Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-04-11

bush and be1ind every log for the miss
ing girl. On and on through the dense
smoke, with the agonizing fear in her
heart that tie child had already met her
terrible fate lending her a false strength,
on and on she passed, as long as posi-
bic pathway opened before her. But
suddenly she came upon a wall of fire; to
turn aside was but to face another, until
she realized with appalling force that she
was hemmed in on every side.
1t seemed to her the fire liend lad sud
denly encircled her, by some skillful
trick, and was hooking her despair.
The sun refused to shine and the sky
was blotted ont in darkness; this was not
the world. the bright, beautiful earth she
had loved so well, but some chaotic space
out in the universe. where the elements
We're fighting for mastery. The quiet
morning when she and Harry had stood
together making believe they did not love
each other and were not happy must
have been far away in some other life.
She would never get back to that life
again, never see Harry, never receive
his forgiveness never let him know how
life and love now seemed to her!
One chance remained. As yet nearly
two acres of ground, comparatively bar
rem of trees, was free from fire. She ran
and seized fallen fagot, lighted the dead
leaves where they were thickest and
dryest, and before a square rod had
burned and left the bare sod her kindled
fire met the advancing column; she
threw herself face downward on the
smolderng ground, and awaited the
sweep of the fiery tempest. Not draught
of air was there that was not also heat,
smoke and ashes; and above and around,
the hot sea roared and cracked, as though
it had conspired with all its forces to
crush the life out of one weak little wo-
man.
This is DEATH" was Julia's last
thought, then came unconsciousness.
IT was 9 o'clock, and a 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
had spent itself Harry Seldcn stood
before a long. low log house, tying the
painting horse that had brought him
there on as fierce gallop as ever steed
was made to run. He was gazing eagerly
now through open doors and windows
even while engaged with caring for his
/ horse, but no graceful form, with its
piquant face, met his gaze. For this he
was both glad and sorry. She had not
come, she had obeved his wishes, but
was she safe after this terrible day. 1t
was not 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 idly 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 his gaze
Miss Atherton is not here" he asked
of the good woman of the house.
"Alackaday she is not, sir; no more
do any of us know where she is. They
be-
"What! Isn't she at home--at hei
boarding place, mean"
Not without she's come there within
the last quarter Of an hour. y parcel o
men has gone to look for her. though
they was that tired and worn out
Harry waited to hear no more. bu
darted out, mounted his horse, and flew
away to the Cleaver place.
She was not there, and Mary and tn,
younger children We're crying bitterly.
"Oh. she can't be alive yet. | am very
much afraid, Mrs Cieaver said choking
ly, land its all on account OF these mis-
chievous young 'uns, that | should eve
have it To say o them. jeanette sh,
went off among the corn stalks, all SAT,
and sound, and jake must be thinkin
he saw her goin' fer the woods, to see tn
fire burn. They be here all safe, whil
the poor dear lady who went To look flu
'em be we none o us knows where. Oh
but these 'uns II catch it when thei
father comes at which the cryin,
children set up u fresh howl.
Pale and stern, Harry made them tel
all they knew, then set out himself
knowing that, alive or dead, he shout,
find his darling.
Had the men not been so nearly wor
out, they would have found her sooner
for it was not far, and there was II
brushwood to hide the view. But tn
night was dark, their rude lantern
threw but little light, and the men stun
bled about half asleep. Love was NOR
alert. In half an hour Harry WAS bend
ing over the poor unconscious form, il
its wet and half burned dress, moanin
over the blistered checks and arms, an
calling wildly on her name.
She moved, as his arms EMBODIED hei
and whispered his name, and this
Il did not go to the party, you see; it
all right, isn't it, Harry"
Harry would never agree that it wa
"all right, until she could declare wit
smooth and blooming face, man
weeks after, that she was as we'll a
1 IL l.. l.,