, 1889-09-05

of the store for general merchandise"
Hardly II dog llcw out TO run barking at
her horses heels,
Dorothy noticed it and asked the reas-
on of the more than usual stiffness,
as she passed into the little postoillcc.
"Well, most everybody Is out at the fire,
there. Is q big. prairie fire raging, over
west" explained the clerk. "rhcre
amt much wind blowing, but they
thought they'd start back fire to
make all safe" he added. Dorothy said
ooh - vaguely, what u back fire. was
she did not know. But here was the let
tomorrow or next day, surely, "Oh
dearr' 1t seemed a pity to leave here so
soon," and with little sigh she turned
to m cunt her horse. She wanted to have
all the time ut "Sunny Side she could
and it seemed too bad TO waste an hour
to rest when she had not ridden
hard. And thinking rcgrctlully OF the
happy summer so soon to end she rode
slowly away.
"Why was it she so dislilled the
would soon be here, and II would be
pleasant to get back to the city, AS the
thou ght flashed upon her that she would
not care so much If John Clark Was to
be there too, her cheeks dyed scarlet.
why what goose | ain, what diiler-
ence would that make to meY' 81 can
hardly imagine him there" Then fol-
lowed mental contrast of him with the
men who would be there, and Johns
spirits might have been little lighter
could he have seen how he lowered
above them. AS she ended with well,
| ought to like him, why shouldn't ~
''He has been 50 nice TO me all summer
it would be strange If ! didn't But
Us for his caring anything, for me--Bahl
] am regular goose lie cares only
for his book and experiments, | ought to
be ashamed of myself to be so vain"
We'll, Herat, here we are at Five
Mile lake, and know you want a drink,
old fellow
| AS ii in reply, the horse turned his
dropping head toward the lake and in u
moment was standing with slackencd
| rein knee deep and with nose plunged
| into the cool water.
| Tho tall dry grass and wild rice waved
and rustled in the air as fitlul wind
swept across 1t, The ducks AZ If dis
turbed or frightened by soilothing, were
quackins and moving restlossly about
even came swimming toward her rs II
Wishing human companionship.
| 1t was not until then that the girl
noticed a peculiar gray that had set
! tied over all the landscape.
why, | do believe, Herat, we are CO.
| ing to have II storm. How dark il is
getting, and see, the wind is rising" eN-
claimed Dorothy, as the dry grass bowed
and rustlcd in the breeze. Turning her
horses head she struck him smartly and
gallOped on up the hill.
| Ten milesl and If she did not ride fast
the storm would oVertake herr they
came up SO rapidly here. a mile or two
was passed. There was dreadful hush
in all the air that weighed on the girls
| spirits and seemed to oppress her breath
ing. She pushed back her soft felt hat
aud loosencd her habit at the throat 1t
was such n strange sitting feeling.
But there comes breeze, as tho long
grass bent and rustled The storm must
! Hs. YFatt Inpp
and cranes call to each other The
| breeze had risen to a wind that seemed
to come in big pulls and then die away;
| then come again. Now II came stronger,
almost taking her breath, and was not
that smell OF smoke in the air?
Turning quickly in her saddle cry
burst from her lips, My Godl Why
did | not think of that"
The storm was coming, indeed; but it
was storm of fire.
| Cutting her horse with the whip,
though there was no need, for instinct
had already told him of the danger and
he was straining every nerve, she
dashed on.
seven miles, Six miles! Only five
miles, and and safety j Go Col go' goo4
sobbed with white trembling lips.
But the terrible lire was coming neHreL
the wind had changed and the smoke
which had been blown away from hor
now came lAuCn WIFI CiiueTsi rom u
over the prairie.
The wild geese, crane and small birds
of every description came flying, beWil-
dered in the smoke and gloom, almost
striking against her sometimes in their
flight, and even in her terror she noticed
that the narrow road was filled with tiny
brown frogs yainly fleeing from their
Another mile 'Oh, how slow!n and
indeed her speed was less. The noble
horse, wearied by his long, hot ride of
the morning, could not keep this gait
much longer; he was white with foam,
and his breath came in gasps in the
smol<e-laden air; even now he stumbled,
his footing was growing less sure,
Tie stumbled again MY God, he is
alling, he is EXHAUSTED on, heaven,
ave m ~ cried Dorothy; but the.horse,
though with lagging limbs, pressed ON.
Reaching a slight rise, she turned 10
look back At the sight she saw her
heart gave leap and then seemed to
stand still Behind ut either side, as
das hing sea of fire. It was hardly mile
away, the red flames leaping and dane
ing like demons beneath their black
panoply of smoke, as if laughing at tho
vain efforts Of their prey. The smoke,
which had been black about her, was
now thick and yellow. Once moro her
voice rang out, "Johnl oh save meW
, and the reins fell from her neryeless iin-
gers asshe felt her horse sinking beneath
her.
rs if in answer to his cry, man on a
powerful black horse dashed into the
yellow darkness. 1t was but the work
of an instant to raise her to the saddle
before him, mufiiing her in his coat, and
Black Pete with his double burden
i, bounded away. ,
Oni Onl His face bowed on the still
form before him rode John Clark.
A few moments more and they would
, be safe.
The war of a hurricane was all about
them; he could feel the hot blaze lick
, ing his face. He dashed the rowcls into
Black Pete's side, and in another mo-
I mcnt felt soft ground beneath them.
! "Thank God they were safe.
| When Dorothy came to herself she
was living on the soft plowed
/ the soft plowed earth of the tire-breall,
/ with John Clark bending OYER her. The
SIN oke was thick; the roar was dying
| away. The fire had parted and in great,
/ glowing billows was passing on either
' side.
She looked at it silently for moment,
2 then her face was hidden on his heart,
: and John Clark, with such a radiance
q on his face as had never rested there
' before, was pressing his lips to the SOFT
q brown hair. For heart had spoken To
: heart, and what need had lips TO repeat
- the words? ELLA HAsRINS HOLLY.