The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-07-28

OA upon himself.
 Hist. Wha, was that sharp cracking sound: Horror. The fire had caught the bituminous tops of the scorched trees il leaped like lightning from ,ree-,op to tree-:op; the feathery fern-trees igni;ed like finder. The fire was no longer be- low t was above, and would or,s;rip the fiee:est steed. for i, rode on the wind. which. though now s,ill belox. was rush. ing overhead a, the rate of thirty miles an hour.
 As Arthur Hepburn rode onward. the fire hissed among the shor, dry grass at his horses feet. He fel, that he was lost his brain reeled he muttered a wild prayer for mercy, not for help: his ex- harsted sieed staggered to and fro and seemed al every bound as If Il would fall, when suddenly he observed that the fire was no longer above him: for he had cleared the confines of the flores, and reached wide space of ground where the grass had been already burned With strangled cry, he rolled senseless from his horse, which in another moment was lying motionless beside him.
 A Hash of forked lightning gleamed a.hwart the black sky, the deasenlns thunder rolled forth peal upon peal. and the welcome rain fell ia torrents upon the parched and blaekenei earth.
 
 In less than three-quarters of an hour af.er Arthur Hepburn's cruel and treach- erous desertion of his cousin. the latter was awakened by his faithful collie, which, after running whining about the room and trying in vain to attract the notice of his master, who, under the influence of the narcotic he had taken, lay wrapped in profound slumber. leaped upon the bed and tore the clothes from of him. Springing hastily to his feet. Rober, Hepburn found the room full of smoke and illumined by a red angry glare he heard the roaring of the impe,uous wind, and knew that the mereiless fire was upon him. Pulling on his trousers and boots. he rushed olt of the house to find h:s worst fears realized the raging Il James were some thtee-seore yards otf-for for tuaately the grass and shrub had been cleared for some little distance around the house-and as he gazed bewildered upon the fearful scene. his horse. his last hope ot lteiy. with a frightened snort. tore past him laadly, l,s unernng instinct leading l, directly to the river.
 Then came sudden lell ia the storm. and the flames and smoke sho, upwards For moment he stood paralyzeJ with fear. and gave himself up for lost. when sudden though; struck him. Calling for his dog, lie rushed through the already smoking shrub and grass toward the spRng that flowed |: ;ae base of the rock, which he could din.y see raising i,s lofty head amid the rolling clouds oi smoke. Again ,ae wind arose. how,.ng loudly as i, angered a: the attempted escape Of Its vlcum. and the snaky flame crept around him bu, taking ms faithful collie in his arms. which even |. ,ha. dread moment. licked the face and hands of lts master. he pushed onward. and after desperate struggle, during which he was badly burned. a; las, succeeded n reaching the spring. when he a, once plunged n;o the l;tle pool into which |, flowed
 Here he remained in safe:y foi ihou ,h !, times aiinos: chose3 by ;he smoke w.lch e.d.ei abaa: him l:. s:..::!' e.oeis. he towering ro5S at:o.lei hin. | safe oto,e-:ioa, and oy keep.ns a.s aetl low. ne ioGnd .aa; ti:er ;lae ke could breathe freely. From this haven of saieiy he saw iae li.iie busa-h aGse each ire |; was quickly eave.opei n flames and reduced to ashes. As he byea,aed ] prayer of ,hankfG!uess. he shattered b think what might have beer h.s fate if |, had not been tor ,ae timely warning of the faithful animal hc ye: he'd ia his arras.
 When Arthur recovered consciousness. he found himself lying n bea. .a a :resh. cool toer. whica. was pcgvaiei oy the gra;etc, seen; ot foNels. lie was en- veloped n sIrsicai bardages ard when. with paintci eror, he opened his aca- ;ns eyes. ne io-ad ,ha; he coQ.i no: see He could 10, see ;ha, he was !r h.s owa li;,le room, a. HepSGFn's Hope he could no, see the scarlet gerania.ns and the pots of towering m.gnonne;;e which stood on the broad wiadow-s..i. the white sprays of lessarnine. and the gold and purple leaves of the splendid c.ee2er ,ha, twined round the easeuaen. of ,ae open window he could no; see the kindly face o! Ro5er; Hepburn. as he leaned over him, nor he anN,ocs looks of Alice G,a- ham. as she stood by his bedside. with her hands claspei fon3ly round the arm ot his cousin
 lie was blind aui as he realized his ;err.o pie a..:.c,ioa. he iel: ,ha, Is was luigmen, upon hiI.s for h;s das:arily s.a towards h,s cousin.
 Where am :" he asked. n low vc,ce. 4 cool hand was gently placed upon his forehead. and deep ye, tender vo.ee-a voice ma; made him s.ar, and sen, the blood back ,o his hea--said. cheerfully
 Poor clj fellow l am thankful in- iced to think that you are better Bu, you mus, De very qlie:. Hush. Not a word. Where are you Why. Heaven be praised. in your oan bed q, the Hope though you have had l very narrow escape from death
 ~ls i, indeed you, Ro5er:; Thank Heaven. Thank Heaven gaspei Az rrlola hl,-- .h