The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-02-14

canvas with vicious str4kts,, SHE was
not giving any attention to her Work;
however, for an athletic form stood be-
tween her and the landscape, and she
| was indulging in q very foolish day
dream. TO do the little woman justice,
her vanity had been stimulated to. such
wonderful activity by his youthful sal-
lantries that she fancied he Was deeply
infatuated with her She Wondered II
he would ever tell her that he loved her.
If she could only have some test of His
love, what satisfaction it would bet
Over on the mountain side, a huff
mile away, Pete leaned OIL his hoe, and
watched thread Of fire crawling, like Il
red snake, through the underbrush of
chaparrol and manzanita. He knew
only too well that no human power
could stop it and that within few
minutes the gentle breeze would cause i.
flying spark to fall upon the long dry
| grass, and puff!-the crawling snake
would become a great, swhirling, gallop-
ing mass of flame and smoke, and would
pass over the very place where Ellie sat
su!king and dreaming, Pete had firmly
washed his hands of these people. He
would not-but the grass was on fire and
Pete made a dash for the house, yelling
at the top of his lungs for the major.
The volume of smoke was rising high
when Ellie rose to her feet and shifted
the air. Before she could gather up her
paints thin rim Of fire ran along the
top of the little hill above her. The
small birds and insects rose from the
ground. with whirr. and scattered
down the hillside. Ellie glanced quickly
backward, and saw the fire licking llp
the GRASS as it bore down upon Der
and the smoke rolling heavenward il,
dense, sooty clouds. She did not lose
| her presence of mind, but remembered
small ploughed field II short distance
her, and ran nimbly down the hill,
with hcr, futtering skirts gathered cookie
bdts iiid sticker weed as she sped.
When she was fairly on the ploughed
grotlhd and gaspihg for breath, she saw
the young Ehglishman tearing along the
he looked pale and frightened. Ellie felt
thrill Of satisfaction; here was the
longed-for proof of his love, he thought
she was iii danger and had come to her
| rescue. 4 deep blush mounted to her
! cheeks and her heart beat to suffocation.
But he did not seem to see her. 1t was
| evident to her that he was crazcd with
fear and would plunge into the fire in
search Of her. Merciful God! he would
| be burned.
"Brompton!' she screamed; ''tlea,
Brompton, all here, safe!''
The fire was very close and she had to
throw herself fiat upon the ground to es>
cape being buried. She gave one more
| despairing cry as she felt the hot breath
| scorch her clothing:
"BrombtonI Bromptonl Brompton!"
A great wave Of smok Ike and flame
swept around the edges Of the ploughed
ground, and for d Minute nothing could
be seen or heard. Fortunately for Ellie,
the dry grass burned like finder, and the
fire was soon roaring down the hill to-
ward the valley.
When Ellie, choked and frightened,
lifted her head, she saw the thin long,
scantily clad legs Of her husband bound
ing over the blackened earth toward her.
His duck trousers were smeared with
SCOT, and he had wet blanket about his
shoulders. He could not speak, but
caught Ellie in his arms and burst into
stif1ed sobs.
Back of them was heard the voice of
Rrcmpton Edwards.
"Hello, there, MAJOR he called; Il
had very narrow squeak of it. My
hammock and books are burned to finder
by this. BY Jove, old fellow, you arc
burned yourself. aren't you? Your wife
was safe enough. knew she could take
care of herself"
But Ellie buried herself in the wet
blanket with shudder, and burst int:
tears of shame and contrition.
We'll, well,'' gasped Pete, who had
stumbled up the hill with bundle OF
wet sacks. 81 never was so plagucy
scared in my life. Thought you'd be
burned sure. Miss Ellie. Me an tho
major'll have fine time next weel,
clearing
For Pete had reconsidered his ninety
and-ninth VOW. Indeed it was only Il
week later when he was specula ting If
as he thought of the ignoble part Bromp-
ton Edwards played on the. day of the
tire.-San Francisco Argonaut.