Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-08-31

horse. Sparks were flying in clouds
overhead, and the air was filed with
the muffied roar of fire. Hastings
canyon was all abluze. There wasn't
moment to loose. She ratified the
rough door fercely.
A frightened little face showed it.
self at the window. "Please'm, we
can't open the door. We're locked in,
and papa and mamma haven't come
yet Amt it time?"
Louise looked desperately around
for nm axe to force the door, She
could see clearly-it was too light, in
deed, with all that ruddy glow from
the smoke clouds above. The great
dog was watching her suspiciously.
"Now don't be angry, boy, "she coaxed,
little nervously. 'We've got to
open the door, you know, to get the
babies out, OF we shall all burn up to-
gether."
Bose barked and again flung his
whole weight against the fiimsy 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 skilful, 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 n
brother of three.
The shanty consisted of but one
room, with neither floor nor ceiling,
and the furniture was of the rudest
description. A few relics of better
days "back east" contrasted oddly
with the homemade stools and bed
stead. Louise gave one glance at
fine, inlaid stanu and handsome fam
lily Bible, but with that terrible half
mile of overarched wood road to trav-
erse, it was impossible to think of
saving anything but the children.
She caught upthe chubby youngster.
"Come," she said cheerily, "let's go
and meet mother"
But the child screamed and fought
her vigorously. While she strove to
soothe him, the little girl ran to the
door, but one look brought her back
| W CiuCh I-ouisC vi Coo.
"The mountains all afre! 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 desperate
now, Louise shook him into momen-
tary quiet, and said, sharply: "Gracie,
be still I'll save you both if you'll
be quiet and mind me. If you don't
1 can't, and we shall all burn up to-
| gether!"
The little maid gulped down her
hand. "Pll-be--good," she gasred,
obediently. Don't let me be burned
up.
But the spoiled baby only shrieked
and kicked.
His little sister, trembling like
leaf, made piteous appeal. ''Please
don't mind him. He don't know any
better, he's SO little. o Johnny! please
be sti ], 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 ohnny 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 perverse little fellow rolled shrek
ing to the ground. Louise had to
spring and catch the bride or Prince
would have been off.
Master Johnny scurried back into
| l,o and ,1nlar ha bod IN ta
OF his sisters frantic appeals, for he
had never been required TO obey her
or anybody else. Oracle ran after
him, sobbing and tugging frantically
to get him out. Louise had to tie
Prince before she dared follow, sick
at heart with fear. The spoiled baby's
wilfulness 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.
A barrel of water stood under the
nearest tree. Into this Louise hast
lily plunged be elding and pieces of car
pet, then, scrambling on an old box,
with the help of the broom she spread
them as well as possible over the finn
sy ROOF.
Suddenly she sprang down. 'The
pool below the falls under the big bay
tree! We may be safe there, and there
isn't moment to lose. Come, j ohnny,
we're going to the falls.
Once more she jerked the child from
under the bed and carried him out.
Now the air was close, and the canyon
walls echoed to the cracking of the
flames. Fortunately it was not far to
the little poo, for it took all the girls
, strength to lead the terrified horse and
, the struggling boy.
''B'ack man under falls - bogy
mani" Johnny screamed, pulling back
with all his might, and Oracle added,
trembling, "Mamma says there is q
black man there that eats little chill