The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-15

There was good reason for tho 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
dowa
Following their gaze 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 restless south wind It was now
perhaps two miles away, but its
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 tho entire popula-
ton made ready to meet the enemy.
The wind lulled somewhat and the
blaze was extiuguished along tho
towns borders with comparatively lit
tie difficulty. But suddenly there was
a hoarse cry from tho crowd: Widow
Gough's-lookw
Down in ravine where the tall
slough grass grew as high as a horses
back stood the lame woman's cabin.
Surging to the edge of the bluff, q
veritable sea OF fame met the eyes OF
the crowd. The cracking grass had
already led the invader to the very
caves and in q moment more there
would be only ashes to mark the spot
'She's in therel" shzieked voice.
1t happened that Hern's company
was foremost in tho crowd, and q
woman turned to Wilkes. crying:
lyon are strong; go in and bring her
outI"
But Wilkes shrank back and Hem
weakly encouraged him by saying:
NO. he must act in"
Coward" CALCULATED Jean. and at
that moment Lewis, who had been
little separated from tho rest, pushed
to the front ''Pu 60. {" he said, simply,
and, wrapping his coat around his head
ran through tho dancing flames that
were eating up tho long grass SO
hungrily.
1t seemed an age before he returned,
and when he did it was with crippled
form. tenderly wrapped in bed-cloth-
ing. In his arms. He staggered be-
meath his load, and as he reached
place of safety and set down his
burden fell to tho ground Just as the
cabin roof tumbled into the seethinc
blaze.
There was no performance the next
night-the town was too much agitated.
On the second day afternoon Wilkes
came to tho Reporter Office
do you print weddin' cards, an
nouncements and such thingsT
Certainly" replied.
"How much would q 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.
l wondered what turn thiuSs had
taken in the troupe and was at the
opera house early that night. I 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 and
Hern and his wife are determined she
shall He won't kiss her to night-see
II he does
There was indeed marked GOODNESS
between the two throughout the play
that perhaps detracted from the houses
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 prefsced
by bombastic speech by Hern. who
called attention to the fact that the
bars were higher and farther apart
than on the opening night and ended
by fictitious but interesting history
Of the Parhesi brothers, as he called the
on the bills
Paul still imped little and showed
a stiffness in his shoulder, but Hern
angrily ordered him to go on
Pm afraid III fall" he begged
''No, you won't We've got to make
money enough to get out Of town."
was the rejoInder.
Jean came in dressed in her dancing |
and, leaning down, whispered |
in the boys ear. Immediate
~ he rose and went on the stage. The
bars did look perilously high, and as
stood close to the girl in the flies she |
that there ought to be a net |
10 catch the actors If they fell
The two men had crawled out to the /