The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-11-18

CouinS IOT lnem at Tdce-nOTSe spteui
and the wind blew hot in their faces.
Sparks were beginning to fly about
them.
Not without you." she said. calmly.
But the horse cannot carry twoi"
he said, in an agony of impatience.
4 Please goi 1t is your only chance"
Not unless you come, too" she in
sisted. The horse shook with terror
and the girl kept her back with diff
Guilty. "You are wasting time"
Never mind me, but goi Why are
you so obstinate?" he cried, hardly
/ knowing what he said.
Because L. Comet"
He turned the horses head down the
road and .leaped up behind the girl.
Even with the double burden the lit
tie pony ran rapidly, but It went NJ
faster than the fire. which had been
gaining on them frightfully as they
tained. 1t was more than halfway over
the slough, and the heat about them
was intense. The flying sparks set fire
to the grass in many places, and their
faces were often stung by the embers
that filed the air The whole world
seemed ablaze.
On they fed, the smoke rolling about
them so they could scarcely see the
road ahead of them. The girl took one
look over her shoulder. then moaned
and buried her face in her hands.
"If you had only let me stay" he
said. She shook her head. but said
nothing. The horse was laborine
nightly, but the strain was terrific.
and her pace began TO wane slightly
when they had gone about four miles.
Seven miles from the farm was a
river. II was small. but its high banks
and cool waters were Fairbanks goal
When he turned again from the main
road he had only a mile to go. but the
horse was travelling painfully. and as
its pace grew less and its noble efforts
more feeble the fire slowly gained upon
them. Behind them, laughing with
glee. inexorably came the fire. shorten
ing the interval between 1t and its prey
steadily. Now II was barely 100 yards
behind, and when Fairbairn felt its hot
breath growing hotter he uttered a
prayer and dug his spurs deeper into
the poor pony's fianks. The animal
gave a moan and struggled to respond.
For a moment its speed mended. and
Fairbairn almost began to feel hopeful.
Then It began to fail more than ever
and he clutched the girl to him, almost
in despair.
Now the fire was so yards behind
The horse was losing ground, and the
heat was becoming unbearable. Then
his heart leaped as a row of willows
: showed family through the smoke
clouds ahead. The river was near. and
once there they were safe. But moi
yet. The horse stumbled and regained
its feet. Stumbled, up again; stumbled
up again; and then, still struggling
/ nightly against the weakness that wa:
finally overpowering its poor frame, II
, slowed up, sank to its knees, rolled
. over and died.
Fairbairn was up in a second. Tht
girl had tainted. He grasped her IL
3 his arms again. tossed her to his shoul.
der and ran. Gods, how he rani Ev.
cry muscle in his body was strained II
r the last effort to reach the goal. Blu
: faster came the fire. Now 1t was jus
e behind. Now 1t shot past far to tht
] right. as though 1t would head then
l off in its fiendish cunning Its roai
e sounded a new alarm in Fairbairnt
S ears, and he summoned up every las
shred of strength for one final effort
I His tired muscles responded and h
L shot on. But the fire was at his heels
4 He felt his coat take fire. and then h
i saw that the girls skirt was ablaze
I He put this fire out with his bare hand
: but the flames were all about him. Th'
3 smoke was sitting. and he could no
I see his own length ahead. He coult
not tell how far he was from the river
:. but he could tell that II he did no
S reach Il soon the end was at hand
e Then he shot blindly over a steel
e bank, and the cool, grateful waters o
the river bubbled in his ears as tn
k couple sank into It.
The water brought the girl to he
senses and she was able to help her
s self The fire roared over their head
o for a short time, then leaped the rive
d and was gone.
d They emerged. dripping. from tn
river. looked over the black, smoking
e waste. shuddered. breathed a prayer O
thankfulness. and then he turned to he
d to feast on the love light in her eyes.