St. Landry democrat., 1883-08-18
A BRAVE GIRL.
"oh, daddy!'' called d clear, girls

ooh, daddy!" called d clear, girlish
voice.
Yes, Indy; what's wanted?"
g Ma wants to know how long it II be
fore you're ready
ssOh, tell her I II be at the door by the
time she gets her things on. Be sure
you have the butter and eggs all ready
to put into the wagon. We're maxim
too late start to town. y
Butter and eggs, indeed! As if Indy
needed reminder other than the new
dress for which they were to be ex-
changed.
Elmer and / can 60 to town next
time, cart we, MAJ" she asked, enter
ing the house.
ssYes, Indy: hope so,'' was the re-
ply. 'sBut don't bother me now; your
pa is coming already, and / haven't my
shawl on yet Yes, Wilbur; I'm here.
Just put this butter in, Indy; I'll car
ry the eggs in my lap. Now, Indy,
don't let Elmer play with the fire or
run away
And in moment more the heavy
lumber wagon ratified away from the
er it for awhile, in half-forlorn man
ner. Then Indy went in to do her
work, Elmer resumed his play, and soon
everything was moving along as cheer
fully as ever.
After dinner, Elmer went to sleep, and
Indy, feeling rather lonely again, went
out-of-doors for change. 1t was
warm autumnal day, almost the perfect
counterpart of a dozen or more which
had preceded it. The sun shone brightly,
and the hot winds that swept through
the tall grass made that and all else it
touched so dry that the prairie seemed
like a vast Undertook. Though her
parents had but lately moved to this
place. Indy was accustomed to the
prairies. She had been born on them,
and her eyes were familiar with nothing
else; yet, as she stood to-day with that
brown, unbroken expanse rolling away
before her until it reached the pale
bluish-gray of the sky, the indescribable
feeling of awe and terrible solitude
which such o scene often inspires in one
not familiar with it stole. gradually over
her. But Indy was far too practical
to remain long under such an influence.
The chickens were sspeeping loudly,
and she remembered that they were still
without their dinner.
As she passed around the corner of
the house with dish of corn in her
hands, the wind almost lifted her from
the ground. 1t was certainly blowing.
with greater violence than during the
morning.
N,,p do fx,sY 1x,
turning over and over with almost light
ning-like rapidity; then, pausing for an
instant's rest, were caught by another
gust and carried along, mile after mile,
till some fence or other obstacle was
reached, where they could pile up in
great drifts, and wait till a brisk wind
from an opposite direction should send
them rolling and tumbling all the way
back. But Indy did not notice the
tumble-weeds. The dish of corn had
fallen from her hands, and she stood
looking straight ahead with wide-open,
terrified eyes.
What was the sight that SO frightened
her?
Only line of fire below the horizon.
Only a line of fire, with forked flames
darting high into the air and cloud of
smoke drifting away from them A
beautiful relief, this bright, changing
spectacle, from the brown monotony OF
the prairie.
But the scene was without beauty for
Lindy. Her heart had given one great
bound when she first s,sW the red line,
and then it seemed to cease beating
She had seen many prairie fires; had
seen her father and other men fight
them, and she knew at once the danger
her home was in. What could she, q
little girl, do to save it, and perhaps
herself and her little brother, from the
destroyer which the south wind was
bringing straight toward them?
Only for moment Indy stood, white
and motionless; then with bound she
was at the well. Her course was de-
cided upon. If only time and strength
We're given her! Drawing two pals of
water, she laid large bag in each, and
then, getting some matches, hurried out
beyond the stable. She must fight fire
with fire. That was her only hope; but
a strong, experienced man would have
shrunk from starting q back-fire in such
a wind.
She fully realized the danger, but it
was possible escape from otherwise in
eyitable destruction, and she hesitated
not an instant to attempt it. Cautious
" starting a blaze, she stood with a wet
bag ready to smother the first nnruly
flame.
The great fire to the southwark was
rapidly approaching. Prairie chickens
and other birds. driven from their nests,