The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-01-30
4 vic. frcn Ka vo,tsx.
BY EDGAR wELroN COOLEY.


tcc2yiisht. 1907. Wy Lady story Pub. Col
For an hour after the dozen pupils
Fhich the thialy populated district
furnished had gone to their homes.
LIS blanchard sat at tke west win.
dow Of tie little white schoolaeuse
watching ths sveniag sunlight sh.m-
HertuS upon the nodding prairie
Grass that stretched like a yellow sea
Tor miles and miles.
il wac nsfd-September. For q month
not drop OF moisture had fallen. In
Che rocd that wound, dull. gray
esreak. across the plain. the dust was
fnkie deep. Yerdure was sere. and
Nfeless. and dry. The sky was cloud
less; the suns heat almost intolerable
But Miss Blarchard's thoughts were
not OF tao parched. giittering land
ecape nor yet of her school duties.
They were of John Mallory.
She -ould not remember whom she
had cot loved John Mallory. All their
young lives they had been swesthearts.
But at last they had quarrelcd-and
parted in anger.
While che still considered that he
had been unjust to her. and her eyes
snapped Indignantly at tle recollection
Of his harsh words. a..e could not dull
the keen edge of regret: the dazzling
Brightness of the sunshine could not
disslpats the shadow--the deep. dark
some ahadow-that seemed to wrap her
in It's mantle.
With nigh she turned from the
window an her glance rested upon
Che telephone back OF her desk. Dear,
thoughtful John! 1t was he VINO had
ordered tho telephone placed In the
GchooihOuse
'Thcre are SO many tramps in the
country" he had said to ner. IF they
bother you. little woman. or ii you arc
ever in need of help, ring me up"
Her heart had thrilled with affection
ct the time, but now she tossed
her head proudly. Il 90 not need his
assistance" sile said; Il am quite
think"
--sIin she turned to .gaza across tho
morotonoTs fields. and Eeca' con
scious of peculiar haze thHt seemed
TO FL tho air with increasing density.
With never thought but that much
ceeded shower was not far distant, she
watched it in idle c :io3ity, bat pres
emily, with sudden foreboGing, she no.
ticed that heavy clouds Of vapor occa-
'sionally rolled over the building. borne
westward And then, through the
open window there drifted strong.
familiar Odor-the odOr of smoke.
: Hurrying to the door, she pushed it
open and cast one apprehensige klance
TO the eastward. then shrank back ap-
palled. The prairie was afre!
Across the eastern horizon was a
hyid we'll of fame, whose red tongues
seemed reaching to the very portals OF
heaven. The long. rarcned blades Of
grass, dry as finder, were 70, most
The Why'd bod Increased TO gale and
Alrea y shower Of sparks was falling
WITHIN few rods OF the scA3o;house.
The nearest rc:-.,5pace, q ale ..oay,
was towards It's cast. ftoLa which tho
&c ws: reridly approaching. To the
westward twice that distance must be
traverGed before she could reach
/ AdDlldllOu. Eoub Allow LIE DlCWS1
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.
struct:on. Yet certain death awaited
her if she remained, for the school
house 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
railway train. 1t seemed no more
than two miles away; she could hear
the onliaous cracking OF the c.: s.ss
as the flames leaped forth aad en-.
t-.ced the writhing verdure in their
hot embrace.
The sky was hidden by a mantle Of
smoke: the sun. visible only at inter-
vGls. was great, round bali OF Grim
son, Befc:r the rolling va3or fright