The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-19
so AS BY FIRE.

=" My house'n be ready by the first snow.
Gut
He was strongly made, sunburned, vigor-
ous-looking man, not yet thirty, and he stood
On a high roll of the prairie, from which he
could overlook the waving wealth of a vast
ield of corn.
His mouth closed suddenly behind the last
short word, and shadow came into his bright
dark eyes. hey had ceased to study the
,orn-fed turning rather towards pair who
we're riding along its northerly border. They
we're too far away for him to hear the tall,
bearded old man, on the heavy bay horse, re-
mark:
Virginia, thar's Marsh standin' on the
rise. Reckon he's takin' a look of his corn
crap"
There was no verbal answer, but in another
instant the roam mare under his lady compan-
on was curveting spitefully,
What on airth did you hit her for? She
was goin' well enough You amt safe with
whip"
She was evidently safe in a saddle, however,
and the bay now initiated the roam In a man
ser which brought them rapidly to the summit
Of I" the rise.''
"Mornin', Marsh, How's your crap turnin'
out! Looks PRIME"
C Forty acres cut and shocked. Going In
on the shocking tomorrow. Pm counting on
sixty bushel to the acre"
Mebbe it's thar Hundred and forty
acres of it, You're workin' ahead, Marsh
Hayne. Corn's better n wheat this year."
when are you going to thresh out your
Sield! You'll have heap of it.n
"Best yield ever harvested, if the market
Gas worth anything. They do say it's comm
1p. jest look at them ricks of mine !"
They were mile and half due west, but
no tree stood between to prevent view of
open, unbroken prairie. A line of forest arose
eeyond the ricks. and beyond that, unseen
from the knoll, the great plain rolled away,
with only few scattered farms, sixteen miles
TO the county-seat and town.
"Your mares uneasy, this morning, Miss
Crawford. What's the matter with here"
That was Marshall Havne's first discovery
Of something to say, directly, to Virginia,
while her whole attention had seemed to be
otherwise absorbed.
''I'ye spoiled her; let her have her own way
too much"
''rhat'l never do. l keep pretty steady
hand over everything | ride or drive"
Every line of his face and every tone Of his
deep, musical voice seemed to vOuch for MIN.
He was speaking of dumb animals, to be sure,
but the color deepened in Virgnia's handsome
lace as she replied, CURLY
$50 do Il'
There was would of finn decision in the
words, and in the sudden compression OF the
red lips which uttered them. Even the roam
mare must have comprehended, for she gave
up her petty rebellion and began to paw the
aard, black surface of the prairie road beneath
9 2er.
"Marsh," remarked old Crawford, ''isn't
your house nigh done2"
GAN finished inside. Got good many
things in, too. All the cribs III be up in time
20 hold the CROP"
"Gwine to live thar, this winter"'
1t was Marshall Haynes turn to color deep
~, as he answered:
Cant say. Reckon old Bitters'll have to
BOARD me n while ~
eff / were Celerity,'" exclaimed Virginia,
With the kind of smile which is no smile at all,
II would make you paint your house"
The flush in S face was fiery red, as he sud-
denly turned to her father:
SPY the way Did you take note of the
prairie fire last night, northeast! The sky was
good and red.' -
t'Way beyond the timber? Yes, saw it.
TIN bum out whar it is, jest as it alters does.
1t won't git across the slough" s....,
"Don't you be too sure of that, now. I've
lmind to do some back-firing on that side Of
the farm. A free go through my sandingcorn
ike it was dry grass"
: G Reckon it would. 'Twon't come, though.
I've lived on this prairie moren ten year and
40 fire ever come a-nigh me.n
81 don't care to have one come too nigh me
ill my corn's in crib"
Come along, Virginia. Your mother'n be
Iookn' for u.s."
"Good-day," said Marsh.
"Good-morning, said his two neighbors,
almost in The same breath, and Virginia add
ed: "You may tell CELEBRITY Bitters for me,
we're going to town tomorrow. If she wants
me to get the things she spoke of she'd better
let me know.n .ts tl Sin
"I'll tell her. Palm Bitters'll be glad of an
Grand to your house"
In two seconds more Virginia's roam mare
was fairly dancing along the road, while
Marshall Hayne strobe iercely down the slope
IN the opposite direction.
Virginia" remarked her father, "why can't
you treat Marsh Hayne leetle more neigh
borlys Thar isn't likeler young Teller on
this prairie. Thar's all sorts Of real grit and
push into him., Look what he's done with
that thar farml"
IS e'iMost any man can handle quarter sec
ton" t r......
sections now, but he'll be ahead of me, fore
long" ...i
"May be So"
she amt onsociable, neither What times
he got to run around nowadays, I'd like to
know2" W
'Nobody wants him to-" -7r'e
''Virginia, how you hev sweated that mare
Of yourn! Looks like you'd ridden her TWEEN
ty miles instid of ten. What's got into you
and her this mornings" .ls..,. ~ .
ehe was very busy with her Iinruly pet just
then, and they were drawing near the house,
behind which rose the tall ricks Of unthrashed
wheat. 1t was pleasant home, for that day
and region. The out-buildings were good.
There were even orchards and a garden, and
in front of the house an attempt at shrubbery.
I he sole heiress of all that comfort, with so
many broad acres around 1t, hardly needed
Virginias uncommon beauty offace and form
20 make her the acknowledged " belle of
Crawford's Prair.e." That she was SO, how