Warren sheaf., 1899-10-26

I
whole weight against the fimsy door
just as Louise found light hatchet.
She attacked the door furiously. A
strong man would have made short
work Of it, but the girl was neither
strong nor slSi1lful, and though it, shiv-
cred and splintered it held fast for
what seemed terribly long time. At
last as she and Bose together threw
themselves against it, it crashed in,
and the dog bounded across the room
to where a little girl about six years
old was trying to hush the screams Of
a brother of three.
The. shanty consisted sof but one
room, with neither door nor ceiling, and
the furniture was of the rudest descrip-
ton. AZ few relies Of better days .back
east contrasted. oddly with the home
made stools and bedstead. Louise gave
lone glance at a fine inlaid stand and a
Handsome family Bible, but with that
terrible half-mile of overarched wood
road to traverse it was impossible to
think of saving anything but the chill
dren.
She caught up the chubby youngster.
'sCome," she said, cheerily, ''let's go
and meet mother
The mountains all afire! We
shall be burned up!'' screamed the
little girl, clinging tighter, while the
boy kicked and pulled Louise's hair
with all his small might. Fairly des-
perate now, Louise shook him into mo-
mentary quiet, and said, sharply:
'Gracie, be still! I'll save you both if
you'll be quiet and mind me. IF you
don't can't and we shall all burn up
together!' e,.s48
The little maid gulped down her
cries, and even unclasped one small
hand. 1'I'll-begood," she gasped,
obediently. "Don't let me be burned
up
But the spoiled baby only sshrieked
and kicked. \
His little sister, trembling like, "a
leaf, made a piteouS appeal. ''Please
don't mind him. He don't know any
better, he's so little. % Johnny! please
be be still, please! I'll give you my
dollie,j anything if you don't keep
still-O Johnny, do listen to sister-we
shall be burned up!''
But Johnny was deaf to argument,
/ and Louise had to carry him out and
exert all her strength to lift him on
the horse. Hold on tight" she said; :;
but before she could lift Oracle also
the littletfellow rolled shrieking to the
ground. Louise had to. spring and
catch the bride or Prince would have
been off. ss. s
Master Johnny scurried back into the
house and under the bed in spite of
his sisters frantic appeals, for he had
never been required to obey her or
any body else. Oracle ran after him,
sobbing, and tugging frantically to get
him out. Louise had to tie Prince be-
fore; she dared follow, sick at heart
with fear. This spoiled baby IS willful-
ness might cost all their lives.
By main force she dragged him from
his retreat, enveloped him in blankets
and bore him out, but on the door:
step she paused. The breeze up the
tscanyo st i'll now 50 cool and sfresh,shad
suddenly become warm and N smoky.
The falling sparks had done their work,
fires were already smoldering lower
down the canyon. A minute more
might see it ablaze. It would be mad
ness to attempt that road now. She
set Johnny down and looked around
with desperate coolness. !.
Once started, the fire would rush up
the canyon at race-horse speed. Over
the westward cliffs the Hastings cam
yon roared and famed. To eastward
the sky was dark, but the noun tainside
was a tangle of thorny vegetation, and
she knew no paths. Oracle clung to
her, sobbing, Bose whined and looked
to her with appealing eyes, but John
ny fled back into the shanty and Prince
was fast becoming unmanageables in
his fright. Louise could have tainted
in fear, but she fought her weakness.
If she failed them, what was to become.
Of these little ones?
Don't be ightened, Graciea Keep
cool, Prince, boy She. caught up an
old coat and enveloped his head. Poor
Prince! It's a shame. Il know I should
go crazy if couldn't see the danger!
WV, VI dNlC, ,slEzAAOulSCEC ECI1Cu,g ACINOuSiy,s
help me wet. all the mats and blankets
and quilts in the house quick! 2
a barrel Of water stood under the
nearest tree. Into this Louise hastily
plunged bedding and pieces Of carpet,
then, scrambling on an old box, with
the help of the broom she spread them
as well as possible over the flimsy roof.
Suddenly she sprang down. s.The.
pool below the falls under the big bay
tree! We may be safe there; and there
isn't moment to lose. Come, John
ny, we're going to the falls.
Once more she sjerked the child from.
under the bed and carried out
Now the air was close, and the can
yon walls echoed to the cracking Of
the flames. Forum ately it was not far:
to the little pool, for it took all the
girls strength to lead the terrified
horse and the sstrug ggling boy.
Black man under falls bogy mani y
Johnny screamed, pulling back with all
his might and Oracle added, trembling:
{ 81 Mamma says there is q black man al
fhara that eats s1iffla chi ren. Inf y,1,,,