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

drew long breath of thankiulness
VIXEN she reached the stream.
''Here, Oracle, hold this youngster
a moment. Now, Prince, come and be
tied to this tree. Poor old horsie, you
are nearly scared to death with all
this heat and rushing and roaring and
cracking round you. But you are
safe here. Rocks and water can't
burn, nor this green stuff, either. Oh,
you little scamp!'
She was just in time to catch Johnny
as he broke away from Oracle. This
time she tore strip from his apron,
tied the restless ankles together, and
set him down beside the pool, scream
ing, but unable to make more trou-
BILE.
''There. now! Don't cry, Oracle; /
didn't hurt him, and we are safe here.
Step close under the tree. Look at
Bose lying in the pool. He knows
how to make himself comfortable.
The canyon was now sea of fire.
Great flames seemed to reach and
eclipse the pale stars overhead. The
heat was intense, and the showers OF
sparks Kissed in the water and scorched
the ferns. Louise could see the thick
foliage of the green bay shrivelling in
the hot wind.
''But rocks and water can't burn,"
she repeated, desperately. "And this
heat can't last long"
She dipped Gracie's wrap and her
own into the pool, but Johnny held
l., 20 ,nl,%
that she had to let that go.
A frightened rabbit flashed past
them up the canyon, and snale
glided away among the rocks. Louise
wondered if they would escape. She
dashed water over Princes saddle and
back, over herself and the children.
The heat was terrible. 1t seemed i'm.
possible to live except by lying fiat.
She tried to force Prince down, but he
was too terrified to understand or
obey, aud she had to drop down her.
self.
The flames seemed to shoot up both
sides of the canyon now, netting
fiery bower against the sky. The
rain of sparks made little Oracle, look
in terror. "The waters afire, tool"
she cried.
Louise tried to reassure her, but she
found herself glancing up apprehen.
sively at the shrivelling leaves of the
bay tree. They would soon cease to
be any protection. ''Lie fiat, Oracle, "
she said, and once more dashed water
nyor tha cbil1rap and horse
But scarcely a minute passed before
Oracle exclaimed, 'The fires going out,
and our house isn't burned. It's just
going to, thought
Louise sat up. The dry grass and
leaves had burned out, the canyon
was comparatively dark, and the shanty
was but just smoldering into blaze.
The wet blankets and rugs had pro-
tected its roof, the great clump of
callas and vines. its sides; but these
had been dried ont completely, and
the last shower of sparks had accumu-
lated. In an instant Louise was
speeding toward it. There was lit
tie water in the barrel. A few min
utes' work with her saturated cloak
sutficed to beat out the fire.
'It's be ter than no shelter" Lou
Use remarked, grimly, as she dropped
on the doorstep, utterly exhausted.
"And their bedding isn't all burned
up, though I wouldn't give much for
the things on the roof, and | don't
think shall wear this cloak to church
again. 1 wish l was safe at home in
bed; but thank God the children are
safe!'
There came patter of small feet
and shrill, wrathful voice. johnny
had succeeded in freeing himself, and
returned in great indignation. "Hll
tell my mamma on you," he declared,
loudly. "You b'oke door in, and you
dwag me off and you tie me up in de
fire. I'll tell my mammal"
you're welcome" Louise said,
dryly.
"You b'oke windows and burn
house. I'll tell my mamma" Johnny
reiterated angrily.
Very cautiously Louise removed the
binding coat from her hors s head.
She patted and soothed him, and was
about to climb wearily into the saddle
when there came flare of torches and
lanterns over the western ridge. She
heard woman sobbing wildly and
declaring she must and would go on
to her poor children, while men
seemed to be dissuading ner.
Then Louise heard Phil's voice, full
of distress. "She would have been
perfectly safe where l left her, and
Prince wouldn't run away. Whatever
possessed her to go wandering off
Ben, won't you go and see if she has
gone home? 1 can't face them if she
isn't thcre."
"Oh, Phil" the girl called, 'T'n1
here all right. Is that Mrs. Wilson
crying? Tell her the children are al
right and the house is standing. Bose
Down, sir! Don't you know your
friends?' for the dog had bristled and
growled angrily at Phil's headlong
! rush down the hill