Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-06-19
THROUGH THE FURNACE.

II should be weak minded girl, in.
deed, to shut up the school house and
send the children home for little
smoke. l am in no more danger than
the Others"
"But the others are not SO dear to me. y
"You are selfish, and-very presum-
ing"
"Oh, very well. Then / may as well
say good-by."
There was no answer, and for some
moments the two silently stood in the
hazy September sunlight. with the dull
mists and strange quiet all about
them. The young man. dark eyed.
handsome and strong. held his horse 5
bride in his hand, ready to leap into the
saddle, yet with an unsatisfied, troubled
air, hesitating to do so; while the young
pirl, with her dimpled hands in her
dainty apron pockets, looked provokingly
indifferent and pretty.
ON the knoll behind them stood low,
log school house-twenty years ago log
houses were no novelty in northwestern
Ohio-and back Of that 1.-THE erik, -
which was a creek only in wet seasons,
and at others, as now. but a succession
Of erassgrown ''swales." sleeping in the
dry heat. with SANDY desert" appear
ance On three sides the low oak woods,
with their dead looking branches and
curled up leaves, came down to the very
school yard, and few struggling trees
overshadowed the humble seminary of
learning itself.
The horizon was a woody circle, be-
yond which rolled up dark, ominous
looking clouds-great purplish shadows
that filled the heavens. made the air
thick and oppressive, and disguised the
sun itself as a sullen, overgrown moon.
1t was still early, but there was no
dewy freshness or breezy GOODNESS, moth
ing bright and invigorating. such as a
well disposed morning is expected to
bring; the red glows that had shown out
against starless sky all night had sim
ply paled as the gray light crept on and
turned into black, heaving piles as the
dawn whitened the skies.
One or two farmhouses. with their
small "clearings' attached, a winding
road with bushes on either side dropping
over it, and a creeping team in the dis
lance. were the only signs of civilization
liscernible in the monotopous wilder
ness, destined to be more dreary before
the day was over.
"Have you nothing more to say to me,
julie
81 do not think Of anything at pres
ent, the little teacher said, with aggra-
waiting GOODNESS.
"well-you viii not go to the party
tonight
Il think shall. If you cannot trust
me by myself at am ordinary neighbor-
hood gathering. | cannot be worth any
anxiety of mind ON your part"
'It is not that, dear. But know
those fellows from town too well. They
intend to come out for the sole purpose
Of seeing the pretty little schoolma'am
and ridiculing the natives as they say
You are naturally so unsuspecting, SC
sweet and kind in your disposition they
will misunderstood and take advantage
of what they will term your simplicity.
II | come, knowing had not intended
il, they will believe could not trust you
/ cannot endure that they should ever
know YOU, to laugh and chatter abou
YOU for weeks afterward. To please me
dear Julie, remain away and disappoin
them
"Yes. and create more wondAmen
and expostulations than it is all worth.
have promised my simple hearted friend
and pupils to be present, and shall go
and don't care for your town compan
ions, or-for you either
You do not mean that, surely. Come
Julia, | have ridden five miles this morn
ing, left the store to the mercies Of
green clerk, to see YOU, and to speak on
word of warning. Give me kind wor'
before go, and the smile have dreame'
of for DAYS, to cheer and reassure me.
But Harry Selden bent in vain to catch
glance from the deep blue eyes, yelled S
obstinately by their long black lashes.
II can stay no longer, Julia, and you
scholars are coming through the wood;
You are not treating me fairly, and wi
see it yourself presently" He presse
her passive hand, and yaulted into til
saddle.
"Good-by. If the fires come closely
dismiss school and go home. The Cleave
place is safe, | think, as there are fields
plowed ground roundi it. Good-by, dear.
"Good-by, Harry" she said, littl
more softly; but his restless horse wa
claiming his attention, and soon he wa
speeding down the road like the wine
Julia Anterior looked after him mt
ment with moisture gathering in he
lustrous eyes. The shouts Of the chi
dren rang out nearer, and glimmers {
pink calico and blue Bingham peepe
now and then through the branche
Sentiment and self must be resolutel
put aside.
IL don't care. lie had no right
suppose | was not able to deal with tho'
fops from town, and he should not
tempt to control my actions"
Nevertheless she was very heavy hear
ed as she turned to call her little iiot
together. As the day advanced the a
grew more dense and sultry; the who
sky was dark, and the sun rode throul
it like dull red ball, while the smell
burning leaves and wood overpower
the faint marsh and forest perfumes. II
"openings' fires were spreading rapid
At that time there were miles and mil
of unsettled land--alternate ridges CO
cred with oak and underbrush, al
marshes where the dry grass and wee
were like finder. Every year few I'll
n were expected, but there had been
.xere drouth this season, and already I
men in the various settlements had
gained into companies tofight fires a
save homes and property. strom
"Cleaver district as the place
called, the men had been out all n'g
and at noon none had returned.
The schoolhouse stood ON the rise
ground that, in any other part OF
country, would have been called
bank of the stream; but here, wh'
Ion fh