Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-29

had ever seen in his life.
Secretly he adored her as she fingered
a moment now. Having descended from
the carriage. and being loath to go into
the house, he addressed her:
"Be you going to take me9"
"No,' said Laure, quickly 81 think l
shall take Nelly"
''She noticed that the boys head
dropped as he turned away, leading the
| horses; but she took little notice of that.
The next morning her husband was
called to Chicago alone on business She
endured the unconeenial surround
ings as long as she could, then caught
up her hat and her shawl and went out
| to walk.
She strolled half mile, found the
fordlng of the creek, and still went on.
The emerald of the bush-grass was
magnificent, the May sky arChed above
blue as 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 sunset 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 an hour she stood, with thr d.
ing heart, looking vainly to the right
anu left-Iost!
The roseate light deepened into gray.
A dense fog Crept around her. She
had directed her falterng 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 her3
She could make no further effort, So
bewildered had she become that she
| knew no longer in which direction to
search Must she stay there all night?
If so she tried to believe that nothing
would harm her.
But it grew dark. The iref1ies swarm
ed around her head. She heard strange.
distant, msurnful noise which terrified
her.
Suddenly she heard her name called:
Aunt Laure Aunt Laurel She replied,
"Herep' eagerly, and small figure came
bounding through the rustling grass to
her side.
1t was Ted.
"Oh, Ted l am lost''
Il know it. came to find you. I
was watching for ySu to come back-you
did not come. / said nothing to the
others. I set off to find you. Come quick
think can find the ford"
Laure grasped the boys small, eager
hand, and hurried away with him through
the dew-wet grass.
You are all wet, Ted"
81 could not wait to find the ford;
| swan acIoss.'
Laure's eyes distended still further
with surprise.
They were hurrying-running.
81 know the way, bat it is SO dark"
said Ted.
Ted, won't the others come for me7'
81 don't know"
It was hesitant, panied tone.
your own folks are away, you knows"
A selfish, churlish man, two young and
unreliant girls; who would search the
lone, chilly prairie if Ted had not come
Laures soft, jeweled hand closed tight
er on the child's rough one.
"Oh, TedI my husband will pay you
| for thisp'
He stopped.
"Aunt Laure, it's no use to go on. I
can't fnd the ford, it got SO dark"
| He was painting.
care you afraid, Ted7"
"The tree" he replied. wasn't it an
! Old dry one7"
Dry and with red, believe-yes."
"We must 60 back to it,
Why's"
she did not answer, but hurried her
| on.
Ted, what is that noise hear9 Dogs
barking?"
Hurry, hurryr' pulling her over the
backward path.
"Why must we go back to that tree,
Ted9"
at is dry, you said?"
"Ted, what is that howling?
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 forl"
He snatched some dry leaves together,
tore some strips from his old cotton
| jacket-sleeve, and lighted the whole.
Then he threw on dead branches, all
| la h. 80 IL - h. A.o
| trunk. .....
Ted, what is that for7''
evolves, wolves Don't you see them?''
cried the boy, throwing out his arms
but you needn't be afraid; thty can't
hurt you now. Oh, Aunt Laure, 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 r. she sebbed, I'll
help you !"-for the flames dying down
for an instant, the boy began snatching
| up handfuls af the dry grass.
| For hours they orkea, piling all the
infammable material they could find
around the trunk of tae cottonwood,
while those strange dancing sparks SC
near the grGund-the fierce eyes of the
wolves. which Laure saw plainly now
reluctantly retreAted when the flames
} blazed, 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 brief sleep-thus AL
gernon Amberley found his wife in thu
early dawn.
TIL ground smoked beneath her, burn
ing twigs fell around her: but Ted