The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-09

a sickening smell OF burned wood. The
whole sky seemed overcast and thick.
heavy haze was settling down upon
fields and buildings as far as the eve
could reach.
Harry! Harry" she called, excitedly,
''where's father?"
Gone TO the woods, [ told you. o
there he comesr' and Hal peered into
the gloom as he looked in the direction
of the woods.
Ruth saw dark moving object COM
inc toward them. She waited for no
second look, but sped away like the wind
into the nearest field.
80, father, what's happened" she
cried, breathlessly, running up to him
and catching his arm as she turned to
keep pace with his long strides toward
the house.
We're going to burn OUT he an
swered, with set teeth, land there no
time to lose. Get your mother ready to
move, while | harness the horses. We
must reach the lake within an hour,
Or
How can we?" uttered Ruth, aghast.
Ten miles!'
at must be done. Quick, daughters
The girl needed no further bidding,
but ran homeward, calling to Hal as she
passed, and charging him to keep near
the house with Scott
Ruth made straight for the store-room.
and filling her arms with a pile of
blankets, she carried them to the door
and threw them on the ground, ready to
spread in the wagon. She then FASTENED
to her mothers room, and found her
pale and composed, trying to quiet Lou
who was sobbing Historically.
Mother, we're gone. Not a ching
can be saved. Fathers getting the
wagon ready to drive us to the lake,
and Ruth began to dress her mother,
slipping on a loose wrapper, AMI cover
ing her with shawl after shawl rs a pro-
lection from the scorching air.
Try and gather up some ofthe cloth
ing, Ruth, if there's time" said Mrs.
Leonard, controlling herself nto calm
ness.
Ruth obeyed, pulled a sheet from the
bed and crowded into it such articles as
were nearest at hand.
80, motherm screamed lou, and hid
her face, as a binding smoke burst into
the room enyeloping the phce in dark
ness.
I'VE must 60" Ruth ,ried, as she
snatched her mother up inner arms, and
stepped firmly toward the door, clasping
her burden tight to her breast. and fol-
lowed by Lou, clinging irantically to
her skirts.
Hurriedly Ruth CROPPED her way down
the staircase and through the lower
rooms, stumbling over the furniture,
until they reached the screening blast
without. Upon emerging from the house
a burning shower of cindets met them.
Not sign of father or the wagon.
Come, put your dress over your head,
Lou" painted Ruth, whose hands were
smarting with pain.
There was not a moment to be lost.
They must flee somewhere, for the house
was already ablaze. An awful yellow
glare lit up the dense darkness. and on
every side the crash of falling trees filled
the air with a terrible din. On they
rushed through the blisterng heat,
knowing where, Ruthstill bear
ing her precious burden, and the children
chnging to her in wild despair,
How long they pursued this headlong
flight no one knew. All sense of time
was lost it might have been minutes, or
it might have been hours. Suddenly
Ruth lost her balance. She gave utter
ance to one piercing shrek but she never
let go her burden, and then she slid
down, down, down. The terrified chill
dren screamed as they rolled over and
over, and then all was silence and dark
ness.
Ruth was the first to recover.
"Mother?n
s. Pm safe. The chidren?'
go, where are we?n moaned the lit
tie ones, creeping on their hands and
knees toward the familiar voices. They
toreach the shetering embrace
of mother, who lay unhurt amid her
wrappings just as she had slipped from
the stanch arms that saved her life.
Ruth began to feel around; for even
the CHASTITY light of the flames had van
iShei, and not an object was visible in the
thick, deep gloom. Brambes and briers
and low bushes upon all sides. With
each turn the dry twigs and leaves
cracked, and in attempting to move the
girl found her clothing caught upon
thorns that projected on all sides. 1t was
with difficulty that she managed to ex-
tricate herself, bruised and benumbed as
she was, but it was necessary to explore
further. The ground felt hard and clay
ey, and was covered with stones. Turn
ing halfway round, Ruth found little
clear space, and creeping forward, soon
came to rising ground. Catching hold
of bush she pulled herself a little way
up the slope, when an idea of their sit
uation suddenly flashed upon her.
"Why. we're in the creek-the dry
creek down by the meadow lot" she
called out, "Where are you all. have
lost YOU"
"Here," replied her mothers voice
not three yards away. 'Is Scott with
theeP Harry and Lou are safe"
"No," answered Ruth, aghast, has
tening with all possible speed to her
mothers side.
Where is the child?" she cried. i'm
mediately calling aloud with all her
strength, "Scott! Scottr'
But no answer.
''He must have hidden somewhere
when the darkness came" was the
mothers despairing conclusion.
HIhe rOOt-hOuSnp' Ruth'S words toll