Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-01-12
from a
Spark
BY
Belle
Manfates
Copyright. 1904, by Belle Nantatee

stopped and looked about in apprecia-
tion of the day and the beauty Of the
country. Then he lighted a cigar, toss
ing the match aside before 1t was eX-
tingushed. BY the time he had van
ished from view the half spent match
had accomplished a rivulet Of fire that
ran merrily through the brush which
skirted the woods.
Mabel Wallace, coming down the old
sawmill road, saw the cracking fire
and FASTENED her pace. She noted the
quick ening breeze blowing toward the
woods and the stretch of dry, parChed
grass ana brush that intervened. She
knew that if the flames were not extin-
guiShed ut once the whole piece of
woods would go She caught up stout
stick as she ran, and when she reached
the farther end Of the running fire she
began vigorous beating.
Say, teacher, I'll help you" squeaked
a piping voice, which she recognized as
belonging to the boy in the First Read
er class. next to the foot
Johnny, run down to the first white
house beyond the woods and tell them
to send help. They have a telephone.
Ask them to notify all the neighbors,"
she directed between beats.
Johnny was reluctant to leave bon
fire of such proportions as this was as
suming, but he detected the teacher
In her tones and concluded to obey.
That's the stuff she next heard
and looked up to meet the approval OF
the farmer at whose house she boarded.
He procured a stick and made an ef-
fective onslaught upon the flames.
Presently they were REINFORCED by a
passerby, and after time the fire was
eXtinguished.
You best go home and rest SPELL
counseled her landlord. You look all
bet up and tuckered out"
1T was pretty warm work" she ac
knowledged, arranging her hair, which
the breeze and her eXertions had tum-
bled about her face.
well, ! tell you what, you just
saved them woods, all right. The own
er ought to make you nice present"
Mabel laughed.
"Who is the owner| she asked care
lessly.
Ills name is Max Thornton. He's
a young city swell, heard say"
She had inserted the last hairpln
and now started for home with burned
face and blistered hands.
Meanwhile Johnny. returning from
the white house, heard u shot ring out
In the woods.
III git him TO come and help teach
er," he thought as he scurried through
the cool woods after the man behind
the gun
Say, the woods is pretty near on
fire. It's mos crep' up on 'em!"
The man laughed good naturedly.
"Do you think l am in any dangerT'
"The woods Is. Teacher sent me for
help. She IL beating 1t out with a
stick"
"All right, Come along" And the
man made for the road IN long strides,
the boy keeping pace by a quick trot
explaining with many Celebrations the
particulars Of the fire.
My. Teacher was jest more than
layin' on to II with a stick. l never
sposed she could hit out like thatp'
Hasn't she laid 1t on to you yetY'
laughed the hunter.
Nav. She amt teched one on us
yit bet the boys would behave If
they'd seen her beat that fire.
The hunter was occupied for a mo
ment with conjuring the image Of
teacher hittn' the fire"
Say, young man, has your teacher
got red hair and does she wear
glasses:"
YES How did yer know" he ask
ed curiously.
81 just felt It."
When the hunter came up to the
men. he said TO the farmer.
Il came to help put out fire, but |
see you have done good work" gazing
at the bleckened ground
1--WE only got here TO the tail end Of
It," explained the farmer. THE school
teacher got here first, and she fit IT like
a tiger. Guess some Of you hunters
set II on fire"
The hunter laughed and walked on,
remembering the match, but he felt
no c0mpunctions. "A man has the
right To set fire to his own if he wants
to-" he thought. Suppose It would
be only decent in me TO 60 and thank
the schoo,maam. Wonder how l can
make her Il substantial token OF graft
tude without offeuse:"
Here boy!" lie turned and called to
Johnny. who fingered near the ruins.
do you want to earn a quarter"
You bet yer boots."
Then take me 10 your teacher, II it's
not too far"
ITS Jest down the next road ways,
and mebby she's stopped In at the
schoolus down the lane"
"On a SaturdayT' he asked skep-
tlcnlly.
Yes She writes her letters therer'
They relapsed into silence, Johnny
making plans for the investment Of
his quarter and the man absorbed In
thoughts Of bitter, cynical trend. A
few months before he had been the
happy accepted lover Of beautiful
girl who was of IN Old aristocratic
family iE moderate circumstances.
Some peSsimStic relatives Of his had
intimatcd tllnt his wealth and not him
self was the object Of her alteration.
The little shaft, though resented, ran
kled and fingered and grew until In a
moment Of desperation and III judg
ment he sent her n letter saying that
his fortune had been swept away IN
the late panic and offering to release
her from the engagement.
He waited in suspense for her reply,
which came promptly. She coldly and
briefly agreed that the engagement
should be broken owing to change Of
circumstances.
Wounded through and through, he
went abroad, aimlcssly wandering from
one place to another, hating all women