The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-12-11

room. On the table at her side lay
novel, and every once in awhile the
little woman, with a sigh, turned
longing glance at its worn blue cover
After finishing the scarlet sock she had
been at work upon she hustled to the
door which looked out on the road
winding through the valley from
Piarcitos canyon in the north to the
''cOaSt" stage road in the south.
81 declare, Tumas," she exclaimed,
adjusting her spectacles as she spoke,
81 do b'lieve the fires comm right
over the range. The smokes pourin'
down thick from the canyon, an it
pears like the brush is burnin' up at
the lake. Lor me, what'u we do if it
comes this way? Like as not we'll
Jest roast live"
Her husband, an old man lying in an
invalid's chair, on being thus ad-
dressed made feeble gesture with his
right arm. He was a hopeless para
lytic, Jest waitin' for the las stroke"
as his wife was won't to tell to Miss
Anna, the parsons sister, who brought
her jellieS and novels now and then.
'Johu's been gone this half hour"
she exclaimed, divining her husbands
meaning, but he promised to be back
this afternoon fore dark, 50 it won't
do no good ter fret an worry. He
didn't think the fire was half way dam
gcrous, an | alters put big store by
what John says"
After thus declaring her implicit con-
fidcnce in her sons opinion, she
wheeled her husband out upon the
porch, which extended half way
around the low, rambling cottage.
Here she left him and went ont to the
small stable, usually occupied by the
sorrel pony which John had driven to
San MateO that morning.
John McGregor, their only child,
was likely young man. He had pro-
cured work upon the dam, then in
process of construction at the southern
end of the valley, and in consequence
he was obliged to leave his parents
alone the greater part of the time. In
the hunting season his mother was
able to board sportsmen, thus making
little money to lay by for rainy
day"
In the dry season these mountain
fires are of frequent occurrence, and
are generally attributed to the care
leSSnesS of hunters, and, although they
often spread many miles, there is rare
ly any difficulty in extinguishing them,
once they encroach upon cultivated
land
Mrs. McGregor busted herself next
about the garden, which everywhere
showed signs of true New England
thrift Her head was protected from
the sun by u brown bingham. sun
bonnet, as she picked the green seeds
of the nasturtiums for pickles, or tied
up the sweet pea vines, which the chick
ems persisted in scratching down.
In the afternoon, AZ she washed up
after the noon meal, she looked anX-
iously out of the window now and
then.
~ ri,2 hope John II hurry" she muir
INJURED as she hung the last dishcloth
on the rail of the sunny back steps.
''IIe did say it was onsartin if he'd
come back tonight, but guess when
he sees the smoke over here, he'll jest
come a-Hyin'. | don't 'Xactly like the
looks ON it myself"
Then, after peeping in upon her
snoring husband in the sitting-room,
she shut the front door to keep out the
flies, and seated herself in the frayed
hammock. which on warm afternoons
was her special delight
II declare" she exclaimed. as she
leaned back and prepared to enjoy to
its fullest extent the novel in her hand.
''it's right good o Miss Anna to fetch
me these novels, do have scch hank
erin artcr EN-. Ma alters did say