Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-05
SINNED, BUTFAITHFUL.

1
farmers, tired Of the red soil at home,
we're selling out at q sacrifice in order
to join tho pilgrimage to land rumor
ed to be literally flowing with milk aud
honey-where broad and productive
acres could be had for the asking
Andrew Wright, an honest, practical
young Granger who had spent all his
life in the western fever. He was
not wealthy in the goods of the world,
but he had a wife and 2-year-old boy
that helped to more than make up for
the lack. of fiDacial resources.
By shrewd bargaining he found after
he had sold everything he owned that
he had enough crisp bank bills in his
hands to 60 to the west and make a
start on the new place. His objective
point was Kansas, but when almost
there he was induced by land agent
to 90 over into Nebraska and take a
quarter section within three miles of
that muddy and erratic stream digni-
fed by the name of Platte river.
Once settled, and with three room
sod house built on his claim, he started
in to work with will, and at the ex-
piration of two years he found himself
we'll on the road to the complete
ownership of as fine farm west of the
red Missouri as LAY outdoors
His one great trouble was the scar
city of farm hands in the busy season
so it was not at all surprising when
one day tramp who applied for work
was taken IN as almost one of the
family and looked upon as a vertible
godsend by the overworked young
emigrant.
Tony Williams as the newcomer
called himself, was hard looking,
uncouth sort of individual. who work
ed with will during the day and at
night romped with little 4-year-old
Joey until the lad used to watch for
his coming, and find the most pleasant
hour out of the twenty-four when
Tony was with him.
1t was rather queer sort of friend
ship, but it lasted all through the
winter, and until one spring night
when the old restless spirit came back
upon him and the farm hand packed
up his little bundle and quietly stole
away in the darkness.
A year spent in the mining districts
did not increase 'Tony's' financial con.
ditlon nor his appearance, either, for
that matter, but it found the young
farmer Just so much nearer to the
complete ownership of his quarter sec
ton, and at the expiration of that
time the tramp turned his face 10 the
rising sun, and by dint of sundry
lifts and stolen rides on freight trains
found himself one fitful night treadine
the land he had plowed some months
before. 1t hardly seemed like the same
place to him, for instead of the soc
house there stood one story frame
building, and less than hundred
yards away was big roomy barn.
Ill jest crawl into ther : solilo
quized Tony, SOS not to wake thei
folks. wonder how the little chap il
and if he will be glad to see me
They're pretty white sort of people
and I guess III stick by'em this TIM
and take ther old mans advice an
make man outer myself
Thus satisfying his conscience a
having run away, he crept into th
barn, and half burying himself in pill
Of straw which had been left near tn
o open door, was soon asleep.
e 1t was hours later when laird re-
. glow, which lighted up the sky am
= heated the air for miles around, cause
e Tony to shift uneaslly on his roug
!, but comfortable bed and to fnall
c open his eyes and an instant late
y jump to his feet with a bound.
" W The prairie was on fire.
" Away of, on what seemed like tn
4 4, lower edge of the horizon, was shee
n n of flame which had formed itself int
( a barrier through which none migt
J. pass and live. Forked tongues of fire
y leaping from the mass, licked at tn
a; air as if to find more food for. thel
l. l. great greedy appetite. The tall, DIR
grass swayed and shivered as if eac
,r particular stalk was endowed with lif
- and was making an effort to escape
!, certain fate.
AS the tramp looked, particles {
! burned herbage floating down the win
\ fell about him and he heard distinct
I the cracking of the consuming elener
] as it ate its way through the matte
L growth.
1 The grandeur of the sight stupe6e
4 him, and he was lost in contemplate
4 of the awful spectacle. The uneas
4 lowing of the cattle, and the fretfl
I whining of the horses aroused in hi
\ a sense of the danger, and he instinc
A lively turned and looked towards tt
q house.
d There was no sign of life.
N 1t was time for action now, and |
II had already lost many valuable mil
n utes. He ran to the house and be
4 with both hands upon the door.
4 MIR. Wright, the prairie's on fire.
n the prairie's on fre!'
n There was no answer Time W