The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-02-17

II don't like to see that Englishman
around you so much" whispered Bor-
den a few minutes later.
"Why, he behaves himself" replied
Miss Dean, with well-feigned astonish-
| ment.
"But it amt patriotic, don't you see"
was the retort. "You ought to stand
up for your country, and - Washing
toni" This last proudly, for Borden
was really elated at the character he
was taking in the play.
$50 I must make this q national af-
fair?"
mo, just a personal affair, but be pa
triotic in it,
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 it could
lie done.
Soft blew the southern breeze and
the night was dark. From miles of
plain came the breath of spring thai
was giving the first earnest of it's glory.
The settlers rode in from their claims
in wagons; the ranchmen came on
horseback, and the line of ponies that
fringed the schoolhouse yard was for
midable. The Englishman came in all
the glory of his best clothes, while
Borden made his appearance in the
frontier dress that so we'll became
him.
mo reserved seats; come right in"
welcomed the storekeeper as he took
the tickets at the door. The crowd
obeyed and filed the front seats, the
back seats, and overfowed the aisles.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen" an
nounced the storekeeper, when all was
ready, 1--WE will present the great drama
of the time of Washington, as is most
appropriate on this OCCASION"
The curtain rolled up (again sheet
on a pole), and the simple incidents that
had been chosen to give representa-
ton 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
| CORVALLIS occurred. Then as the
two rivals came on the little stage there
was 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 all realized
that he was putting strange senti-
ments into the mouth of Washington
when he said: "You may be as good, a
man as the rest of us, but you are not
so brave"
| CORVALLIS co1ored, and the store
keeper remarked to his wife: "Blest
| if 1 don't think Borden struck home
that time.'
But Glade responded, with due cour-
tesy: 1T remains to be proved as to
that" and then went on with his set
speech.
The play was long and the audience
was evidently weary when the final act
came. The rivals were on the stage and
there was a chance for some more repair
tee, which was likely to be given, when
suddenly there was sound from the
outside of the house that caused the
heart of every auditor to sink with an
ill-defned fear. 1t was a whinny of ter
ror from a score of horses threats.
Quickly the people rushed from their
seats and to the windows and doors.
What they saw was something that is
never without its message of alarm for
the ranchman and the scttlcr-the
prairie was on fire.
In an instant almost the house was
emptied. The women were crying and
the men were trying to calm the fright
ened 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.
| 1t was high time!
Like sea of fame the onrushing
blaze was sweeping across the dry sod,
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 fame-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
north.
AS they mounted little swell in the
prairie the blaze lighted their faces.
From each came an exclamation: "Bor-
den!" "Glade!"
II thought you were with her." de-
manded the former, angrily.
II 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
flame 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 a question"
pleaded the other.
1T is just that sort of a question.
There is chance for the one who rides
into that blaze to come out aMve-and
only chance. It will be at the school
house in moment, and the race there
is no small thing in itself, even II the
horses will take it,
well 60 together" after : LITTLE
thought. .