The Bossier banner., 1892-02-11

which ran riot in drifts of pink and
white over the roof of the porch. From
the barn came his wife's shrill, pipinp
tones, calling the chickens to their
breakfast of corn and scraps. They
answered her call promptly, as appear
ing from all parts of the yard they fell
over each other, and made the feathers
and bits of straw fly, in their haste to
reach the barn.
Mrs. McGregor busted hers elf next
about the garden, which everywhere
| showed signs of true New England
/ thrift. Her head was protected from
the sun by brown gingham 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, as she washed up
after the noon meal, she looked anx-
iously out of the window now and
then.
II do hope John IL hurry she mur-
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 l guess when
he sees the smoke over here, he'll jest
come a-fyin'. / 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.
81 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, 1 do have sech hank
erin arter 'em. Ma alters did say |
warn't good fur much when I got a
novel ter read, fur I'd jest go out ter
the orchard and hide till it was fin
ished"
There was nothing unusual in the lit.
tie woman's thus talking to herself.
She had fallen into the habit from the
!, lonely life she led, for her husband sell
dom, if ever, paid any attention to he1
! remarks. Indeed, it was doubtful
, whether he understood them great
/ part of the time, as his mind shared ir
measure the disease of his body.
The sunny afternoon passed without
; event, save for the passing of numerou:
teams, which Mrs. McGregor did no
/ notice. SO absorbed was she in hel
} story. Had she done so she might have
been alarmed, for from the chatterins
, of Spanish that went on, it was eviden
, that whole families were moving. Blu
there was a thick screen of trees be
tween the cottage and the road, ant
they went by without stopping, proba
t bly, taking it for granted that the ol'
t couple had already taken alarm ant
l departed.
The sun was nearing the horizon
4 when all at once Mrs McGregor spran!
: from the hammock, exclaiming: "Lol
S me, thet boyd orter be back; he" bu
: she never finished the sentence. A or.
- of horror burst from her lips,
S The porch was strewn with charre
t leaves, and back of the house tn
smoke was sucking up the valley il
~ great clouds, until it mingled with tn
S body of fire in the north, which wa
k steadily advancing. Judging from
t very hasty survey in that direction, sh
G came to the conclusion that the fir
l. had burst out in another canyon. ere
y ating a strong wind as it burned. Bu
it was to the south that she locke
l. with greatest apprehension. 9Th
e winds full on u.s. she cried, wringin
e her hands in distress. Dear me, if
Y warn't sech a dreadful novel reader
:. Where can John be? There amt
e minute ter be lost. l know what L
e do first she added, hurryink to tn
o barn close by.
She kneeled down among the bale
|, of hay and loose straw, causing dill
J. CONSERVATION to an old hen with he
n brood. She prayed aloud with nj
n turned eyes and clasped hands. The
e she rose and hurried to the house.
IS First she walked her husband, e.
n planning to him the situation, an
Is wheeled him into the front doorwa..
Il |