The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1909-08-05


one must keep a vigllant eye. Watcn'
inc the smoke from his tiny porch as
night began 10 fall, Roger saw II shilt
10 the southwark and suddenly recall
ed that that way lay the little Lac
carou where old Manon, the half
crazy ward Of the village, lived per
versely alone in little cabin two or
three miles from Ange-La-Baie. Gasp
ing his stick, he set OF at a rapid pace,
reproaching himself that he had not
thought Of her sooner. Jean Bourclner
her special protector had gone down
the river for the day; and Toinette,
whose tender care for the forlorD old
woman had not escaped hiIn, would
be anxious, he knew.
AS he entered the path that gave
the shortest cut to the pond, he saw
tina. tbe fire was racing with him. In
the COON of the forest 1t showed
plainly a thread Of rosy light, from
which sprang at intervals sharp sword
like tongues of fame that leaped for
ward before the wind. He fastened
his pace to a run, rejoicing in his
strength. and in a shorter time thar
ne had thought possible little rise
gave. him a glimpse Of the cabin; II
was lighted by lurid glow and flames
we're darting from the roof. Bending
close to the earth, he crashed through
the underbrush, following the sound OF
voices that rose above the cracking
of branches, and emerged upon lit
tie clearing.
Toinette on ner knees, her nrms
locked about the old woman's wiry.
writhing form, was struggling to hold
her back. Come with me, ma mere,
! come with mel" she urged in eager,
coaxing tones; but Manon struck at
| her blindly with shrill cries Of anger
ana strained iercely towar dthe burn
! ing cabin on which her eyes were fixed
The girl gave a deep sigh Of relief and
! let her tired arms fall as her burden
was taken from her.
The fire was closing in; there YVES
plainly but one way Of escape open 10
them-the pond-and in order to reach
It now they much make a wide detouf.
! .Toinette, familiar with the forest, led
the way fearlessly and Roger followed,
| holding Manon in his arms. A raft
moored to the bank was quickly
loosed and pushed out into the cool
darkness that still brooded over the
little lake The flames were racing
around the shores as if TO circle them
with a wall of fire.
They were not alone on the pond;
/ - ~ =
en- refuge there also. Foxes, coors,
squirrels and chipmunks had gc:serrd
On the shore, crawling far out on the
! overhanging branches that dipped in
TO the floor, and clinging there until
the pursuing flames forced them into
the pond
I'VE shall be like Noah" said the
young man, smiling, and Tojnette
smiled back at him. They were very
tired and drenched to the skin; 3
broad, red mark across the mans
cheek and temple showed where a fly
ing brand had struck.
For a long time they did not speak,
and when at last Toinette, vaguely op-
pressed, lifted her lids she dropped
luNg again BClOlN Nut aAhOA VI us NsN7'
To return to the village by skirting
the line Of the fire seemed impossible,
the way would be- long, and 1t was
plain that old Manon, who was still
bent upon returning to her cabin,
would have to be carried by main
force. Steadily creeping forward, they
had almost escaped from the ruined
forest, when suddenly voices rang out
in the silence, unbroken since. Manon
had ceased her wailing
1T is my father said Tolnette, lis
tening; they are searching for us"
Jean Bourchier reached them first OF
all, pushing through the underbrush.
I'VE should have died, Manon and
/, without him." Toinette whispered
in her fathers ear, as he took her
in his arms.
"C'est bien, ma file, thas hall right,
he faltered, and turning to Roger he
would have caught his hand, but the
young man drew back.
ITEMS! La jeunesse! 1t must always
have its way!" Jean brought out al
last in his deep, signing voice, and
lifting his daughters hand, he placed
it in Rogers and clasped his own
above it, folding them both in his
strong grasp.-The Delineator