Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-02-17

Thus the matter stood when Wash
ington's birthday dawned-an armed
truce between the opposing forces,
each of which was intent on winning
the prize and confident that il could
lie done.
Soft blew the southern breeze and
the night WAS dark. From miles Of
plain came the breath of spring tina
Was xiv ing the first earnest uf it, glory.
The settlers rrdc in from their claims
in Wagons; the Tanchmcn came on
horseback. aud the line of ponies that
friucrd the schoolhouse yard MAS for
midahlr. The Euglishman came in all
the glory Of his best clothes. while
BORDEN made his appearance in the
frontier dress that SO well became
him.
NO reserved seats; come right i'm"
WELCOMED the storckcePer as he took
the tickets at the door. The crowd
nbrycd aud filled the front seats. the
back seats. and ovrrilowtd the aislcs.
Nov, ladies' and gentlemen" an
nounced the storckrrper. when all was
ready I'VE viii present The great drama
Of the time of Washington, as is most
appropriate on this occasion"
The curtain rolled up (agan a sheet
an po,e). and the simple incidents that
had been chosen Ia give a representa-
iiou Of the life Of the first president
were one after another called forth.
There was nothing but peace until the
act where the meeting of the hero and
4 L
two rivals came on the little stage there
Was a howl of delight from the men
present, for each knew how matters
stood.
Borden looked daggers at Glade. and
as his turn came to speak al! realized
hat he was putting strange senti-
ments into the mouth of Washington
n hen be said: "lou MAY he as good a
! man a. the rest of us, but you are not
50 brave"
CORVALLIS colored. and the store
keeper remarked to his wife: "Blest
4 don't think Borden struck home
hat time"
But Glade responded, with due cour-
;csA: "Ii remains 10 he proved as TO
speech.
The play was long ard the audience
was evidently weary when the final act
came. The rivals were on the stage and
there was n chance for some more repair
zee. which was likely TO BE given, when
suddenly there was a sound from the
outside Of the house that caused the
/ .F to fply f.
ll-defined fear. II was a whinny of ter
ror from a score of horses Threats.
Quickly the people rushed from their
seats aud to the windows and doors
What they saw was something that is
Ecver without its message of alarm for
the ranchman and the settlcr-the
prairie Was on fire.
In an Instant almost the house was
rmptiea. The women were crying and
he men were trying to calm the fright
cned horses. One by one The wagons
were hurrying off. the owners anxious
to get home or at least out of the reach
of the danger.
l; was high time!
Like a sea of flame the onrushing
1
licking up the long grass of the ravines
and making quick work of the crisp
covering of the higher lands. The wind
had risen and was bringing the attack
ing army onward with rapid pace.
/ There was no chance for the school
house TO escape. In scrambling. push
ing mass the people left the place and
their wagons and horses were dotting
the flame-lighted plain. Two men
found themselves side by side quarter
of a mile from the building, each on his
broncho and each galloping toward the
Forth.
As they mounted little swell in the
prairie the blaze lighted their faces.
From each came an eNcla mation: "Bor-
dem" "Gladei"
Il thought you were with her." de-
manded the former, angrily.
IL thought you were the one"
For an instant the two men glared
at each other and then the test came.
Borden looked straight in the face OF
the Englishman and then at the sea OF
fame sweeping up from the south and
whose breath was hot in their faces.
WELL" he demanded, which shall
it be? This is the time to prove which
is the true representative of bravery"
'Oh, it's not that sort of question:
pleaded the other.
1T is Just that sort of question
There is chance for the one who rides
into that blaze to come out alive-and
only a chance. 1t will be at the school
house in moment, and the race there
is no small thing in itself, even if the
horses will take it,"
well go together" after a littl,
thought.
VERY WELL" The horses heads wer,
turned and the rivals went toward tn,
long line of leaping flames, each deter
mined to make the other weary of hi
undertaking. On and on they rode
the horses becoming wilder as eacl
Whit of the wind brought them /;
. stronger smell of smoke.
Finally the Englishman began to fal
Sehind. His horse was not so unruly a
Borden's, and there seemed no reason
for his retrogression.
Come on, Corvallis" called tn
ranchman. and the cut was felt by tn
laggard.
Faster and faster rode the frontiers
man into the thick of the smoke an
| was lost to the sight of his comrade
J With head bent low and notrils shielde
In the folds of his cloak, he steered "a
! ward the schoolhouse whose black form
rose out of the flames.
Finally the door was reached an,
] with a shout he called to the teacher
Was she there? He remembered tina
she had gone to the rear of the building
: when the alarm was given. She Nigh
| have thought there was no danger i
: staying in the schoolhouse.
, He leaped from the horse Into tn
e building he ran and TO the rear. Wha
was that "a sobbing? Leaning over