The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1883-08-17

voice.
Yes, Indy; what's w~antedg'
" Ma wants 70 know how long it'll be
fore you're ready"
"Oh. tell her I'll beat the door BY The
time she gets her things on. BE sure
You have the butter and eggs All ready
70 put into the wagon. Mere maxim
too late 4 start 10 town"
Butter and eggs. indeed As II Indy
needed = reminder other than the new
dress for which they we're % be ex-
changed.
Elmer and ! can 20 % town next
time. cant we. MAJ" she asked. enter
Yes. Indy; 1 hope so.' was the re-
ply. But don't bother me now; your
pa i coming already. and | haven't nv
shawl on vet. Yes. Wilbur: I'm here.
just put this butter in. Indy; LII car
~ the eggs in my lap. Now. Indy.
don't let Elmer play with the fire or
run away
And IN 4 moment more The heavy
lumber wagon ratified away from the
door. and n children stood gazing aft
er IL for awhile. in = ~half-iorlorn man
ner- Then Indy went in 10 do her
work. Elmer resumed his play. and soon
everything Was moving along a. cheer
fully as ever.
After dinner. Elmer went 10 sleep. and
Indy. feeling rather lonely again. went
out-of-doors for = change. II was q
warn antumnal day. almost the perfect
counterpart of a dozen or more which
had preceded II. The sun shone brightly.
and the hot winds that swept through
the tall grass made that and an else Il
touched % dry that the prairie seemed
like a vast undertook. Though her
parents had but lately moved 10 this
place. Indy IA accustomed 10 the
prairics. She had been born on them,
and her eyes were familiar with nothing
else; yet. rs she stood to-day with that
brown. nnbroken expansc rolling AVA
before her until IL reached the pale
bluish-gray d the sky. the indcscribable
feeling Of awe and terrible solitude
which such = scene often inspires IN one
not familiar with il stole gradually over
her. But Indy was far D prarficai
% remain long under such an influence.
The chickens were "peeping loudly.
and she remembered that they were still
without their dinner
As she passed around the corner az
the house with = dish II corn IN her
hands. the wind almost lifted her from
the ground. Il was certainly blowing
with greater violence than during The
morning.
Great tumblc-wceds went f'ying by.
turning over and over with almost light
rlng-like rapidity; then. pausing for an
instant's rest. were caught nv another
gust and carried along. mile after mile.
till some fence or other obstacle vas
reached, where they could pile up IN
great drifts. and wait till . brisk wind
from m opposite direction should send
them rolling and tumbling al fhc way
back. But L.indy did not notice tlie
tumble-wceds. The dish Of corn had
fallen from her hands. and he stood
looking straight ahead with wide-opcn.
terrified ewes.
What was the sight that 80 frightened
her?
Only 4 line of ffr below the horizon.
Only 4 line Of lire. with f0rkcd flames
darting high into the air and q cloud u
smoke drifting away from them. A
beautiful relief. this bright. changing
spectacle, from the brown monotony u
the prairie.
But the scene was without beauty for
Indy. Her heart had given great
bonnd when she first aw the red line.
and then il seemed ID cease heating.
She had seen many prairie fires: had
seen her father and other men fight
them. and she knew ~ once the danger
her home was in. What could she. a
little girl. do 10 save Il. and perhaps
herself and her little brother. from the
destroyer which the south wind was
bringing straight toward them?
Only for a moment Indy stood. white
and ~motionic>s; then with 4 bound he
was nc the well. Hcr course was a.
ciIed upon. III only time and strength
were given her: Drawing two pals IL
water, she laid q large bag In each. and
then. getting ONE matches. hurried out
beyond the stable. She must tight fire
with iire. That was her only hope: but
a strong. experienced man would have
shrnnk from starting . back-fre in such
= wind.
She fully realized the danger. but II
was possible escape from otherwise In
cvitable destruction. and she hcsitatcd
not an instant 70 attempt Il. Cautious
N starting = blaze. she stood with a wet
bag ready ID smother the first unruly
The great fire 10 the southwark was
approaching. Prairie chickens
aud other birds. driven from their meats.