Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1904-09-01
Saved by
Marian'S
Quick Wit.
By Maude z. Smith Hyner.

There's no use. Marian. it's COM
ing faster. SO We might as we'll give
up" gasped Mr.. Reed. as his daughter
passed him with her. arms full OF
stove wood.
Marian paused to look toward the
rapidly flushing sky. The forest be-
hind them was on fire. and the wind
was steadily licking it toward them.
In a moment it would be feeding on
the piled wood with which they were
working.
And let the fire destroy. all this
wocd?" she cried. ''Oh. we can't We
can't" and desperately she struggled
on.
For fours they had worked together.
rapidly. iercely. in a brave attempt
to outwit the fire. Again and again
they had shifted the rows of corded
stovewood seasoning fer the winters
market. each time a few rods nearer to
safety. BIT they could feel that the
lire was gaining Roadway. The forest
back OF their little farm was full of
smoke and flying cinders. and the few
faint breezes that reached them were
growing more and more heated
Gene on. child: after all. it's only
wooaDile. We must be thankful that
the house and buildings are safe"
said MIR. Reed. remonstratingly. as with
fever.sh determination Marian kept at
work
But il isn't only a woodpile-it's
money. she cried 1t is more than
that. fer it means eyesight for mother.
We will never be able to pay for the
operation from the crops and we
hoped so much from this wood. oh.
We must save it,
Her determination inspired the faith
sr and Ter while they worked on
again feverishly. Marian's face was
tense and pale. her hair disheveied. her
hands torn and bleeding Her father.
too was well nigh spent, his eyes
smarting from the smoke
Just a few rods further. III We
)ould only get IL TO the edge of this
plowed field" cried Marian, as he
paused.
we can't make ii. Marian. It's
almost here now" he said. as a hot
breath famed his cheek
Marian groaned. "Oh. if the horses
had only stayed by us, If somehow
we could pillow space between the
wood and the fire We could save il even
yet. couldn't we. father"
Yes; but God knows where they
are now. fer they'll never stop running
as tong as they smell the fire. III only
some of the neighbors were passing
they would come in and help u.s.
In a spasm OF renewed hope Marian
scrambled to the top OF the woodpile,
and shading her eyes with her hand.
looked of down the valley. little
red speck cleaned family in the road
mile or so away.
Where are you going. child?" call
ed her father but Marian was running
furiously down the lane toward the
house. her hair tossed backward on
the wind.
That CLEAN of red on the roadside
had seen IL pass going in the direction
from which IL was now coming lust
before the fire was discovered. IL
was an automobile. and instantly a
strange plan took root in Marisn's
brain. IL must pass their house soon
III she could only reach the road by
the time IL arrived there. She STUN.
bled in her mad haste. but with a lit
tie gasping cry she spTang nm and
struggled on again. The plow-the
wood, oh she must save the wood
Tor her mothers sake.
Leo Challis brought his auto to n
sharp standstill almost upon the girl.
For moment a fierce anger scorched
him. for she had deliberately thrown
herself in his way. and such reckless
ness was criminal, But before he
could put his anger into words she was
mp and Juggling open the heavy farm.
yard gate through which she had come.
This way" she cried Please. oh.
please come this way"
Challis stared a moment. but her
white. eager face appealed to him.
With gesture Of assent he paused be-
side her. reached out hand to assist
her To the seat beside him.
Tell me about IT," he said. sooth-
ingly, steering the machine smoothly
up the wide lane
The fire." she cried. ITS in the
timber. and papa's cordwood viii all
be burnedi'
But ! can't" he began vaguely.
and the horses are gone. so We
couldn't pillow around IT," she contin-
ued.
In a flash he understoSd: the eager
purpose In her face had Communicated
itself to him. Where's the pIow7'
was all he said, as ne pulled the lever