The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-12-23

cessively fervent, ripening the grain
rapidly, and parching the land, till now
everything was like finder, and what
little verdure there was fairly crumpled
under the feet as though blast of fire
had swept over the land. One hot
morning had followed another, each
ushering in hotter day seemingly than
the one preceding, the evening bring
ing little relief, save now and then a
breath from the far.off ocean, stealing
over the wide expanse of malice"
which the weary and spiritless north
erners hailed as blessing.
Thus the day came in as all the 9TH
ers had done, sitting and enervating.
The hot wind roared in the low Chin
ney, it tore the straw from the stacks
and litter from the stable yard and sent
it in whirlwinds dancing over the fields.
A hot Christmas truly All was done
that was possible to shut the wind out
of the house. Wet blankets were hung
at the doors and windows, for Mrs.
Ellerton was quite Frustrated and was
obliged to lie on her bed in her dark
ened bedroom. Nab was peevish, and
it remained to Susy and Sally to keep
the household moving, and make what
good cheer for the homecoming of
their father and brothers as they were
able, and withal contrive to be as jolly
as two sprites.
1t was three O'Clock in the afternoon.
Rows of pies and snowy bread lay upon
the shelves in the little pantry, tempt.
ing enough to satisfy even the most
delicate appetite.
"But our tarts are failure, sure"
sighed Susy. "That jelly can't stand
up under the heat. See, it's beginning
to melt so SOON"
$50 shall l, if we stay here much
longer" painted Susy.
"What worries me most" said Susy
''is that everything is go dried up. If
there should be fire start anywhere in
the scrub it would sweep everything
before it. And scrub fires are 30 COM
mon!"
Don't 60 TO croaking, Sue. It's bad
enough to think of it! And do be-
live l can hear a roaring that don't
sound just like the wind. Let's go out
and investigate" and catching her sun
bonnet from it's peg she opened the
outer door. Great gusts of hot air
straight from the burning inland des-
erts rushed in, nearly taking away the
breath.
"Mercy, it's like an ovenl" cried
Sally.
"The sun looks SICK" said Susy,
"and the haze is thickening fast
There's smoke in the air, if my nose
serves me-"
The two girls ran quickly to the top
of little rise at the back of the house,
and gazed anxiously off over the wide
stretch of scrub, swaying and bending
beneath the hot wind. All seemed
safe to the anxious watchers, yet low
distant murmur, like the humming of a
swarm of bees was borne to their ears
"'Tis the gale in the scrub, fancy"
said Sue.
And yet as she spoke lurid light be-
gan streaming up all along the low line
of hills a mile or more distant which
marked the horizon to the west re-
minding the girls of the dance and
flicker of the beautiful aurora they had
so often watched in their northern
home; then clouds of smoke shot up
and spread themselves rapidly athwart
the shy.
White with terror, Sally seized Sues
arm. "'Tis the scrub on tirel Oh, what
can we dol The flames are coming
right on toward us!"
Sue uttered not a word, but with
wild eyes and set lips sprang down the
hill and rushed into the house.
"The scrubs on firel" then she
shouted. Mother, Mabl The scrubs
on firel Quick! Oh, do hurryl" she
cried. "Don't stop for anythingl The
flames will overtake usl"
Mrs. ElertOn at the first alarm had
sprung up, aud throwing aside the wet
blanket, glanced out, assuring herself
of the great danger they were in.
But how can we escape, daughters?
We cannot hope to Outrun those flying
fiames!" she cried in great agitation.
But even in that first terrible mo.
ment of discovery, Susy's quick mind
had thought of possible chance of es-
cape.
ayes, yesl" she shouted above the
outcries of alarm and distress. 1.-THE
water .holel Let us fly TO the water
holel Mabl Sallyl Come onl" And
Selling her mothers arm, she rushed
out of the house into the low scrub,
which came very near il, followed by
Sally and Nab, and with trembling
limbs and blanched faces all fled toward
the water-hole, nearly mile distant.
They cast one fearful glance behind.
The flames had soon made rapid prog
ress, leaping, roaring and licking up the
parched and cracking malice with long,
eager tongues, like some monstrous,
hungry animal-sweeping on with the
speed of the wind, filling all the air