The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-05-19

| ldeHcI In1rly miles III lHlo oidLiIiS
sun would half kill you"
ooh, no, it would not, +" urged Nancie,
her dark eyes sweet and wlllful. 1t
will not hurt me. Let me go, daddy
do | can ride Miss Mollie, and"-with
a half shv. half mischievous look at the
Young man" Fred will take care of me. !"
Mr.. Forest raised one OF two more OBJ
iections; but Nancy-a spoiled pet and
darling, overruled them all, and finally,
as she always did, got her own way, and
in half an hour the two were riding to-
gether through the maple woods which
clothed the rising ground all about For
est Hill Nancie and her chestnut mare,
Miss Mollie, were picture to look at.
The girl was perfect rider, and in her
close fitting habit of light gray cloth
the only thing suitable for the country
with its touch of scarlet ribbon at the
throat, and her broad Brimmed straw
hat, looked her very best, and knew it,
too.
"This is an unexpected honor" be-
gan Fred, as they quilted the shade of
the trees, and entered on the dry, crisp
grass of the open prairie.
"Do not fatter yourself" returned
Miss Nancie, with a toss of her bright
young head. 1T suited my convenience
to come. | expect to find some letters
at the settlement which wish to get for
myself"
Sixty miles is long way to ride for
letters which / could have brought with
me on Thursday remarked Fred, with a
somewhat incredulous smile. ~ do not
suppose they are of much vital conse-
quence."
Il have no wish to make you my post
man." retorted Miss Nancie; "and it is
not Of the slightest consequence what you
suppose or do not suppose"
Fred disdained to answer, except by a
most unnecessary cut of the whip or
Hotspur's glossy flank. The quarrel be-
tween the two had been in progress some
days. In this unsocial style the two
pressed on mile after mile, till the sun
was high in the heavens and half their
journey over.
The track was simply narrow path
beaten through the tall gramma grass and
seeds of the prairie, which rose on either
hand five or six feet high, all matted
and tangled together with wild pea vines
and creepers; it was burnt quite crisp
and brown by the heat of the sun, and
was as dry as finder. As they brushed
it in passing, the twigs and canes snapped
at a touch. Right ahead, fifteen miles
miles away, rising blue above the undula-
tiOns of the prairie, was steep bluff, the
termination of range of low hills, off
shoots of the Rocky mountains. This
bluff was their landmark and guide, for a
mile or two behind it was the Red Ranch
settlement, or Northcotes, as it was often
called. Meanwhile the clear blue of the
sky was becoming overcast with sultry
leaden haze. The air was intensely hot
and heavy. The wide, treeless, shadow
less prairie rolled away on every side in
long undulations like the swells of the
great ocean. At last Fred grew tired OF
keeping up even a show of resentment
and began to talk again.
" How we'll Miss Mollie goes to-day"
4" She always does" returned Nancie,
a shade more graciously than before
she was tired of keeping silent so long.
"AIl the same, would not back her
against Hotspur."
No, because Hotspur would be
beaten" asserted Nancy confidently.
viii you try" he asked.
No, won't. 1t is too hot to race
How can you suggest such thing in this
blazing sum-"
Hot or not, it strikes me it is what
you will have to do" he remarked cody
What do you mean?" she said, rails.
ing pair of dark, incredulous eyes.
Look there" and raising his whip
Fred pointed to the right, behind them
whence the leaden hued cloud was spread
ing over the sky. "What does that look
like?"
Nancie turned her eyes in the direction
indicated, and as she looked her face
blanched to an awful whiteness.
d" FIRE. The prairie is on frel" she
cried, fearfully. ooh, Fred what shall
we do?" Involuntary she drew up hel
horse and gazed anxiously around
The ominous leaden gray haze wa.
sweeping down upon already il
had crept round behind them. Below
the haze faint line, of dull red was iust
visible
Yes, the prairie is on fire, sure
enough, . the young man sain. care yor
frightened, Nancie?"
She turned her dark, clear eyes to his
+ Her face was pale, but there was no sigr
of weakness about the steady, brave
mouth.
"No, | am not frightened" she an
swered, gravely, but smiling back int
his anxious face. But | know the
danger"
"And how we can escape" he said
reassuringly. Now for it! "
In another moment they were flying
along. There was no need to urge Hot
spur and Miss Mollie-they scented the
danger and could scarcely be restrained
! The bluff showed blue in the distance
fifteen mile away; and be hind them wa
waste of hot dry finder which caugh
fire with lightning-like rapidity. TIL,
odds against them seemed awful.