Was she still in prison, and if so, what would be her punishment for aiding him to escape from prison?
Would he ever behold her again?
These were the thoughts that followed him to his pillow, haunted him in is dreams, and awakened him from his slumbers.
The alarm of fire aroused the inmates of the hotel in which Jerome had sought shelter for the night from the deep sleep into which they had fallen.

The whole village was buried in slumber, and the building was half consumed before the frightened inhabitants had reached the scene of the conflagration.

The wind was high, and the burning embers were wafted like so many rockets through the sky.

The whole town was lighted up, and the cries of women and children in the streets made the scene a terrific one.

Jerome heard the alarm, and hastily dressing himself, he went forth and hastened toward the burning building.
"There,--there in that room in the second story, is my child!" exclaimed a woman, wringing her hands, and imploring some one to go to the rescue of her little one.
The broad sheets of fire were flying in the direction of the chamber in which the child was sleeping, and all hope of its being saved seemed gone.