The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-09-07

without. Upon emerging from the house
q burning shower of cinders met them.
Not a 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 blistering heat,
scarcely knowing where, Ruth still bear
ing her precious burden, and the children
clinging 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 nave been hours. Suddenly
Ruth lost her balance. She gave utter
ance to one piercing SHREK but she never
down, down, down. The terrified chill
dren screamed as they rollea over and
over, and then all was silence end dark
ness.
Ruth was the first to recover.
"Mother?"
"rm safe. The childrenP"
w. nlClO 1 WV OttA
tie ones, creeping on their hands and
knees toward the familiar voices. They
managed to reach the sheltering embrace
of mother, who lay unhurt amid her
wrappiEgs just as she had slipped FROM
the stanch arms that saved her life.
Ruth began to feel around; for even
the ghastly light of the flames had a
ished, and not an object was visible in the
thick, deep gloom. Brambles 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 q little
clear space, and creeping forward, 500
came to rising ground. Catching hold
of a 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. s.Where are you all. I have
lost YOU"
"Here," replied her mothers voice
not three yards away. lis Scott with
thee? 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, "ScottL Scott"
But no answer.
HE must have hidden somewhere
when the darkness came" was the
mother despairing conclusion.
1.-The ~root-house!m Ruth's words told
the awful story. -
IF I could save him!'hh And with a
silent prayer for strength, she once more
dashed into the sitting smoke.
Hour after hour crept by; it seemed to
the terrified children as if they must
have sat there for days; and they were
so hungry! and Ruth never would come!
Presently, after long waiting, the
darkness began to lift somewhat, and
they could see each other faces. Little
by little the gloom cleared away until
the whole atmosphere was of a dusky
hue. And still they waited. At length,
starting up with an exclamation of joy
as rapid footsteps approached, they
heard their fathers voice:
"Ruthl Hal!'
Here" roared Hal. starting to his
feet.
In a moment more Mr.. Leonard
bounded down the steep bank of the
creek, and with him Jake Murphy, who
had started from the village to warn Mr..
Leonard, reaching the farm just as that
first overwhelming darkness dropped
upon the village.
They had found shelterin the old well,
Mr.. Leonard was oyertaken in his
preparations for flight, and could not
reach the house before it burst into
flames. When the crisis was past, almost
wild with grief and despair, he COM
! menced a search for wife and children,
fearing at every step to come upon their
t ~lifeless bodies. For n moment he stood
overcome with thankfulness as he found
: them unframed.
But two were missing. Mrs. Leonard
' hurriedly told of little Scott's disappear.
5 ance. and of Ruth's effort to save him.
The two men fastened to the root.
house. 1t was still standing, though
e blackened and charred, and no sign Of
: life appeared. The door was tightly
: closed, and upon opening it a sight me
the fathers eye which almost over
powered the strong man. There lay
Ruth. white and still, tightly clasping
the little fellow to her bosom.
t 1t was the work of a moment to carry
e them out of the dark building. Botf
s were unconscious, though they bore few
traces of the fire. Might there not yet
: be a chance of lifep
Quickly the men bore the motionless
forms to the creek. ALI the remedies
which they could obtain were applied
e but it seemed in vain; the loving ones
e could do little but watch and wait.
At last Ruth stirred, and SLOWLY
n opened her eyes. The brave heart once
e more began to beat, though for many
long, weary day the blistered hands anG
arms refused to move. But Ruth wa.
spared.
} Little Scott lay there for hours, unit
o it seemed that the family must lose theil
baby, when he wonderingly gazed arount
upon the anxious group and inquired
'tDid you try to cook me for dinnerP"
All the pent-up feelings found vent il
a fearful laugh, and then the laugh
turned to joy, and the Joy to thanksgiv
e ing.
n When the flaming hurricane had sweep
onward in its mad course of destruction
and the sun, which had risen in sucl
fierce glory, sent a last sickly glimmel
through the murky air, it revealed the
o little village of Greenville a waste o
o smoking ruins. But the fire had merci
e fully stopped upon reaching Farmel
Leonard's grassy meadow, and thus hat
the fugitives in the creek been saved.
The strong men set to work with
4 Ill
= little shed for protection; and day, afte
dayihis prospects frightened, asthetime
e ly aid and sympathy of friends helped
II him to rebuild his ruined home.
1t would have been hard to find a hap
pier household than this reunited family
If Slowly strength returned to Ruth
+ wounded arms, and a sweet peace shon
o through the gray eyes as she once NOR
become able to enjoy the blessings whicI
II had so nearly been taken from her.
, Her great opportunity had come, an,