The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-13


sile LOOK little notice Of that.
at me next morning her husband W,
o"i.u 20 Chlcago alone on business. ST.
O. ensured the uncongenial surroundings ,
long as she could, then caught nm har h,
and shawl and went out to walk,
She strolcd half mile, found the for,
ing or the creek and still went on.
The emerald of the bush grass was moo
hinccht, INC May sky arched above blue q
upus a"'ll. Sweet wild birds flew ovc
sight j.. ss ' "4'
The great stiffness hal wondorf
charm for her. Now she looked wondcr
ingly at the green distance surrounding her
lhcn wandered about, gathering the flow
eIs that gemmcd the grass like rubics. san
phires and stars of gold 'p
The tinted clouds of sunset bepan ~ fo,
IN the West at last and she turned toworl
home. ..t ''""i'
After walking quite distance she bepar
olook anxiously for the landmarks of bc,
return. IN vain. Round and round sbc
wandered; i but tho changing light gave
everything new aspect.
For half an hour she stood with tbro,,-
ping heart' looking vainly to the right and
Hhe roscate light dcepcncd into grov
dense log crcpt around her. She Ind
ol.ccted her faltcring footsteps to n sinplo
cottonwood tree, and now stood clinginr to
IL, hcr heart sinking in her bosom. 0h
"here was She and what would become or
her? ''o''''o Vi
one could make no further effort, so be-
"iuered bad she become that she knew
| no longer in which direction to search
| hiust she stay there all night2 IF 40 sho
,ried to believe that nothing would harm
her. ''''''i
but 1t grew dark. The flrcties swarmed
around her head. She heard st1onuc
istant, morrnful noise which terrifiod her
Suddenly she heard her name called.
Aunt Laura! Aunt Laura !" She renlicd
'iere!" eagerly, and a small figure canc
side. e'"'' " "el
1t was Ted.
"Oh, Ted | am lost :"
Know it. | came to find YOU, Iwos
"atcfllng Tor you to come back-you did
not come. said nothing to the others. |
2e' OIL 10 ma YOU Come quick! | think
can find the ford"
Laura grasped the boys small caoer
mand' and hurried away with him through
the dew-wet grass.
1ou are all wet, TeG."
could not wait to find the ford; l
swan across"
Laura's eyes distcnded still further with
SURPRISE VIZ"
.Ih .Ihev- h"""..:~~- -.-------,-----.--.
'"Ted, won't the others come for meS"
81 don't know"
It was a hestating, panied tone.
{o1l/ II |
A selfish, churlish man, two young and
unrcliant girls who would search the lone,
chilly prairie if Ted had, not come
Laura's soft, jewcled hand closed tighter
on the child's rough one.
for thisl"
He stopped.
"Amt Laura, it's no use to 40 on.
can't find the ford, it's got 30 dark"
He was painting.
"'The tree" he replied, wasn't it an old
dry one2"
'Dry and withered, believe-yes."
owe must go back to It,
"Why2"
He did not answer, but hurried her on. |
''Ted, what ls that noise hear2 Dogs |
barking?"
"Hurryl Narry!' pulling her over the
backward path. -N.
"Why must we go back to that tree,
Tcd3"
'It is dry, you sald2'
s"Tcd what is that howling2'
Her voice shook with vague fear now
"Hcrc it is."
He placed her with her back against the
old dry tree.
81 brought some .matches,' he painted.
''NIatches What for"
He snatched some dry leaves together,
tore some strips from his old cotton jacket
sleeve, and lighted the whole.
"a Then he threw on dead branches, all
piled against the further side of the tree
! trunk.
''rcd what Is that for?'
evolves, wolvcsl Don't you see them?"
cried the boy throwing out his arms "But
you needn't be afraid; they can't hurt you
now. Oh, Aunt Laura, they'll never come
near us now, for they are afraid of fire, and
the tree is burning"
Laura had sank upon the ground, faintfng
with terror.
ooh, Ted, dear Ted |" sho sobbed, 'Gll
help you for tho flames dying down for
an instant, the boy began snatching up
handfuls of dry grass.
For hours they worked, piling on all the
inhammablc material they could find
around the trunk of the cottonwood, while
those strange dancing sparks so near the
:" grohnd-the fierce eyes of the wolves,
which Laura saw plainly now-reluctantly
retreated when the flames blazed, at last to
the topmost houghs of the tree, and the
light streamed far and wide.
Dishevelcd. pallid, exhausted, her nj
cry lost at last in brief slcep-thus A
geron Amberloy found his wife In the earl
dawn. t.
"I1. The ground smoked beneath her, burn.
Ing twigs fell around her; but Teds watch
ing eyes took care that she was not burned
t His little jacket was wrapped around hel
: shoulders; her head was pilloted on hi
: knee.
G "Sl,o's tired, Ireckon," he said simply
s ooh, my b6y!" broke from Algcrnor
@ tAmberley's lips. i
He carried his wife home IN his arms