The Afro-American advance., 1900-05-12

ened her skirts, tied ON sun-bonnet
and followed in the wake.
A wild sight it was that greeted
the eyes of many onlookers rs the sun
rose upon clear and yellow sky with
promise of another day of brazen heat.
From three distinct points aseendeti
| 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 denser
grow tn, crept insidiously on. tefying
all efforts to eStinguish 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
So hot twas 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 il brave
". Exhausted often with the immense
eNertion at fearful heat. they threw
themselves down at full length to
rest for 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
murly 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
miGst. Among them Joan thought
she deserted the well-known form of
VIII Larkins, and so sure did she
become of the identity of that sturdy
figure. swaying a mighty bough in
his strong arms, as he beat and beat
at the obstinate flames. that she was
impelled to descend and follow
If VIII should see her, he might bid
her roughly to go back; but she would
chance that. She must follow!
Not far from him the girl distin-
guished another form which she
thought she knew-that of a disrep-
utable charcoal burner, and he
seemed to be approaching VIII. That
he bore her lover grudge Joan knew,
for he had been caught poaehing on
several occasions, and the gamekeep-
er had threatened 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 aim
quick and heavy blow with the thick
stick he carried right over Wills head
1t came with such crushing force that
the hand it struck was constrained to
drop the bough. VIII staggered back.
and Joan, uttering "A cry of pain and
anger, as though she herself had felt
the force of the blow. hurled her bough
at the cowardly assailant, and darting
forward. threw her arms about her low.
er as though TO protect him from fur.
ther attack.
20, Will. she sobbed. "are YOU hurt?"
Al first he seemed inclined to shake
her off.
go home. grill" he cried. hoarseIy. |
But look into her tender eyes. stream
ing with tears, and the wall of separa-
tion between them crumbled to moth.
ing.
The charcoal burner cast a curious
glance at the pair, and then, with a |
curse. skunk off and disap. |
peared among the smoking trees.
How come you here. Joan?" asked |
viii.
why, I've been beating out the fire
along with the rest, most ever since
three this mornin'," she replied be-
tween laughter and tears.
They looked at each other. He was
black. hot, grimy: nor had her pretty
face escaped. Nevertheless. their lips
met in a close kiss. They had owed
each other that kiss for fortnight at
he least.
1--WE been brute TO you. Joan, " con-
fessed the man.
1--WE been a fool, know" admitted
the girl
Life amt long enough for quarrels,"
said he.
We've lost a fortnight's happiness.
ihe replied.
"l'll have TO go home" said viii
presently, with n weary sigh. Il can
peat no more; | believe my thumb i.
lroke."
80, poor VIII" cried Joan. taking
he MANNED hand in both her own.
Come. mother will bind it up"
They turned their back on the fire
md left il TO take its course.
"There's fuel beyond there in plenty.
mt twill burn itself ont in time" said
Viii. nodding backwards in the direc-
ion from which they had come.
And so il did. By Sunday the flames
we're all extinguished and a heaven
ent rain fell gently, cooling the heat
d, blackened soil.
viii and Joan walked to church TO
-ether. choosing the road which over.
ooked the devastated woods Naught
hat had been green remained. except
n small. eccentric patches. The lofty
lines reared their grim heads, with
haired trunks and scorched branches
There was no song of bird. not a chirT
II twitter in this region of widespread
esolation.
And yet the very next spring would {