The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-03-16
CHASED BY FIRE.

| How Two Dakota Young People
Became Engaged.
It. was q gloomy day In November
The wind rushed over a 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 wjthered, and the sod
houses scattered ut 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 cGnging together, rolling over
miles of space. the playthings Of the
wind, and increasing in sizc rs they
rolled.
young girl stood in the doorway Of
q small dug out, and looked at these
with a troubled countenance.
1T would be q terrible day for a fire."
she said to the lad who was twisting
the hay for their night fuel a few yards
away. ''Everything is so dry, and those
weeds are collecting ia such quantities
that they would he q moving wall of
flame If lighted"
''Well," said the boy hopefully, Its
getting late in the season for fires, and
Jack Williams plowed half dozen ex-
h
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. aud an In
on a whitc-faced pony, with u blanket
dragging loosely from his shoulders
The girl stepped back. and the boy
dropped his hay and came near her, as
II to offer her some protection.
white Bear comes!' said the red
man, with a pompous air, laying his
hand upon his chest MS he spoke. Zig
sioux-nuch big-wants -four, meal,
salt porkI''
For a moment Alice Maxon was
frightened, but glance at her brother
Elmer seemed to give her strength. and
she answered, firmly: 1--WE have no
food for you, White Bear. The year
has been q hard one for us. See our
little farm, our one COW and horse, and
our poor clothes. We are only chill
dren- nm eighteen, ind my brother
is twelve. Our father and mother are
dead, long. cold winter lies before us,
and we have not n naouthful to spare"
Tho Indian frowned.
white Bear must have flour and
meat from oil 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 I have said it!'
''You will get nothing here said FL
mer Maxon. angrily. IF you want
these things, do as we have done; work |
for them, like q good citizen OF the |
United States!'' |
"Does the maiden say this, too7"
II do not like to turn you away |
Alice returned in gen |
tie voice. "but 1 cannot give you from |
-
rior will not be cruel. and if I offer to |
break bread with you, will not White |
Bear eat one slice and go in peace?"
''No!" grovvled the savage. white |
Bear will have what he asks for or |
And If get nothing, the bad
children will be sorry; they will know
what it is to be hungry and cold before |
springi'
Alice turned away, unable to meet
the stare Of his revengeful eyes; but
Elmer answered, dauntlessly: 1--WE are
not afraid of you, and don't believe
you are even . big Sioux. Brave chiefs
do not beg, or try to scare boys and
1--WE shall see!" said White Bear, in a
cultural voice.
He struck his pony with n piece of
single that he held in his left hand,
and rode away without looking back;
but Alice and Elmer watched him out
IF sight with some uneasiness.
II am sorry" said the girl, ''but in
deed cannot help it. TO give to one
Indian is to open the door through
which twenty more will file into your
castle And we cannot spare any thing
from our winters allowance without
putting ourselves in danger of starva-
lion"
"Are you afraid of White Bear7'' the
boy asked.
81 am a little troubled by his
threats" said his sister.
well, believe had better go up
70 Jack Williams cabin and tell him
about il, and see what he thinks we
should do to protect our ,Tes"
Alice blusffcd prettil!
1--WE are always aye aa ~ Jack
Williams for help" she said ae!escat-
ngly ~ am afraid :.e thinks ,Ss are
,ery troublesome"
mo, he doesn't, 1872 t,tslN .stct~
lay he-t told me II ~ lsisag 'ses 'penel :,