The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-02-04

shore.
He had hoped to make an early start;
but the old donkey had somehow famed
himself, and although the major pro-
claimed that Michael was an imbecile,
Michael must rest few hours, notwith-
standing.
A start the major was determined to
make, however. They could spend the
night at village, he expected to reach
in the early evening, and go on to Father
Normand's the next morning.
In the afternoon, therefore, the donkey
was caparisoned with the saddle bags,
the huge pockets of which well-nigh
touched the ground on each side, and the
major mounted, holding Marie on his
arm. Unwillingly the donkey set him
self in motion.
AS they passed out upon the road,
which was little more than a wagon
track overshadowed by trees, the smell
of smoke was borne on the wind, and
the major turned with some misgivings
to take parting look at the little house
he was leaving behind. 1t was snug
place, and CHEEKY. The cabin, with it's
whitewashed walls and the pot of flow
ers Frightening the window, made one
think of prim old man with a carna-
ton in his buttonhole-the major him
self, perhaps. dressed for a feast-day.
Presently now they were in the for
est that pressed close up to the road.
But the donkey made painful progress.
When the afternoon was well spent they
were still some ten miles from the place
where the major had planned to spend
the night.
The sun sank behind the trees. The
first shades merged into darkness. Night
was upon them when they came to bit
OF rising ground which the major knew
was not far from their destination. Off
at the southwest he could see a glow
upon the sky that filled him with ap-
prehension
IL was after eight o'clock when they
mad managed to make another mile, and
now the fire first seen from the hilltop
was spreading very rapidly. 1t tinged
the whole southern sky where storm
clouds hung, and strange sounds, indis-
tinct and ominous, were in the air.
On again the travellers plodded for a
little way, and then Michael stumbled
and rolled his riders on the ground.
When the major had scrambled to his
feet, and made sure that Maries cries
were due to fright, and not to injury, he
noted that the beacon light on the sky
was well up toward the zenith, and the
distant sounds were growing louder.
Even as he looked UP, a tree here and
there frightened in the glow.
For moment he stood irresolute.
Then an inspiration came to him.
Selling Marie, he dropped her into one
OF the saddle-bag pockets and strapped
the pocket-flap loosely at the top.
The baby squirmed vigorously and
cried Justify, but the pocket, flap and
all, held firm. 1t was a doubtful chance
that the major meant to take; but he
thought the donley's instinct would
guide him to safety, and since he could
not carry both his master and Marie,
there was no other way.
There were tears in the old soldiers
eyes as he picked up stout stick and
struck Michael a resounding blow
across the TANKS. His lameness for
gotten for the moment, the donkey
bounded away.
The major followed, but only as far
as Father Ramien's little woodland
chapel. In truth, he could go no far
ther. He had barely strength TO
| scramble up the rude steps and in at
the open door. Father Ramien was
gone. The only light within was that
of the altar lamp, which sent a faint
ray out into the little room.
But off at the south the fire was
flashing from tree to tree. Terrifying
noises accompanied it, and the clouds
were so bright that flames from above
seemed to mingle with the fire below.
The major thought the end of the
world had come.
The light grew brighter. He could
see the crucifix above the altar, the
passion pictures on the walls, the
carven text upon the chancel rail that
promised eternal life. The major knelt
to say paternoster. Presently the
frail little structure shook in the blavt,
firebrands ratified on roof and waIly,
the windows burst in, and in the roll.
ing tide of fame the chapel disap-
peared.
Two days later Marie Bonnet's
nurse, desperately hurrying back to
Peshtigo, met some people who told
her Of a miraculous escape. A child
had been placed in one of the pockets
of prodigious pair of saddle-bags and
committed to the care of a donkey
which trusty beast had saved both
the childs life and his own by saga
ciously walking into pom near the
Sugar Bush road.
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