The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-12-05

way ( all, and here it is right upon Us!
The wind must have shifted, she eX-
claimed.
Over At the right was large, tower
ing cloud Of dun brown color, with
ragged. Glmy edges, compact in the
center and OF deeper hue there, IS II
/ its heart were scowl and a menace,
signaling that it's mission was ruin.
'Sir. sir-r-ri7 she stamunered as she
mot old John. The FIRE viii soon lie
upon Us! Young John is not here. Help
mo harness Jim into the plowl'
'.W-w-what?' he stammered in reply,
so dazed that he was like one palsy
stricken.
Hannah flew out Of the house and,
quickly embarrassing Jim, attached him
10 tho plow rat Mrs. Tutherly was
better in an emergency than one wound
have supposed. She now camc up
bravely like an old-fashioned Dutch
cruiser at a critical moment in the bat
tie hour
You drive the horse, Mrs. Tuthcrly,
and IN hold the plow, and we viii make
a furrow all about the buildings. Oh, if
Mr. Blasland would just help and burn
the grass on the prairie side Of the fur
row.
Hannah was more defe-eutial in her
style of address than was the house
keeper The latter was plain and per-
emptory. "Here, here, old Johnl Come
and help!" she screamed. in the same
breath giving the order: Cit up
there lively. Jimi Up with you,
git-t-tr'
She resumed her command 10 the
ranchman: Burn the grass all outside
the furrerl Quick, sir. quicki We win
all be burnt 20 a cinder if you don't fly
round! Git up there. diml Faster, old
boyi"
After this last equivocal osaer, the
f.. .housekeeper. rosy and putting, skill
| full. steered Jim down the east side oI
the ferm-house. Hannah guided the
| plow, Tia muscles swelling in her firm,
shapely lands and along her barred
brown wrist Her eyes glanced down
ward to see that the plowshare was run
| ming right, and usen they were lifted TO
the heavens. Those deep eyes of blue
were filed with prayers reverent sup
| plication.
'.God help us, God help usl" she mur-
INJURED. Behind the plow tottered the
old ranchman, kindling the grass out
| side the furrow, and leaving a rapidly
widening space OF black, fire-ravaged
ground between the ranch buildings and
| that awful conflagTation driving over
the prairie.
Now the north sidel' said Hannah
! ''The east side is of the most conse-
| qucnce. Readyl"
'Git up-up-up, JiDi Come on, old
John!n screamed Mrs. Tutherly The
smoke was now all about them, but
Hannah would say: The east side is
safei Thank God" and press stubborn
| y on
But where was young John? Moro
than once Hannah had prayed: .t'God
| keep him!' Had be been oEertaken by
| that awful fire. scorched, sufocated,
burnt to death? He was somewhere
out on the prairie. His horse WAS sswi II.
( His pluck was great lie know the
prairie; but there was that terrible
/ engine of flame, without wheels, yet
rolling on, the horrible dragon of fire,
without wings. yetstcadily flying! Who
| could escape all this?
Tho north side had been furrowed and
burnt over, when Hannah caught the
| quick beat OF horses hoofs, and on carDe
beautiful brown Betty, bringing her
( master, young John!
THANK God~ he shouted rs he
leaped from Betty's stcaming back.
kissed Hannah, and then scizing tho
| plow-handles, cried: Leave this west
| side and 90 Tor the south sidei Quick,
| Run. Hannah. fast, and be firing the
| grass up in the southeastern corner!"
There was 4 crouching form that soon
appeared, torch in his wrinkled band.
His face was blackoned by the scot OF
the burnt prairie. IL don't SEQ nc.
| Ls don't notice nc. lie kissed her. I've
been scorched and singed They don't
notice me-" mutterei old John
They did notice him when the worl.
Of saving had been completed. when out
of a wido. bf>ckened waste rose up the
| uninjured buildings, safe behind that
long, protecting iurrow. They found
| him lying insensible at one exposed
corner. an expired torch in his hand
| The heat, the excitement Of the IN.
usual effort at his age, had overcome
him. They carried him TO his bed.
What did be murmur at last?
Nobody cares for me here" ho
moaned. Send for my Johnl7
"Your son?" asked young John. The
sufferer bent his head in assent
| Nobody cares for me here" he then
mUrmured again. send fer himr'
I'VE Will: but we care for you. grand.
pa" said Hannah. I'VE are your johns
| children"
"W-w-what?" asked the old man. the
faded brown eyes opening wide in as
Constituent
Yes. grandpa" said ycurg John
| Hannah and I-wo-wc are brother and
sister; and-and-we thought if VIC
came. sometime it would come about
thai we could tell you. and you would
hear Us, and you would be rcconciIed K
u
Tho old man here broke in with . CRY
that came out of heart once more ten
der and sincere: Thank Gods Bles.
you. bless you, ana send for my Johnr
MY John" came, and the coming
wrought wonders in the cid father
Edward q. Rand, IN Goyden Rule.