The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-11-25

A frightened little face showed itself
at the window. "Please'm, we can't
open the door. We're locked in, and
papa and mamma haven't come home
yet. Amt it timer"
Louise looked desperately around for
an ak to force the door. She could see
clearly-it was too light, indeed, with
all that ruddy glow from the smoke
clouds above. The great dog was watch
ing her suspiciously. "Now don't be
angry, boy" she coaxed, little nerv-
ously. We've got to open the door,
you know, to get the babies out, or we
shall all burn up together"
Bose barked and again flung his
whole weight against the fiimsy door
just as Louise found light Ratchet.
She attacked the door furiously. A
strong man would have made short
work of it, but the girl was neither
strong nor skillful, 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 little girl about six years
old was trying to hush the screams of
brother of three.
The shanty consisted of but one
room, with neither doorhor ceiling, and
the furniture was of the rudest descrip-
ton. A few relics of better days "back
east" contrasted oddly with the home
made stools and bedstead. Louise gave
one glance at 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.
"Come," 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 I can't and we shalr all burn up
together!"
The little maid gulped down her
cries, and even unclasped one small
hand. 'I'll-be-good," she gasped,
obediently. Don't let me be burned
up"
But the spoiled baby only shrieked
and kicked.
His little sister, trembling like a
leaf, made piteous appeal. "Please
don't mind him. He don't know any
better, he's so little. o Johnny! please
be be still, please! I'll give you my
dollie, anything-but 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 little fellow rolled shrieking to the
ground. Louise had to spring. and
catch the bride or Prince would have
been off.
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
anybody else. Oracle ran after him,
sobbing. and Juggling frantically to get
him out. Louise had to tie Prince be-
fore she dared follow, sick at heart
with fear. This spoiled baby's 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
canyon, till now so cool and fresh, had
suddenly become warm and smoky.
The falling sparks had done their work,
fires were already smoldering lower
down the canyon. A minute more
might see it ablaze. 1t would be mad
ness to attempt that road now She
set Johnny down and looked around
with desperate GOODNESS.
: Once started, the fire would rush up
the canyon at race-horse speed. Over
the westward cliffs the Hastings can
yon roared and famed. To eastward
the sky was dark, but the mountainside
was tangle of thorny vegetation, and
she knew no paths. Oracle chung to
her, sobbing, Bose whined and looked
to her with appealing eyes, but john
ny fed back into the shanty and Prince
was fast becoming manageable 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 frightened, Oracle. Keep
cool, Prince, boy" She caught up an
old coat and enveloped his head. poor
Prince! It's a shame. know / should
go crazy If / couldn't see the danger!
Now. Oracle" Louise cried. nervouslv-