The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-03-05


which the thinly populated district
furnished had gone to their homes,
Miss Blanchard sat at the west win
dow Of the little white schoolhouse
watching the evening sunlight SHIN
mering upon the nodding prairie
grass that stretched like a yellow sea
Dor miles and miles.
It was mid-September. For a month
not drop of moisture had fallen. In
the road that wound, a dull, gray
streak, across the plain, the dust was
ankle deep. Verdure was sere, and
Nfeless, and dry. The sky was cloud
less; the suns heat almost intolerable.
But Miss Blanchard's thoughts were
not OF the parched, glittering land
soape nor yet Of her school duties.
They were of John Mallory.
She could not remember when she
had not loved John Mallory. All their
young lives they had been sweethearts.
But at last they had quarreled-and
parted in anger.
While she still considered that he
mad been unjust to her. and her eyes
snapped Indignantly at the recollection
OF his harsh words, she could not dull
the keen edge of regret; the dazzling
brightness of the sunshine could not
dtssipate the shadow-the deep, dark
some shadow-that seemed to wrap her
In its mantle.
With a sigh she turned from the
window and her glance rested upon
the telephone back of her desk. Dear,
thoughtful John! 1t was he who had
ordered the telephone placed in the
schoolhouse.
There are SO many tramps In the
country" he had said to her. IF they
bother you, little woman, or il you are
ever a need Of help. ring me up"
Her heart had thrilled with affection
ut the time, but now She tossed
her head proudly. II do not need his
assistance" she said; II am quite
capable Of taking care of myself, I
think"
Again she turned to gaze across the
monotonous fields, and became con-
Scious of a peculiar haze that seemed
20 I'LL the air with increasing density.
With never thought but that a much
needed shower was not far distant, she
watched it in idle curiosity, but pres
emily, with sudden foreboding, she no.
ttced that heavy clouds of vapor occa-
sionally rolled over the building, borne
westward. And then, through the
open window there drifted a strong,
familiar odor-the odor of smoke.
Hurrying to the door, she pushed it
open and cast one apprehensive glance
to the eastward. then shrank back ap-
palled. The prairie was afire!
Across the eastern horizon was a
iivid wall of flame, whose red tongues
seemed reaching to the very portals of
heaven. The long, parched blades of
grass, dry as finder, were food most
tempting to the ravenous element
The wind had increased to a gale and
already shower of sparks was falling
within few rods of the schoolhouse.
The nearest residence, q mile away,
was towards the east, from which the
IRE was rapidly approaching. To the
westward twice that distance must be
traversed before she could reach a
She knew the plowed
fields, surrounding the dwellings, in
sured safety to the buildings, but she
could not hope to reach any of them in
advance of this scarlet agent of de-
Struction. Yet certain death awaited
hee If she remained, for the school
louise was without protection of any
nature.
An agony Of thoughts crowded her
brain and in frenzy of fear she
dashed into the road. Already she
could feel the heat of the fire that was
racing towards her with the speed of a
railway train. 1t seemed no more
than two miles away; she could hear
the ominous cracking of the dry grass
rs the flames leaped forth and en-
braced the writhing verdure in their
hot embrace.
The sky was hidden by mantle of
smoke; the sun, visible only at inter-
vals, was great. round ball of GRIM
son. Before the rolling vapor fright
sned birds flew past in focks; along
the dusty road, almost dashing against
her in their mad flight, droves of rab-