The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-01-29

magnificent, the May sky arched above
blue rs lapis lazuli. Sweet wild birds
flew over her head, and no other living
thing was in sight.
The great stiffness had wonderful
charm tor her. Now she looked wonder
ingly at the green distance surrounding
her; then wandered about, gathering the
flowers that gemmed the grass like ru-
bles, sapphires and stars Of gold.
| The tinted clouds Of sunaet began to
fail in the west at last and she turned to-
ward home.
Alter walking quite distance she be-
gan to look anxiously for the landmarks
OF her return. In vain. Round and
round she wandered; but the changing
| light gave everything new aspect.
! For half All hour she stood, with thr d.
ing heart, looking vainly to the tight
and left-iost!
The roseate light deepened into gray.
had directed her faiterlng footsteps to
single cottonwood tree, and now stood
clinging to 1t, her heart sinking in her
bosom. Oh, where was she and what
would become Of herr
| She could make no further effort, SD
bewildered had she become that she
knew no longer in which direction to
search Must she stay there all night9
If 50 she tried to believe that nothing
would harm her.
But it grew dark. The fircties swarm
ed around her head. She heard a strange.
distant, mournful noise which terrified
her.
Suddenly she heard her name called ::
}"Aunt Laure Aunt Laurel She replied,
"Here!' eagerly, and small figure came
bounding through the rustling grass to
her side.
It was Ted.
sob, Ted am lost!'
II know it. I came to find you. 7
was watching for ysu to come back-you
did not come. l said nothing to the
others. l set off to find you. Come quick !!
1 think can find the ford.'
Laure grasped the boys smsll, eager
hand, and hurried away with him through
the dewwet grass.
"You are all wet, Ted
III could not wait to find the ford; I
! SWAN acrOss.'
Laure's eyes distended still further
with surprise.
They were hurrying-running.
II know the way, but it is go dark
said Ted.
Ted, won't the others come for meE'
81 don't know
1t was Il hesitant, panied tone.
"Your own folks are away, YOU know?"
! \ selfish, churlish man, two young and
unleliant girls: who would search the
lone, chilly prairie if Ted had not come!
Laure's soft, jcweled hand closed tight
er on the child's rough one.
"Oh, Ted! my husband will pay you
for this!''
lie stopped.
"Aunt Laure, it's no Use to 60 ON. l
can't find the ford, it's got so dark
He was painting.
''Are you afraid, Ted2''
"rhe tree" he replied. Wasn't it an
Cd dry one?'
"Dry and with red, believe-yes."
awe must 60 back to it,
"Why7'
"He did not answer, but hurried her
on.
Ted, what is that noise hear? Dogs
barking2"
Hurry, hurry" pulling her over the
backward path.
"Why must We 60 back to that tree,
Tedl'
''1t is dry, You said?'
Tied, what is that i,owling?
Her voice shook with vague fear now.
"Here it is.'
HE placed her with her back against
the old dry tree.
II brought some Matches" he painted
matches! What tori''
He snatched some dry leaves together,
tore some strips from his old cotton
jackct-sleeve, and lighted the whole.
Then he threw on dead branches, all
piled against the further side OF the tree
trunk.
''Ted, what is that FORE
evolves, wolves Don't you see them?'
cried the boy. throwing out his arms.
"But you needn't be afraid; thy can't
hurt you now. Oh, Aunt Laurc, they'll
never come near us now, for they are
afraid of fire, and the tree is burning"
Laure had sank upon the ground.
fainting with terror.
ooh, Ted, dear Ted!' she sobbed, III
help you!"-for the flames dying down
for an instant, the boy began snatching
up handfuls af the dry grass.
For hours they worked, piling all the
intlammaolc material they cou 1 find
around the trunk of thc cot,ouN God,
while those strange dancing SPARKS so
near the grcund-the fierce eyes Of the
wolves. which Laurc saw plainly now
reluctantly retreatcd when the flames
blazcd, at last, to the topmost boughs Of
the tree, and the light streamed tar and
wide.
| Disheveled, pallid, exhausted, her mis-
cry lost at last in a brief sleep--thus AL
gernon Amberley found his wife in the
early dawn.
TIL ground smoked beneath her, burn
ing twigs fell around her: but Ted's
watching eyes took care that she was not
burned. His little jacket was wrapped
around her shoulders; her head was pill
lower Oh his knee.
"She's tired, reckon" he SAID, SIM
ply.
"Oh, my boy!" broke from Algernon
Amberley's lips.
He carried his wife home in his arms,
Ted leading the way-Tcd never once
conscious of the love he had earned, but
sad and lonely again in that old farm
house.
But Laure had him brought 10 her bed
side, held his hands in hers, kissed his
little grimy cheeks.
Tied, ycu are going back with US.
There is not another boy so loved in all
the world"
And it was true.
i Prof. Spectrum on Light.
MY HEAREKs-There are great many
kinds of light, sunlight moonlight, staS-
| | limit candla. / nhf lan,,, l;l.h& olo.4.:.