The news boy., 1896-03-07

criticising, in soft, caressing tones,
the sketches of himself which she had
been doing. Without actually straying
from the path of duty, Ellie was tread.
ing on dangerously uncertain
territory. She quite frankly al
initted to herself that she was
pretty and charming, and, be-
ing of that mind, she did not reprcss
comparisons between her husband aud
the younger man.
Matters had arrived ut state where
warm-hearted, but vain, young won-
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 maj around
with dog-like devotion, and only glow.
cred when Ellie came out to the or
chadd one morning with her paints
and succeeded in bringing upon herself
scolding from her over-indulgent hus-
band. She held her head very high and
stiff, and 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 n panied express
sion on his good-natured face, and then
went dejectedly into the house. Pete
was deeply incensed against Ellie, and
made another solemn VOW to desert the
ranch. 1t was the nincty-and-ninth
time that he had done so and this tine
he sealed the VOW with an 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 an athletic form
stood between her and the landscape,
end she was indulging in a very foolish
day dream. To do the little woman
justice, she was not in love with Bromr.
ton. but her vanity had been stimulated
to such wonderful activity by his
youthful gallantries that she fancicd
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 a satisfac.
| tlOn IL would be!
over on the mountain side, n half mile
away. Pete leaned on his hoe, and
watched thread of fire crawling, like
a red snake, through the underbush OF
ehapafral 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 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 4
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
ly backward, and saw the fire licking
up the grass as it bore down upon her
and the smoke rolling heavenward il,
dense, sooty clouds. She did not lose
her presence of mind, but remembered
4 small plowed field short distance
away, where the flames could not
reach her, and ran nimbly down the
hill, with her tluttering skirts gather
ing cookie burs and sticker weed as
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 a 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. y
deep blush mounted to her cheeks AMI
her heart beat to suffocation. But he
did not seem to see her. TWAS 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, am here, safe!"
The fire was very close, and she had
to throw herself fiat upon the ground
to escape being burned. She gave one
more despairing cry as she felt the hot
breath scorch her clothing:
"Brompton! Brompton! Brompton!'
4 great wave of smoke and flame
swept around the edges of the plowetl
ground, and for minute nothing could
be seen or heard. Fortunately for Ell
lie, the dry grass burned like tinder
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
bounding over the blackened earth to
ward her. His duck trousers were
smeared with SCOT, and he had we,
blanket about his shoulders. He could
not speak, but caught Ellie in his arms
and burst into stified sobs.
Back of them was heard the voice
of Brompton Edwards.
"Hello, there, major" he called; 81
had u very narrow squeak of it. My
hammock and books are burned to Tin
der by this. by Jove, old fellow, you
are burned yourself, aren't you? Youl
wife was safe enough. I knew she
could take care of herself"
But Ellie buried her head in the wei