Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-07-16
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A Fire In
The Woods
When II Was Over There
Was a Change of Heart
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

The Sunday dinner was over. and
Rebecca was washing dishes In the biz
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 regular proceeding
Their daughter Beth waved them n
farewell as they drove out Of the big
gate.
Beth looked anxlously away toward
the woods that bordered the distant
wheatfelds. Behind them rose a pale
gray cloud now and then flecked by
dying cindeB. Rain had not fallen for
like tender. and the paths were thlckly
carpeted with dry leaves fallen from
last year
The kitchen windows faced the
wheatfelds. and Rebecca's red face
was pressed anxiously to the pane.
Then she saw Beth and came TO the
door.
THE woods are atire. Miss Beth"
she said excitedly. "Your pas wheat
will be done for II the wind don't
change pretty soon"
The wheatfeld 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 10 be affected by the fire
even II II should reach the fields
When she looked up again several men
We're running across the field. One or
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-llxe 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
its reckless. smiling lips-saw the
immaculate wilderness OF his collar
and cuffs and the trim neatness OF
his handsome clothes. He carried his
coat on his arm and slipped into II
as she came mp with him. They had
smiled greeting into each others
eyes, and their first words were com
monplace enough
''Ths woods are aflre." said Ralph
Clinton. Don't you want TO go along
and see the fun. BETH"
A look OF disappointment crept into
the girls face. Aren't you going 10
fight II. Ralph;" she asked
The young man laughed good ma
turedly. III isn't necessary There
are half hundred trying to kill II
with sand or back fire. but it's got
too big Roadway. Besides. the wind
Is strong from the southwest. and
nothing can stop II until II dies cut
for want Of something to burn"
"Whcre Is II now. Raphy' 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 AZ wayneville
yesterday"
Deep Hollow woods belong TO my
father. lie owns right through TO the
farm here. II means serious loss to
him." said Beth.
ITS too bad Beth. but nothing can
ing" returned Ralph carclessly.
"Comc: let Us 20 and see the fun. The
woods are great nj this time. you
know Perhaps you may find moe.
casin flower"
''Walt a moment" said Beth. aud
she turned aud with flying feet re
crossed the field TO the barn. when
she returned she carried a shovel IN
one hand.
''Therer' she painted. ihrusting the
utensil into his unwilling grasp
Take that along Ralph. I'm ashamed
to have you appear there uuprcparcd
TO light the fire"
Not IN these clotheS-not on your
lIfe." calculated Mr.. Clinton lnclc-
Gantly. "l'll carry the shovel for the
looks OF the thing. but II fight
forest fire Il will be by proxy. Some
OF the negroes from the hollow will
be smoked out aud glad Of Job TO
take my place for a consideration.
ch?"
Those poor negroes" cried Beth.
disrcgardlne his selfish speech II for
got all about them. Their little homes
will be ruined Let us hurry. Ralph
In spite Of Your joking am sure you
are going TO help In time Of need like
this"
Without further parley Ralph helped
Beth over the fence and into wood
land path. through which they hurried
ut n greater speed than the young man
fancied. Given this time and oppor
tunlty. he felt that the April woods
were an ideal spot In which TO ask
Beth the momentous question that had
been lowering on his lips for weeks
lie was quite sure of her answer. for
ahc had shown her preference for him