Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-21

The Sunday dinner was over. and
Rebecca was washing dishes in the big
kitchen. Henry Miles and his wife
came out dressed in their best clothes
and got into the waiting buggy. Ever
since they had been married twenty
FIVE years before the Sunday afternoon
ride had been a regular proceeding.
Their daughter Beth waved them q
farewell as they drove out of the big
gate.
Beth looked anxiously away toward
the woods that bordered the distant
wheatfields. Behind them rose pale
gray cloud now and then fecked by
flying cinders. Rain had not fallen for
several weeks. and the woods were
like tender. and the paths We're thickly
carpeted with dry leaves fallen from
Last year.
The kitchen windows faced the
wheatfields. and Rebecca's red face
was pressed anxiously to the pane.
Then she saw Beth and came to the
door
The woods are afire, Miss Beth"
she said excitedly Your pas wheat
will be done for if the wind don't
change pretty soon"
The wheatfield was an undulating
sea of pale green blades six inches
high. The dry weather had slightly
parched the tips. and Beth bent down
to assure herself that the grain was
too green to be affected by the fire
even If it should reach the fields.
When she looked up again several men
were running across the field. One of
them saw her. paused and turned back
Slowly she walked through the
wheat. her light tread scarcely crush
ing the young shoots. Her fair cheeks
took on the rose tint of early dawn,
and her blue eyes were yelled under
a thick fringe OF lashes. The man
watched her coming toward him, his
handsome eyes drinking in her fresh.
spring-like beauty. Her pink gown fell
softly about her slender form as the
green wheat rippled about her feet.
At last Beth lifted her shy eyes
and saw his good looking face with
it's reckless, Smiling lips-saw the
immaculate whiteness of his collar
and cuffs and the trim neatness OF
his handsome clothes. lie carried his
coat on his arm and slipped into it
as she came up with him. They had
smiled a greeting into each others
eyes. and their first words were COM
monplace enough.
The woods are afire.' said Ralph
Clinton. Don't you want to go along
ana see the fun. Beth?"
i look of disappointment crept into
the girls face. Aren't you going to
fight it, Palph:' she asked.
The young man laughed good ma
turedly. 1t isn't necessary. There
are half a hundred trying to kill it
with sand or back fire. but it's got
too big a Roadway. Besides. the wind
is strong from the southwest. and
nothing can stop it until it dies OUT
for want of something TO burn
Where is 1t now, Ralph?" ques-
toned Beth quietly.
"Out in Deep Hollow woods-a
spark from the railroad started the
blaze and away She went. There were
FIVE miles burned over at WaynevilIe
Deep Hollow woods belong to my
father. He owns right through 70 the
AeiL III bGA II Il SSAACoS 1888 ~
him." said Beth.
IT'S too bad. Beth. but nothing can
save it, so there's no use in worry
ing" returned Ralph carelessly.
Come; let US go and see the fun. The
woods are great at this time. you
know. Perhaps you may find moe
casin flower"
wait a moment" said Beth. and
she turned and with flying feet re-
crossed the field to the barn. When
she returned she carried a shovel ia
one hand.
THERE she painted. thrusting the
utensil into his unwilling grasp.
Take that along. Ralph. I'm ashamed
to have you appear there unprepared
to fight the fire.
Not in these clothes-not on your
lifer' calculated Mr.. Clinton inele-
gantly. III carry the shovel for the |
locks of the thing. but If l fight a |
forest fire it will be by proxy. Some |
of the negroes from the hollow wis |
be smoked out and glad of a job 70 |
take my place for consideration. |
ph:"
Those poor Degroesw cried Beth. |
his selfish speech. II for
rot all about them. Their little homes