Arizona republican., 1895-02-21
CHASED BY FIRE.
How Two Dakota Young People
Became Engaged.

1t was gloomy day in November.
The wind rushed over Dakota prairie,
causing the tangled masses of long
grass with which it was carpeted to
wave to and fro like the coming in or
going out of the tide. Everything was
brown and withered, and the sod
houses scattered at wide intervals
fitted well in the somber picture. There
were patches of bare ground here and
there, with piles of dead ''tumbling
weeds" broken from their main stem
and clinging together, rolling over
miles of space, the playthings Of the
wind, and increasing in size as they
rolled.
A young girl stood in the doorway of
small dug out, and looked at these
with troubled countenance.
ut would be a terrible day for fire."
she said to the lad who was twisting
the hay for their night fuel few yards
away. Everything is so dry, and those
weeds are collecting in such quantities
that they would be a moving wall of
fame if lighted"
We'll" said the boy hopefully, cts
getting late in the season for fires, and
Jack Williams plowed half dozen ex-
ira burrows around our house for a
safety line. If the wind keeps on tear
ing like this, we'll get rain or snow
soon, and that will put an end to all
anxiety. Ugh! what's that?'
There was an echo of horses hoofs
from the rear Of the house, and an In
dian came round the corner, mounted
on white-faced pony, with blanket
dragging loosely from his shoulders.
The girl stepped back, and the boy
dropped his hay and came near her, as
If to offer her some protection.
white Bear comes!'' said the red
man, with a pompous air, laying his
hand upon his chest ashe spoke. big
Sioux-much big-wants flour, meal,
salt pork!''
For a moment Alice Maxon was
frightened, but glance at her brother
Elmer seemed to give her strength, and
she answered. firmly: I'VE have no
food for you, White Bear. The year
has been a hard one for us. See our
little farm, our one COW and horse, and
our poor clothes. We are only chill
dren. am eighteen, and my brother
is twelve Our father and mother are
dead, long, cold winter lies before us,
and we have not mouthful to spare"
The Indian frowned.
sWhite Bear must have -four and
meat from all the settlers of Ridge
prairie! Does the one COW give milk?
White bear must have butter. Has the
maiden chickens? White Bear must
have eggs. l have said it's
''You will get nothing here" said FL
mer Maxon, angrily. IF you want
these things, do as we have done; work
for them, like good citizen of the
United StatesT'
fDoes the maiden say this, too?"
Il do not like to turn you away
empty handed, Alice returned in gen
tie voice, ''but I cannot give you from
our store of provisions A great war
rior will not be cruel, and if 1 offer to
break bread with you, will not White
Bear eat one slice and go in peace?"
t'No!" growled the savage. white
Bear will have what he asks for or
nothing! And if I get nothing, the bad
children will be sorry; they will know
what it is to be hungry and cold before
spring."
Alice turned away, unable to meet
the stare of his revengeful eyes; but
Elmer answered, dauntlessly: ''We are
not afraid of you, and 1 don't believe
you are even a big Sioux. Brave chiefs
do not beg, or try to scare boys and
girls, either!'
''We shall see!" said White Bear, in a
cultural voice.
He struck his pony with piece of
single that he held in his left hand,
and rode away without looking back;
but Alice and Elmer watched him out
of sight with some uneasiness.
II am sorry" said the girl, ''but in
deed I cannot help it. To give to one
Indian is to open the door through
which twenty more will file into your