The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-03-04


ing upon the shore.
How are you?' asked the younger.
advancing toward him.
II am Uery nearly boiled, that's about
how am he said, as soon as he could
recover breath enough to speak.
1.-The flames heated the air until was
obliged to duck my head under, then
the burning reeds fell into the water till
they set It to steaming, and when l
raised my head got breath OF hot air,
that made me think my choice lazy be-
tween boiling and roasting; I'd like to
see the fellow that kindled the fire in my
place awhile; how Jared you?''
II am scorched some, but very glad to
escape so easily, although have not the
least desire to try it again. But bark!
what was that?"
The two men listened anxiously for
a moment, and the sound was repeated,
striking a chill to their hearts far more
terrible than anything they had before
experienced.
1t was human cry, and so full OF ag-
ony and despair that the two men trem-
bled as it came borne across the waste.
fearfully wild and distinct above the roar
of the flames.
"'Tls woman's voice." said the elder
man, as shudder ran through his frame
at thought of a fellow-being per-
ishing horribly, so near that they could
hear the heart-rending shrieks.
Look, lookr' shouted the younger
man, pointing in the direction
from which the sound proceeded, where,
darkly outlined against the lurid sky,
female form was visible retreating be-
fore the flames, (which every moment
gained upon her.
90 God! it is my Lily! my own prec-
ious child! Is there no way to save
her?" exclaimed the elder man despair
ingly, as his gaze fell upon the fleeing
girl.
"Alas, none,' were the unuttered
words that rose to the lips of his COM
panion, as his eye measured the distance,
and he saw how utterly futile would be
any attempt at rescue.
The father comprehended what a single
glance had revealed to the other, that
the flames would overtake her before
they could traverse half the distance and
1t would only involve a useless sacrifice
of two more lives. He raved in agony.
A lifetime of torture seemed to concen-
trate in the moments as they watched
the fragile girl, as she sped hopelessly
on as if striving to evade, if only for a
moment, the fate that awaited her.
look! look! again shouted the young
man, pointing to dark object which
neither had previously observed.
1t was hOrseman, riding at full speed
toward the fleeing girl, dashing straight
in toward the fire as if willing to meet
the flames halfway.
To the men who watched his course it
seemed like rushing into the very jaws
of death, but the horseman never falt-
cred. With an encouraging shout to the
girl, who now ran to meet him, he
dashed onward, unheeding the current
of heated air and sitting smoke that was
waited toward him.
| 90 Too late! Too late! He cannot re-
pass the ground" groaned the father,
as his eye measured the hopeless distance
which lay between his child and safety.
sIf there is man in the world who
can save her it is John Harper" said his
companion encouragingly.
John Harper! Is 1t he?" gasped
the father, s.and it was only yesterday
that told her never to be seen in his
company again, and now the brave fellow
is riding straight into the flames to per.
ish with her." and the HOPELESS father
groaned in anguish.
See! he has reached her; he swings
her to a seat behind him, and wheel:
about to recross the ground" and with
cheering shout the young man endeav
ored to encourage the heroic fellow.
HAS he gone nad?" he asked a few
moments later. I" He is not taking the
shortest cut, but is bearing away to The
rightr'
i.It matters not; tits but a hopeless:
race with the winds, and no horse il
America could run it. o, my poor child,
O, my brave boyr' and the father GOV
cred his face with his hands and groane(
in agony, r
The rider knew the strength of the
animal as well as any one; he could fee
the painting sides and note the slackenet
speed of the willing beast, and clearly
realized the inability of the horse to carry
his double burden across the intervening
space. but if he could urge him to maxi
a few more desperate bounds he coult
reach the solitary tree that stood like {
lone sentinel in the midst of that seem
of terror and desolation.
The horse already staggered with ex
haustion, but with whip and voice h
urged him on, until trembling in ever,
limb, he paused beside the tree.
"QuicE, Lily, climb for your lifer' h
said, standing erect in the saddle, ant
helping her as far he could reach, the
swinging himself up he assisted her to
seat upon a branch out of the reach Q
the scorching flames.
The horse stood for few seconds, a
if to recover breath for final effort, an
freed from his burden, made anothe
effort for his own safety. He staggere
forward, and fell upon his knees, jus
, inside the burned region, where the me
were standing, and not a moment to
soon. The father ran to him, and throw
ing his arms around his neck, caresse