Connecticut western news., 1896-07-30
CANAAN CONN. THURSDAY, 30,

needed a friend with the strength to hold up a good, powerful, unrelenting mirror for her to gaze into. Pete could have held up the mirror with right good will, but he did not know how. In those days he followed the major around with doghke devotion, and only glowered when Ellie came out to the orchard one morning with her paints and succeeded in bringing upon herself a scolding from her overindulgent husband. She held her head very high and stiff, and march ed over the hill some distance away, where she seated herself and pretended to sketch. but was in reality nursing her injured feelings to Keep them alive The major watched her disappear with a pained expression on bis good natured face, and then went deiectedly into the house. Pete was deeply incensed against Ellie, and made another solemn VOW to desert the ranch. It was the ninety and ninth time that he had done so. and this time he sealed the vow with an oath.
 The long grass on the Napa hills was burned and crisp and Ellie was daubing yellow ocher and burnt umber over her canvas with vicious strokes. 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 a very foolish day dream. To do the little woman justice, she was not in love with Brompton, but her vanity had been stimulated to such wonderful activity by his youthful gal lantries that she fancied he was deeply infatuated with her. She wondered if he would ever tell her that he loved her. If she could only have some test of his love, what satisfaction it would bel
 <
 Over on the mountain side a half mile away Pete leaned on his hoe and watched thread of fire crawling like red snake through the underbrush of chaparral and manzanita. He knew only too we'll that no human power could stop it, and that within few minutes the gentle breeze would cause flying spark to fall upon the long dry grass, and puff-the crawling snake would become great swirling, galloping mass of flame and smoke and would pass over the very place where Ellie sat sussing and dreaming. Pete had firmly deter mined to leave the ranch. He had wash ed his hands of these people. He would not-but the grass was on fire, and Pete made 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 sniffed 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 whir and scattered down the hillside. Ellie glanced quickly back ward and saw tx fire licking up the grass as it bore down upon her and the smoke rolling heavenward in dense, sooty clouds. She did not lose her pres ence of mind, but remembered a small plowed field a short distance away, where the flames could not reach her, and ran nimbly down the hill, with her fiuttering skirts gathering cookie burs and sticker weed as she sped.
 When she was fairly on the plowed ground and gasping for breath, she saw the young Englishman tearing along the hill at frantic rate. Through the smoke he looked pale and frightened. Ellie felt thrill of satisfaction. Here was the longed for proof of his love. He thought she was in danger and had come to her rescue. A deep blush mounted to her cheeks and her heart beat to suffocation. But be did not seem to see her. It was evident to her that he was crazed with fear and would plunge into the fire in search of her. Merciful God He would be burned.
 "Bromptonp' she screamed. Dear Brompton, am here-safe.
 The fire was very close, and she had to throw herself flat on the ground to escape being burned. She gave one mole despairing cry as she felt the hot breath scorch her clothing "Brcmpton Brompton Brompton
 A great wave of smoke and flame swept around the edges of the plowed ground, and for a 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 toward 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 witt soot, and he had wet blanket about \ his shoulders He could not speak, but I caught Ellie in his arms and burst into stifled sobs.
 Back of them was heard the voice O. Brompton Edwards. "Hello there, ma jorl" he called "I had a very DAYTON l squeak of it. My hammock and book are burned to finder by this. By love old fellow, you are burned yourself aren't you? Your wife was safe enough knew she could take care of herself.
 But Ellie buried her head in the we
 blanket with a shudder and burst int tears of shame and contrition.
 "Well. we'll, ," gasped Pete, who hat stumbled up the hill with a bundle O wet sacks. ''I never was so plague, scared in my life. Thought you'd b
 burne1 sure, Miss Ellie Me and the ma
 jor'll have fine time next week clear ing'-
 For Pete had reconsidered his ninet,
 and ninth vow. Indeed it was only
 week later when he was speculating l
 there was ever a happier couple than tn
 major and his Ellie. And Pete beame,
 as he thought of the ignoble part Bromp
 ton Edwards played on the day of tn
 fire Stella Walthall Belcher in Sal
 Francisco Argonaut.
 |
 Not Her Day.
 GA TO .yo,, the mi StreSe of thia hon sa9ib