St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-25

hours. When Brompton was not pos
ing for . wild Norseman or . Greek
hero, he was sitting very close to Ellie.
criticising, in soft. caressing tones,
the sketches of himself which she had
been doing. Without actually straying
from the path of duty. Ellie was trcsd
ing on dangerously uncertsin
territory. She quite frankly al
mitt~L to herself that she was
pretty and charming, and, be-
ing of that mind, she did not reprcss
comparisons between her husband au,:
the younger man.
Matters had arrived at state where
a warm-hearted. but vain, young wom-
an needed friend with the strength
to hold up 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 ma jor around
with dog-like devotion, and only glow
cred when Ellie came out to the or
chard one morning with her paints
and succeeded in bringing upon herself
scolding from her over-indulgent hns-
band. She held her head very high and
stiff, aud marched 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 panied express
sion on his good face, and then
went dejectedly into the house. Pete
was deeply incensed against Ellie, and
made another solemn vow to desert the
ranch. 1t WINS the nincty-and-ninth
time that he had done SO, and this tine
he sealed the VOW with On oath.
The long grass on the Napa hills
was burned and crisp, and Ellie was
daubing yellow ochre and burnt lumber
over her canvas with vicious strokes
She was not giving any attention to her
work, however, for anoathletic form
stood between her and the landscape,
End she was indulging in very foolish
day dream. To do the little woman
justice. she was not in lore with Bromr-
ton, but her vanity had been stimulated
to such wonderful activity by his
youthful gallantries that she fanciei
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 satisfac-
ton it would be!
Over on the mountain side, a half mile
away. Pete leaned on his hoe, and
watched thread Of fire crawling, like
q red snake, through the underbnsh of
chap0rrnl and manzanita. He knew
only too well that NO human power
could stop it, and that within few
minutes the gentle breeze would cause
a flying spark to fall upon the long dry
grass. and puff!-the crawling snake
would become a great swirling. gallop-
ing mass of flame and smoke, and
would pass over the very place where
Ellie sat sulking and dreaming. Pete
had firmly determined to leave the
ranch. He had 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 a whirr, and scattered
down the hillside. Ellie glanced quick
" backward, and saw the fire licking
up the grass as it bore down upon her
and the smoke rolling heavenward in
dense, sooty clouds. She did not loee
her presence Of mind, but remembered
small plowed field short distance:
away, where the flames could not
reach her, and ran nimbly down ths.
hill, with her fluttering skirts gather
ing cookie burs and sticker weed ~
she sped.
When she was fairly on the plowetl
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 salts.
faction; here was the longed-for proof
of his love; he thought she was In dan
ger and had come to her rescue. 4
deep blush mounted to her checks and
her heart beat to suffocation. But he
| did not seem to see her. 1twas evident
to her that he was crazed with fear and
would plunge into the fire in search Oi
her. Merciful God! he would be
burned.
"Brompton:" she screamed; dear
Brompton, l am here, safe!"
The fire was very close, and she had
to throw herself Nat upon the ground
to escape being burned. She gave ono
more despairing cry as she felt the hot
breath scorch her clothing:
'Brompton! Brompton! Brompton!'
A great wave of smoke and hams
swept around the edges of the plowet
ground, and for . minute nothing coult
be seen or heard. Fortunately for Ell
lie, the dry grass burned like tinder
and the fire was soon roa1ing down tn
hill toward the valley.
| When Ellie, ch0ked and frightened
lifted her head, she saw the thin. long
scantily clad legs of her HUSBAND
bounding over the blackened earth to
ward her. His duck trousers wer'
smeared with SCOT, and he had We
blanket about his shoulders. He couls
not speak, but caught Ellie in his arm
and burst into stifled sobs.
Back Of them WINS heard the voac'
Of Brompton Edwards
Hello, there, major" he called; "
had a very narrow squeak Of 1t. n.
hammock and books are burned to tan
der by this. BY Jove. old fellow, yo'
are burned yourself, aren't your You
wife was safe enough. I knew Oh
could take care Of herself"