Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-02-19

"Yes-but my dear sis, SO long a
the fire keeps its distance, it matter
not whether o ur road is through tn
forest or the fields. We will driv
on briskly, and before noon you wi
laugh at your fears. You II par tin.
from home has weakenedyo1 + nerv ves
No more was said, and for s ON
time the ca rriage proceeded 4
silence. .Mea ntime the cohflagrati6
was. evidently spreading with grea
rapidly. The dark, den Sc clouds 0
smoke, which had been at first seer
only in one spot, had now EXTENDED
in a line along the horizon, gradually
edging so as 70 head off the travel
ers. But this was done so impercep
tibly, that, for a Ion g time, they were
not aware of it, and they journeyed
at least half aIl hour before they saw
their danger. AT length the bride
spoke again.
"Surely; de cur Edward,' she said,
addressing her husband, ''the fire is
sweeping around ahead of us: | have
been watching it by yonder blasted
pine, AID can see it slowly creeping
across the trunk
Esdry eye was instantly turned
in the direction to which She pointed
and her prother involuntarily
checked the horses. a look Of dis
may was on ead h countenance as they
saw the words Of the bride verified.
There could be no doubt that the fire
had materially changed its bearing
since they last spoke, and now threat
ened to cut off their escape altogeth-
er.
Il wish, Ellen, We had listened to
your fear, and turned back half an
hour ago" said the brother; eve had
better do it at on nee
God help Us, that is ilnpossibl le!"
said the husbah Id, looking backwards;
the fire has cut off our retreatl'
1t was as he said. The fan les,
which at first 5 tartcd at a point sew
eral miles distant and at right AN
giles to tie road the party was trav-
cling. had spread out in every direc-
tiop, and, finding the swamp in the
rear Of the trav elers pardhed almost
to tinder by the drought, had extend
ed with inconcei iyable velocity i'll that
quarter, so thu t dense cloud of
smoke, beneath which a dark lqrid
vale of fire sur ged and rolled, com
pletcly cit off all retrogade move
ment on tie part of the t rayellers.-
This volune of flame, moreover. was
evidently 2m6vihg rapidly.in pursuit
The checks even of the male m en-
bers of the bridal party, turned ashy
pale at the sight.
"Thtre is nothing TO do but to
push on, sad the brother; eve will
yet clear the road beior e the fire
reaches it.
"And if I remember said the
husband. "thereI is a road branching
5ff' to the right, scarce half a mile a
head: we can gRin that easily, when
We shall be safe. Cheer up Ellen
is no danger. This is our
morn let me not see you
sad"
The horses we're now urged for
ward at a brisk pace, and in q few
minutes the bri dal party reached the
Their progress IS was now
lirectly from the fire; all peril seemed
1t an end; and the spirits of the
group rose in proportion to their
ate depression. Once more the mer7
y laugh was heard, and the song
'ose up gaily on the morning air
The conlagration still ragged behin23 |
out at a distance that placed all fear
It dcfance; while in front, the fire
'lthougE edging down towards them
approached at a pace so slow that
hey knew it would not reach the
'oad until perhaps hours after they
lad attained their journeys end, i
At length the party subsidized again
nto silence, occupying themselves in
gazing d n the magnificent spectacle
by the lurl ID flames, as,
rolling their huge volume of smoke
above them, they roared down to-
wards the Travellers
'The8 forest is as dry as POWDER
said the husband; Il never saw a
,onnagntion travel so rapidly
The fire cannot have been kindled
many hours, and it is alre@dy spread
for miles. Little did you think,
Ellen,'' he said, turning fondly to his