The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-02-07
CHASED BY FIRE.
How Two Dakota Young People
 Became Engaged.

It was a 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 we'll in the somber picture. There were patches of bare ground here and Ehere, with piles of dead "tumbling weeds" broken from their main stem and clinging together, rolling over miles of space, the playthings of the wird, and increasing in size as they roiled.
 A young girl stood in the doorway of a small dug out, and looked at these with troubled countenance.
 Tt would be terrible day for a fire" she sid 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 in such quantities 'shat they would be a moving wall of flame if lighted"
 We'll" said the boy hopefully, tits getting late in the season for fires, and Jack Williams plowed d half dozen ex- t-a furrows 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 h. dian came round the corner, mounted on a white-faced pony, with n 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 he spoke. Big Sioux-much big-wants four, 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 rour poor clothes. We are only chill dren. am eighteen, and my brother Is twelve. Our father and mother are dead, a long, cold winter lies before us, and we have not mouthful to spare. !"
 The Indian drowned.
 -White Bear must have flour 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. 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 a good citizen of the United Statesl"
 H:Does the maiden say this, too?"
 "T do not like to turn you away ,empty-handed," Alice returned in gem tic voice, "but cannot give you from our store of provisions. A great war rior will not be cruel, and if offer to break bread with you, will not White Bear eat one slice and go in npeace?"
 "No" growled the savage. White Bear will have what he asks for or ,nothingl And if 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 lis revengeful eyes; but Elmer answered, dauntlessly: 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 girls, either!"
 "We shall see!" said White Bear, in a guttural voice.
 He struck his pony with piece of shingle 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.
 'T 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- tion."
 "Are you afraid of White Bear2" the boy asked.
 ''I am little troubled by his threats" said his sister.
 Well, I believe had better go up '; to Jack Williams cabin and tell him about it, and see what he thinks we should do to protect ourselves"
 Alice blushed prettily.
 "We are always appealing to Jack Williams for help" she said deprecat- sngly "I am afraid he thinks we are very troublesome"
 '"No, he doesn't, Alicei Only yester- ,sias he told me if anything happened