The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-03-02
.-oh. Paul. he would not do that"

you"
She leaned over as if to kiss him, but
the music stopped suddenly in front
and she hurried out
There was good reason for the stop
page. Following her ! saw the audi
ence eagerly pushing toward the mar
row door IN the rear while every face
was peering out of the southern win
dows.
Following their gaze a sight met my
eyes that made me too tremble. A
long line of dancing, cleaning fire
reached half way around the horizon.
The fall had been dry and the prairie
grass had caught fire miles away and
was approaching the town on the wings
of a restless south wind 1t was now
perhaps five miles away, but it's
progress must necessarily be rapid.
In few minutes plows were turning
hasty burrows, barrels of water were
being brought, blankets were in every
adults hands and the entire popula-
ton made ready to meet the enemy.
The wind lulled somewhat and the
blaze was extinguished along the
towns borders with comparatively lit
tie difficulty. But suddenly there was
a hoarse cry from the crowd: widow
Gough's-lool!"
Down in ravine where the tall
slough grass grew as high as horses
back stood the lame womans cabin.
Surging TO the edge of the bluff, a
vcritable sea of flame met the eyes of
the crowd. The cracking grass had
already led the invader to the very
caves and in moment more there
would be only ashes to mark the spot.
"She's in there" shrieked voice
1t happened that Hern's company
was foremost in the crowd, and IL
woman turned to Wilkes, crying:
"You are strong; go in and bring her
out!'
But Wilkes shrank back and IIern
weakly encouraged him by saying:
| mo, he must act in"
Coward" CALCULATED Jean, and at
that moment Lewis, who had been
little separated from the rest, pushed
to the front. I'm go" he said, simply,
and, wrapping his coat around his head,
ran through the dancing flames that
were eating up the long grass so
| hungrily.
1t seemed an age before he returned,
and when he did it was with crippled
form, tendcrly wrapped in bed-cloth-
ing, in his arms. He staggered be-
meath his load, and as he reached a
place of safety and set down his
hrr fol IN bA 4
cabin roof tumbled into the seething
blaze.
There was no performance the next
night-the town was too much agitated.
On the second day afternoon Wilkes
came to the Reporter Office.
"Do you print weddin' cards, an
nouncements and such things%
"Certainly,' replied.
"liow much would u dozen sayin'
that two folks was married costP |
only want few to send to the pro-
fesh."
Going to be married. yourself?"
Looks that way. Hern thinks we'd
better get it through with. That gal
needs somebody to handle her." gave
him prices and he left promising to
come again.
wondered what turn things had
taken in the troupe and was at the
opera house early that night found
Paul alone and told him of Wilkes re-
marks.
Yes" he said, YEARLY, they had
great time here this afternoon. She
swore she wouldn't marry Wilkes aud
Hern and his wife are determined she
shall. He won't kiss her to night-see
if he does"
There was indeed marked GOODNESS
between the two throughout the play
that perhaps detracted from the houses
amusement. Jean gave her dance with
less enthusiasm than before and stood
close by Paul during every moment
she and he were off the stage together.
Wilkes glowered, but said nothing.
The trapeze performance was prefaced
by II bombastic speech by Hern, who
called attention to the fact that the
bars We're higher and farther apart
than on the opening night and ended
by fictitious but interesting history
of the Parhcsi brothers, as he called the
trapezistS on the bills
Paul still limped a little and showed
stiffness in his shoulder, but llcrn
angrily ordered him to go on.
I'm afraid I'll fall" he begged.
NO, you won't We've got to make
money enough to get out of town."
was the re joinder.
Jean came in dressed in her dancing
costume. and, leaning down. whispered
something in the boys ear. Immediate
~ he rose and went on the stage. The
bars did look pcrilously high, and as |
stood close to the girl in the flies she
remarked that there ought to be net
to catch the actors if they fell
The two men had crawlcd out to the
large bar and were swinging side by side
on it directly over the heads of the au-
dicnce. Startled faces looked up at them
from every row of seats. Jean and |.
who fully understood the situation,
were more than startled.
Once. twice they performed the pre-
liminary somcrSauItS. turnings. etc.
Then came the piece de resistance of the
entertainment. Wilkes held to the bar
with his knees and sustained Paul be-
low him by the hands. by the fexion
of their bodies they soon had the
trapeze swinging backward and for