The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-09
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riedly over her lap, she waited. But in
stead of entering the steps receded round
| the house and toward the kitchen. She
| replaced the bag and its contents under
some clothing in the chest, and began sort
| ing over some sheets with an air of uncon-
| Germ. Directly Jess came in by the back
| door to ask for a rag to tie up his foot,
which he had hurt in some way.
"Where did you leave the children:" she
| fretfully demanded.
They're a waitin' on yam side of the
| garden fence" he returned rather sullenly.
You shouldn't leave 'em on the prairie
/ alone Mr. Willard says there are more
copperheads about this season than ever"
jess took his strip of cloth and retreated
| without replying Then Mrs. Willard
wondered why the boy had gone round to
the kitchen, after starting in at the front
| door Could he have seen her at the chest
counting over the money they were hoard
ing to complete paving for the stock Silas
had bought the year before! If so, the
maneuver was ominOus. But other more
tangible cares soon drove this fear from
her mind.
During all that summer and early fall
her vague distrust of the lad was never en-
tirely laid at rest For this, dubious ante
cedents were largely responsible; and
though she strove to do her duty by him,
he received her occasional acts of kindness
as Internationally as he did her censure.
In the autumn there came a season of
drought. The long prairie grass shriveled
and the shallow well in the bottom got so
low that Mr.. Willard threatened more than
once to finish one he had begun nearer the
house some time before. Prairie fires began
to be so frequently heard of that he an
nounced his intention of firing round his
place. But the next day he found that he
must butcher steer, and on the day after
that he really had to attend county court
at Sherman.
''Silas," said his wife as he rode away,
''stop and ask Mrs Scott 20 ride over and
spend the day. Seems like hate to be left
alone worse than ever"
"All right" he called back; but on reach
ing the Scott place, seven miles away, he
found that Mrs. Scott was sick and could
not go. Never mind, " be thought, 'Ellen's
only a little nervous" Then his mind re-
verified to other cares. Prairie seems
powerful dry; must surely do that firm
round when l get back"
The day was hay yet clustering. A fine
red dust whipped itself into little, scurry
ing clouds over the bleaker spaces of soil
Along the gentle ridges the matted grass
ratified harshly; the air had faint, stale
smoky taste; the horizon was hazy and in
definite
Mrs. Willard was spinning before the
fire. A bundle of carded wool rolls, sent
as present from her father in East Ten
nessee, lay in the top of the now open chest.
The baby was asleep upon the bed. Down
at the cowpen jess, leaving his work, was
dexterously lassoing frightened yearling
with a clothes line which be had surrepti-
tiously obtained The two older children
were looking on, dumb with admiration
and fear. Toward II o'clock Mrs. Willard
stepped outside and called the boy to make
fire in the kitchen stove. Jess came very
leisurely.
Gomez she scolded. Are you going
to be all day."
81 can't please her, and it amt much use
in trying" murmured Jess to the children
with whom he had always been favorite.
The pungent flavor and hazy appearance
Of the atmosphere seemed more pronounced.
II wish Silas hadn't put off firm round
the place." said Mrs. Willard anxiously.
Jess ran up ladder that was leaning
against the nearest folded stack and looked
all around.
did l ever see such food boyi'' she be
gain complainingly, but Jess suddenly be-
gan to wave his hat and point to the wind
ward
There's a fire." ne shouted.
whats fire." she called, and her pulses
quickened their beat.
"The prairie!" jess waved his hand along
the whole northern horizon. 81 can see
the smoke just bilin' up, and the wind a
BLOWN right this way"
Then he came down. Mrs. Willard fell
to trembling. A prairie fire in the dry
season upon the plains has something of
the terror bred by a similar alarm at sea.
Dinner was forgotten. While they looked
the wind seemed to increase. Distant puffs
of smoke began TO be discernible from the
ground. the little area of cultivated land
was entirely upon one side of the house. 1t
was also covered with dry corn and cotton
stalks, that were as inilammable as tim
Der. On the other side the rank prairie
grass came nearly to the door. The speed
with which the fires often travel is won
derful. Into a heat created vacuum the
surrounding air rushes like whirlwind.
Even upon a calm day their fury is thus
augmented; in dry windy weather it is as
resistless as a hurricane.
Mrs Willard seemed to be bereft of rea-
son by the very imminence of the danger.
There was apparently no time TO do any
thing before house, fences, crop and life
itself would be overwhelmed. Already
through the swish of the wind the fierce
cracklings of the flames could be heard.
IF Silas were here, if Silss were only
here" she moaned, wringing her hands,
while the children began TO cry, though at
what they hardly knew. jess ran to the
ladder and began to drag it down from the
stack.
Let's 60" he cried. tugging with all his
might. There's The new well; you bring
the children.
"What can the boy mean" exclaimed
Mrs. Willard excitedly. 'Oh, Silas, ST.
las
Come on shouted jess, pulling the
ladder toward the half dug well on the
prairie beyond the kitchen door.
Excitement supplied the place Of
strength, nor lid he pause until, rearing
il on end. he dropped it down into the cav
ity, feat be could hardly have accom-
plished unsided under ordinary circum-
stances. BIZ NJ Willard stiil stood in
apparent Lc.g!essncss before the house.
Amt you . conin';" shrieked jess,
running EacS MS OiacS eyes almost start
Ing from MS head. 1t ii be here in less n
no timel'
He caught hold Of the children and
again ha,tenel TO the well Mrs Willard
followed. sc-rceIy knowing what she did.
you must climb down first and take
Nelly and George" said be. oh, ma'am!
be in q LurIyi We hsin'r q minute 70
spare