Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-05-24

abroad; but one of greater import
still was that which mentioned the
name of a tipsy old charcoal burner
who had been working in the pine
woods for the last three weeks, dur
ing which time small fires, soon To-
Called, had given rise to several
lived excitements in the neighbor-
hood.
How the present fire had originated,
however was Of minor Importance
Just then. The one thing to be done
was to limit its extent and to extin-
guish it as speedily as possible. Judg-
ing by appearances, this seemed I'M
likely to happen, for the gentle
breeze grew and grew till 1t was
ruffied into a small gale and sent the
flames flying before it in mad career
Thick volumes of gray smoke began t.,
ascend from the other side of the hill;
moreover, these smoke columns APP
peared to rise from various points.
This was a startling sign. and the
watching women understood its sig
nificance. Joan West was a watcher
no longer; flying home, she reused
every available man, and saw them
off in strong brigade for action at
the front. Then, throwing the cares
of butter-maliing aside, she short
ened her skirts. tied on a sun-bonnet
and followed in the wake.
A wild sight it was that greeted
the eyes of many onlookers as the sun
rose upon a clear and yellow sky with
promise Of another day of brazen heat
From three distinct points assembled
dense columns of smoke already lurid
with flame. Wherever the gaze turned
there destruction was advancing with
giant strides.
The hillside was now swept bare;
but the fire, having reached a denser
growth, crept insidiously on, defying
all efforts to extinguish it. The flames
had already leapt over the road which
divided the hillside from the dark
pinewoods. The tall trees were in the
grip of the fiery foe.
So hot was it that the gentlest
breath of air famed it to fresh flame
| The heavens became hidden by the
thick pail which hung overhead, while
beyond and on every side destruction
ragged. Still, men battled with it brave
ly. Exhausted often with the immense
exertion at fearful heat, they threw
themselves down at full length to
rest for q moment and to > regain
fresh nerve for the struggle.
Joan West and one or two other
women worked in the rear, beating
out such struggling fires as threat
ened to revive their energy, but still
as the morning wore on, the outlook
appeared as hopeless as ever.
In one glade the fiery forces seemed
to have concentrated. Down in its
murky depths it was possible to dis
tinguish several of the figures looking
like the genii of the fire, as they
moved hither and thither in the very
midst. Among them Joan thought
she deserted the well-known form OF
Will Larkins, and so sure did she
become of the identity of that sturdy
figure, swaying a mighty Dough IN
his strong arms, as he beat and beat
at the obstinate flames, that she was
impelled to descend and follow.
If Will should see her, he might bid
her roughly to go back; but she would
fnllnvvl
Not far from him the girl distin'
guished another form which she
thought she knew-that of disrep'
utable charcoal burner, and he
seemed to be approaching Will. That
he bore her lover a grudge Joan knew
for he had been caught poaching on
several occasions, and the gamekeeP
er had threa- cned to "have him
up"
Above the roaring of the fire came
the sound of their voices in hot dispute
and Joan hurried over the smoking soil
Neither of the men had yet perceived
her. for their faces were to the oppo
site slope.
Suddenly she saw the older man ain
a quick and heavy blow with the thicI
stick he carried right over Wits head
1t came with such crushing force thai
the hand it struck was constrained tc
drop the Dough. Will staggered back
and Joan, uttering q cry of pain anf
anger, as though she herself had fell
the force of the blow, hurled her bougf
at the cowardly assailant, and darling
forward, threw her arms about her low
er as though to protect him from fur
Their attack.
80, WILL" she sobbed, "are you hurt?'
At first he seemed inclined to shak'
her off.
"Go home, grill" he cried, hoarsely
But look into her tender eyes, stream
ing with tears, and the wall of separa
ton between them crumbled to moth
ing.
The charcoal burner cast curious
glance at the pair, and then, with
muttered curse, skunk off and disap
peared among the smoking trees.
How come you mere, JONI ashe'
Will.
"Why, I've been beating out the fir
along with the rest, most ever sine
three this mornin'," she replied, be
tween laughter and tears.
They looked at each other. He wa
black, hot, grimy; nor had her prett'
face escaped. Nevertheless, their lip
met in a close kiss. They had owe'
each other that kiss for fortnight a
the least.
"I've been brute to you, Joan, con
fessed the man.
"I've been a fool, l know" admitte'
the girl.
Life amt long enough for quarrels,