The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-27

room On tho table at her side lay Il
novel. and every once in awhile the
little woman, with sigh. turned u
longing glance ut its worn blue cover.
After finishing the scarlet sock she had
been at work upon she hustled to tho
door which looked out on tho road
winding through the valley from
Pilarcitos canyon in the north to the
''coast" stage road in the south.
ri declare, Tumas," she exclaimed,
adjusting her spectacles as she spoke,
II 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
tho lake. Lor me, whatll we do if it
comes this way? Like as not we'll
vjest roast live"
Her husband, an old man lying in an
invalid's chair, on being thus adj
dressed made q 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 brough
her jellies and novels now and then.
Johns been gone this half hour
she exclaimed, divining her husbands
meaning, but he promised to be back
this afternoon fore dark, so it won't
do no good ter fret an worry. He
didn't think the fire was half way dan
gerous, an alters put big store by
what John says"
After thus declaring her implicit con-
fdence 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 out 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 o likely young man. lie had pro-
! cured work upon the dam, then in
process of construction at the southern
end of the valley, and in consequence
Z ne 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
+ n little money to lay by for rainy
day"
In the dry season these mount
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 cxtinguishing 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 n brown bingham sun
bonnet, as she picked tho 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, as she washed up
after the noon meal, sho looked anX-
iously out of the window now and
then.
II do hope John IL hurry" she muir
INJURED. as she hung the last dishcloth
on the rail of the sunny back steps.
He did say it was onsartin if he'd
come back tonight. but guess when
he sees the smoke over here, he'll Jest
come n-1yin'. don't 'Xactly like the
looks on it myself"
d Then, after pecping in upon her
. snoring husband in tho 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,
its right good o. Miss Anna to fetch
me these novels, do have scch hank
erin artel 'em. Ma alters did say