The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-06


and at noon none had returned.
The schoolhouse stood on the rise of
ground that, in any other part OF the
country, would have been called the
bank of the stream; but here, where
streams were only heightened mud
holes, and the grass-tangled bottom rose
imperceptibly into oak-covered ridges,
one scarcely knew when he was well out
of a river bed; in the spring this same
school house had stood a foot under
water. Now if was directly in the path
of a huge natural fuse, and the fire creep
ing along it not more than mile away.
Through sheer abstinence and pettish-
ness Julia refused to dismiss her school
until the scholars, alarmed at the great
columns of smoke that the rising wind
swept over them, declared their inten-
ton of going home, whether or no.
Some ran out into the middle of "the
erik" and from there fancied they could
see red flames cleaning ferociously; in
stantly the children were panic stricken,
and ran about crying, in aimless con-
fusion.
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strength rose to the surface. while
the petty willfulness disappeared. She
brought order into the childish ranks,
babe them secure their books and prop
critics and file out quietly, leading them
herself through the woods, where the
winding footpath led most of them to
their homes. She saw that every one
was safe in the care of parents, then
composedly, but quickly, made her way
to the Cleaver homestead, where she
boarded.
She found every door open and not
soul in sight. Looking out from the
back porch, she could see on the right
the big barn full of hay, the sheds,
wagons and farm machinery clustered
near; on the left, the schoolhouse, still
safe; before her and across the plowed
fields, an arm of the woods, through
which the clear space of the creek could
be discerned, and a little more to the
right, and farther away, the sweeping
clouds Of smoke pouring up and onward
with hurrying density.
Voices in quick, broken shouts fell on
her ear, and grasping her straw hat she
fastened out in that direction. She
found mother, sister, daughter and
younger children eagerly fiinging down
the fences, scattering the rails widely
over the bare ground.
"We must get the fences down before
the fire comes" cried Mary Cleaver, the
eldest daughter, as she saw Julia ap-
preaching. ":Tm glad you've come, and
it's lucky your dress is wooden. The fire
is raging SO that the little space of
burned ground around the fences won't
stay it at all, an if it once gets to rum
MIN through them, barn, horses, hay,
home and everything must CO."
"Where are the menu"
"Over at JohnsOn's settlement, fight
ing like beavers and dead tired out. Three
houses and barns have gone up Already"
The hearty, rosy checked girl, in short
worsted skirts and mans coat and hat,
tossed huge knotty rail over her shout
der and looked at the little schoolma'am
with a superior air. care you equal to
that sort of thing for an hour or two?"
Julia fancIed she could hear the roar of
the on coming flames, and already the
air was sitting; but, for answer, grasped
rail in her 1.-the young arms, and flung
it out as lightly as the stouter girl had
done.
How she worked! Her sleeves were
soon torn from the round, white arms,
and they were quickly rasped and
scratched until tiny red streams ran down
to her wrists. In her excitement she
flung rails about that she could not have
lifted in ordinary moments; even the
Cleaver girl looked at her admiringly, and
suggested that ''she take it easier" But
there was little time for rest. A red
flame leaped over the tops of the trees,
here and there, and burning cinders were
falling around them; one more line of
fence must be, at least, partly scattered
before there was safety. 1t was farther
out and directly in the way of the thick
est rain of flying cinders. But the two
girls, one SO slender, willowy and quick,
the other strong and steady, attacked it
with undaunted spirit, and just as the
hot breath of the devouring monster
stirred the hair on their brows the fire
bait was rendered harmless.
Julia was painting with exhaustion and
wondering if she was going to faint,
when Mrs. Cleaver came up with the
frantic cry Of:
"Where is little jeanette? Where in
the world is the girl? Have you seen
her?'
jake, the slow, old fashioned 12-year-
old, made his mother understand after
while that Jeanne had gone in the di-
rection of the fire" cause she wanted
to see it burn"
"That DARN child! She amt afraid of
nothin'. She'll be burned alive!" And
the woman tried to run and find her
youngest born; but WEAKNESS and emo
ton overcame her eagerness and she fell
helpless to the ground.
Mary fastened to her mothers side,
and no other woman or child dared ven
ture nearer toward the surging storm of
flames and smoke that was bearing down
upon them.
Only Julia. She looked forward in
dread but for one moment, then calling
up every reserve of strength and cour-
age, she paused like a bird ready for
flight, thinking which was the best
course, and with the grace and speed of
deer sprang through the bushes. call
ing Jeanette's name. Toward the right
the tire was not so near, and in that di-
rection Julia flew. peering under every
push and behind every log for the miss
ng girl. On and on. through the dense
smoke, with the agonizlng fear in her
leart that the child had already met her
terrible fate lending her false strength,
IN and on she passed. as long as posi-
lie pathway opened before her. But