Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-09-02

rivalry became the subject of open
comment.
The smoke grew thicker, and the air
was filled with flying cinders that fell
in crisp flakes on their heads. In the
distance they could hear hoarse shouts
of men, the cracking of burning trees
and underbrush and the barking of
dogs.
Where the three roads crossed was
TO be the battle-ground. If the fire
crossed Deep Hollow road the little
gathering of negro cabins was doomed.
The fire was coming toward them now,
and they could see the forms of men
through the smoke. Strange, fantastic
forms they were, frantically beating
back the encroaching flames or shovel
ing loosened soil on the creeping fire
that ate along the ground.
The group of cabins was untouched,
occupants were removing their poor
bits of furniture, and two ramshackle
carts were being filed with the goods.
Old Uncle Peter Green occupied
chair of state in one cart. A tottering
chair it seemed owing to the uneasy
antics Of the frightened mule in the
shafts. Weeping and praying and la
menting, they moved dolorously down
the road along which Beth had just
come.
"Go down to the farm, Judy" she
said to the dominant spirit of the
group "Rebecca will take care of you
till the danger is over"
Out of the thick of smoke a man
turned and recognized her; saw her
standing there in her pink cotton dress
dazed by the smoke. Beside her was
Ralph Clinton leaning on an idle shov-
el, whistling softly as he watched the
battle with the approaching flames.
Ben Wyatt leaped into the road and
confronted them. Clad in blue flannel
shirt and corduroy trousers, hatless,
his sun Drowned face and arms black
with SCOT and CRIME, he presented
sorry contrast to Ralph Clinton. But
somehow Beth's glance caught his
steady gaze and fingered there for a
brief instant, and she saw nothing to
despise in Ben Wyatt, homely farmer
that he outwardly was.
Get back there, Clintonw command
ed Ben angrily. Take Beth away
from here. Can't you see it's no place
for a wOmanW
mind your own business. Wyattw
rerorted Ralph. Get to work there on
your fools job"
There was no time for further argu-
ment. The men, who had strung out
in a wide semicircle. were drawing
closer together. They had started n
back fire, and there was danger when
the two fires met that the sudden leap
of flames might ignite the vegetation
on the bluff. If it did the woods were
doomed. But the farmers fought
valiantly, and little by little the flames
were beaten back from the crossroads
until they smoldered down and left
charred and blackened desolation
wherever their blasting fingers had
touched
Tired and exhausted, the fire fighters
lay painting in the sand of the roads.
1t was Beth who sent a lurking pick
aninny to call the fugitives home to
the cabins. and it was she who found
a pail and dipper in Judy Browns
kitchen and went to the bubbling
spring for water to refresh the tired
men. Before it came Ben WAITS
turn to drink from the dipper she slip
ped away down the road toward home.
AS she passed him Ralph Clinton arose
and followed her.
See here, Beth" he said disagree
ably, I'D like to know what I've done
to deserve such treatment at your
hands"
Beth turned and surveyed him with
level eyes. 1T isn't anything you've
done Ralph" she said quietly. "On
the contrary, it's what You haven't
done. don't think you can understand
how | feel about it, Ralph. l thought
l cared for you. but l am afraid it
was your appearance I loved after
all. Please forget all about me if you
can" Beth said contritely.
"Well, l seem to have got all that's
coming to me today" he said jauntily.
"Goodbyw
"Goodby." said Beth gently. AS
she watched him walk slowly away
she felt pang at the SCATTERING of
a cherished illusion, while at the same
time there was strange, sweet joy
in her heart mingled with a fear that
she had dallied with real love and
lost it,
Ralph Clinton turned to fling a back.
ward taunt, 81 suppose you think
you can whistle Ben Wyatt back,
but you're too late. BETH Then he
went on and disappeared.
The girls face whltened at the taunt
and its insinuation, and with a little
strangled sob she leaned against the
friendly trunk of tree and hid her
eyes.
Ben WAITS voice behind her star
tied her to betray telltale tears on
the thick lashes. Grimy and scorched,
hatless and tattered and scratched, he
was sorry looking lover. The look
In his faithful eyes made up for every.