The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-05-14

II
ins souud.
He turned acd uslksd slosly dosn ib'
road, iast S score u ehildseo, sslsasst
from school. issaed from the schoolbons,
door and scattered. gong 10 different di
reciions 10 their homes. where bright nre'
spd bsppy smiles awaited then. Why
should be struggle ssainss i.,~s Whss did
the world do for himi Nothinsl Why
DO, die. by The roadside. and BE- dous ui.t
IN No one would. .miss him. A sound o.
burryine feet behind him interrupted hi,
revs'ie. He turned aud ssv iittIe girl
witb cloud OF sunny hair and . bright
sweet face. out Of which looked pair ol
large blue eyes. ruopiog after him.
Please wait. won't yonf she cried. sl
most out OF breath. heard you say you
were hungry, aud and she paused aud
looked ~ him simidly Ill you'll tsts tbis
opening . Tin pail which she had 10 her
b, and some slices OF bread and piece Of
cake | wauted one Of the girls 10 come
with me. but she said You was an old
tramp, aud would hurt me. You won't
though will your
He gszsd 81 her moment, unable TO
speak. Hurt you Heven bless you,
child be exclaimed. Who would hurt M
ApgelY
His voice trembled. Tears came into
his eyes. He sank down in the grass BY
the roadside. and covered his face with
his hands aud wept She stood looking at
him, wonder and sympathy pictured in
her large. beautiful eyes. She spprosch'
ed, and. laid her hand gently on bis shoul'
der. aud put the pieces OF bread aud cake
in his lap.
I'm sorry il ! made you cry, she said. q
touch OF kindness in her voice. She bent
down quickly and kissed him. There! she
said. I'm not afraid Of you. am /?
Tne next moment she was goue. and hur.
rying up the road 10 overtske her oomran
ions. He sat there for some time trying
to eat the pieces OF bread aud cake she
had dropped IN his lap, bat despair had
deprived bin Of any desire for food He
walked on slowly, hardly knowing or car.
ing what he did. The wind was increas,
ing in its fury, aud sweeping through the
loug grass With weird, dismal sound
Banks Of tiwny, purple clouds lay along
the rim OF the horlz 10, out Of which shone
a m IS Of Aiming yellow light from the
sinking sun beyond. Presently a vail OF
smoke swept over his head. and shower
OF black cinders commebced TO fall about
him, while the sir, oil Of sudden, WAS lad
en- with fumes Of burning vegetation. He
turned. An awful sight met bis gaze
The prairie was on fire. Great columns
OF black smoke were rolling across the
prairie; and the red flames, leaping and
roaring in the gale, were rushing down
toward where he stood, not quarter OF
a mile away Several scbool'children came
running down the road, and passed, cry.
ing with fright as they ran.
Far behind them, her hat of, her long,
yellow hair flying in the. wind. came the
little girl who left him few moments be'
fore. the roaring flames rapidly gaining
upon her. He uttered 9 groan. and ran
toward her as fast as his weak and totter
ing limbs could carry him. Every breath
OF wind was now laden with dense clouds
Of smoke and heat, and black with flying
cinders. He saw her stsgger as she ran
then turn partly around and sink down 10
the road, just as he reached her side. He
lifted her hurrdly in his arms, despers
ton gave him strength. and turned and
ran with her rs fast as he could, stagger
ing IS he went.
O God! il should lose my life, be gasp
ed, help me to save herl
A dense clond OF smoke envsloped his
form; the heat grew intense. great tongues
OF crimson flames leaped high in the dir.
and rosred behind him. and mingled their
sound with the ,nshing wind.
Dave Foster, the cattlemsn, stood near
one OF the corrsls, engaged 10 converse
tion with come cowboys who had just rid.
den up.
We've rode sll day, one Of the cowboys
was saying, but can't git sight nv any Nv
tho pesky cattle thieves.
A suspicious character passed here about
sn hour ago. answered Dave, and
wouldn't be sure but he may be one Of
them.
guess hit won't be healthy for him
il we run across him, said one OF the COW
boys.
You bet lit won't, sanctioned smother.
Guess we'd rope him inter leetle psrd
nership with tree. replied the other, With
. harsh laugh.
What's tbst smoke coming from7 ask
ed Dave. pointing toward the scboolhouse.
A fre-s frel be exclaimed. My God,
boys. boys! the prairie is on firei AID my
little Annie my child my child! She
will be burnt heaven help herl
He hall dragged one OF the Gov boys
from bis horse rs he spoke, and springing
into the saddle dashed away 10 the direc
tion OF the fre, followed by hslf dox,n |
others. Every moment the fire was spread
ing. aud great Tongues Of red flsmes were
leapins Wildly agains, sable background
OF rolling smoke.
Heaven help bet my child. my child
mosn2d lhe iatber, as lie spurred on his
horse.
A line OF fire vas baraias slosly sgsinst |
the Wind. Onward they ssept toward
this. their horses r.srisg siidiy ss they
approached. thea iespsd through it. and