Year: 1877

wish to feel pride and love in simply
the idol of a ball, be he ever so
much admired. But we said that
John Bramwell had good qualities
that were unknown to Mary Marley,
and she was to discover them in a
manner that was both strange and
startling.


Among the many things that Miss
Marley was her kindness and con-
sideration for those of her sex who
were struggling with adverse circum-
stances. Among these~Was-spees
young dressmaker named Amy Bray,
who was the sole support of an in
firm mother. Bramwell had fire.
quently met the young girl at Mrs.
Marley's house, and learning her
necessities and the patience with
which she labored to support her
mother, he, from time to time, had
given Mrs. Marley generous dona-
tions of money to aid the girl in her


audable conduct. But before he
did so he extracted solumn prom
ise from Mrs. Marley that she would
not mention the fact to any person,
more particularly her daughter Mary,
Oftentimes when her daughter asked
for some proof of Bramwell's good
works she felt strongly tempted to
give her the evidence, but the re-
gard she bore Bramwell kept her
steadfast to her promise, and she
made no reply.


John Bromwell, at length morti-
fed with the calm indifference which
his homage won from Mary Marley,
ceased all outward show of it and
paid attention equally to every new
and pretty face, and seemed deter
mined to dazzle or charm without
ever loving any but the obdurate
Miss Marley. He went deeper into
the frivolities of society than ever,
and night after night attended balls
and other fashionable amusements.
If he hoped to pique Mary Marley
he made an egregious miscalcula-
ton. She heard of his pastime
with scarcely a word of surprise, and
continued her calm and Indifferent
demeanor.


1t was in early winter that Bran
well was one night late returning
from a party with some gentlemen
companions that a cry of fire was
raised as they were crossing a small
street. The party at once halted
to observe the direction of the dis
aster when suddenly the flames
rolled out of the doors and windows
of frame building near at hand
Bramwell and his companions went
at once to the spot and found the
house already burning like a fur
mace. As much of the furniture as
could be secured was thrown out
into the street, when there arose a
wild shrek from a woman's lips,
"Save, oh! save my motherr'


The crowd gazed upon each other,
irresolute to act. It seemed GER
tain death to enter that burning,
roaring dwelling.


"Save, oh! save my motherw
again rang out on the midnight air,
and though strong and daring men
were laboring to quell the conAaga-
ton, yet none started in response
to the wild and imploring appeal.
Suddenly Bramwell, arrayed in his
party costume, with lavender kids
still upon his hands, thrust the
crowd aside, and sprang into the
doorway amid falling timbers and
the hot, scorching fire. A wild cheer
arose from the crowd as Bramwell
disappeared.


He'll never be seen alive again, 4"
growled an old fireman. "No man
can live q minute in that furnace. :"


But the fellow made mistake; he
had scarcely finished his remark,
when Bramwell was seen staggering
under a weight that he carried wrap
ped in a blanket. A moment more
he gained the street, staggered and
fell; but he had saved the life of the
mother of Amy Bray.


He never heard the shouts of ap-
plause that went up from the throats
Of the multitude, and was uncon-
scious when his friends called him by
name. Fearfully ard awfully burned
he lay upon the ground in q state of
insensibility. When he returned to
consciousness he was in his own home,
a sadly dis6gured man, and so dan
gerously injured that it was supposed
he could not live very long. If any
one who had seen the gay and hand
some John Bramwell. who had
danced so merrily the night before,
had looked upon the swollen, dis
torted and charred face, they would
scarcely have recognized the man
who was 80 much admired.


It was not until three days after
the event, that Amy Bray came to
Mrs. Marley's with the news of the
misfortune.


"And oh! Miss Marley" she ex-
claimed, warming up with enthus-
iasm, as she spoke, "to see that