Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-06

~ al4o eei>so iallen fagot, lighted the dead
leaves where they were tIiebas. 80
dryest, and before square IA ia
burned and left the bare sod her l,ir,l,a5
nre met the advancing column; sha
threw herself face downward on lie
smoiderlng ground, and awaited the
sweep OF the fiery tempest. Nota drauqbt
OF AR was there that was not also hear
smoke and ashes; and above and around
the hot sea roared and cracked as tbouah
II had eonspired with all its forces to
crush the life out Of one weak little wo-
man.
This ia deathr' was Julia's last
thought, then came uncongciousnega
= was . O'Clock, and soft rain was
falling, Over the miles of desolated for
ests still smoldered, in sullen defiance
Spots OF fire, but the fury Of the elements
mad spent itself. Harry Selden stood
before a long. low log house, tying the
painting horse that had brought him
there on as fierce u gallop as ever steed
was made to run. He was gazing eagerly
now through open doors and windows
even While engaged with caring Tor his
horse, but no graceful form, with lis
piquaht face, met his gaze. For this he
was both glad and sorry. She had not
come, she had obeyed his wishes. bnt
was She safe after this terrible dav? It
was not n scene Of merry making that he
looked in upon, though several strangers
were present, among them the two
young men from town, standing little
apart from the others.
The people seemed to be discussing
something seriously, in little groups Of
two and three, The fiddler sat idlv with
his instrument at his feet, and the pans
OF apples and popcorn on the table re-
manned undisturbed; evidently the party
was failure.
Harry stepped into the open door with
out knocking; a silence fell upon the
company. and none dared meet lis gaze.
Miss Anterior is not here?7 he asked
Of the good woman Of the house.
"Alackadayl she is not, sir; no more
DO any Of US know where she is. They
be-
"Whatl Isn't she at homc-at her
boarding place, mean"
"Not without she's come there within
the last quarter of an hour. A parcel o
men has gone to look for her, though
they was that tired and worn OUT
Harry waited to hear no more, but
darted out, mounted his horse, and flew
away to the Cleaver place.
She was not there. and Mary and the
younger children were crying bitterly.
"Oh, she can't be alive yet, / am very
much afraid. Mrs. Cleaver said choking
~, 'and it's all on account Of these mis-
chievous young 'uns, that | should ever
have it to say O them. Jeanette she
went off among the corn stalks. all safe
and sound, and jake must be thnkin'
he saw her goin fer the woods, to see the
fire burn. They be here all safe, while
the poor dear lady who went to look fur
'en be we none o US knows where. Oh,
but these 'uns II catch it when their
father comes" at which the crying
children set up fresh howl.
Pale and stern, Harry made them tell
all they knew, then set out himself,
knowing that, alive or dead, he should
find his darling.
Had the men not been so nearly worn
out, they would have found her sooner,
for it was not far, and there was no
brushwood to hide the view. But the
night was dark, their rude lanterns
threw but little light, and the men Stun
bled about half asleep. Love was more
alert. In half an hour Harry was bend
ing over the poor unconscious form. in
its wet and half burned dress, moaning
over the biistered checks and arms, and
calling wildly on her name.
She moved, as his arms EMBODIED her,
and whispered his name, and this
Il did not go TO the party, you see; it's
all right, isn't it, Harry"
Harry would never agree that it was
"all right, until she could declare with
a smooth and blooming face, many
weeks after, that she was as well as
ever, and would come to town to be his
little wife and housekeeper, instead Of
remaining the "Cleaver district school
ma am
Indeed" he said, las your school
house is burned to the ground and the
directors will not build another until
they are able to put up fine brick one,
your occupation Is gone, and there is no
alternative
Julia did not look as though the alter
native was very distasteful.-May Hunt
ley in Yankee Blade.