried glance round TO see IL
i could locate the fire, which / now
realized must be at least half a mile
away. but failing in this turned TO re-
enter my room. AS ! did so the clock
from neighboring church chimed the
hour. followed by two heavy strokes on
the deep tenor. bell
TWO O'Clock, The very thought of be-
ing out I'm my present deshabille on
such night as this sent feeling of
chiiliness through my every limb.
mother OF Moses!" ] gasped, "the sash
has fallen'
l did not then even realize the ex-
tent OF my misfortune 1t never struck
me but that should be able to raise
the sash by exercising care and a lit
lie ingenuity. i was, however, doomed
10 disappointment.
For at least five minutes / tried. by
ulnt OF pressing the tips Of my fingers
into the crack at the bottom OF the
frame, TO raise the window but all my
EFFORTS In that direction proved futile
All the while the night air seemed 10
De getting chillier.My bare feet became
numb with cold upon the stonework of
the balcony. The wind caught the one
delicate garment / possessed threat
ening TO rob me even OF it's fimsy pro-
tection. trantcally / worked and
cursed my luck. till my finger tins be-
came both numb and sore. Hopelessly
beaten in this my first attempt. with
despair at my heart. and extreme cold
pervading the rest or my anatomy. /
sought, by standing on the ledge OF
the window, to force the sash from it's
position by pushing the center Frame
work with my fingers outstretched. This
brought my face close to the pane and.
faintly discernibe through the glass, / |
saw the reason Of my outlawry The |
sash-lne had broken, Then for the first
OF my position. What should / do? How |
j cursed my foolishness i'm getting cut |
10 see the engine. without. at least,
wrapping something round me.
with frenzy / again attacked the |
wretched window, but not one hairs |
Dreddth would IT bulge. Shake ii. push |
IL, poke 1t as / would, / could get no |
result
Then IL occurred to me how extreme |
~ ludicrous | must look performing |
these extraordinary evolutions between |
heaven and earth at the entrance to my |
own bedroom dressed or undressed, as |
was. IL made me laugh to think what |
my friends at the club. or my brother |
onlcers In the Dragons. would say. But |
my laughter died in a prolonged shiyer.
and my teeth began 10 chatter. That |
WIND was SO appallingly inquisitive. so /
searching IN it's inquiries and so very
very Icy in it's touch
The church clock chimed a quarter. |
IL seemed incredible. for felt as II an
hour had passed since | heard IT'S deem
notes tell the hour of two. Had been
there week, / could not have been
more certain or the hopelessness of fur
ther attempting 10 open the window I
looked round. therefore for some other
mode OF escape.
MY room was situated in n wing OF
,ne huge building, and one end OF tho
balcony formed "a cul-de-sac at my
MlnuoW MY only hope lay i'm the other
urectlon. Crawling cautiously along I
Iouhd TO my joy that the only other
opening on 10 my balcony contained n \
light. Help was at handt
isWas Tor moment obivious of tho |
eHlgencies OF the situation. A feeling
oI warmth and joy dominated me.
verify believe should have knocked
AZ the pane without a reflection as to
my raiment. had not the wind again
only too keenly reminded me how I was
nor clothed | realized that caution
was necessary.
Creeping to the window. and peering
through chlnk I'm the blind I saw
what at another time | should have
considered the prettiest sight i'm the
world. Inside the room two girls. robed
IN luxurious dressing gowns. and evi-
IDENTITY just returned from a bali. were
lying back I'm their easy chairs and
lazily discussing. as I guessed. tho I'm.
cidents OF the evening
/ saw at once that they were both