The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-07-19
A Fire In
The Woods
When 1t Was Over There
Was a Change of Heart
Rx cIARISSA MAcKIR
By CLARISSA MAcKIE


+ !.
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 regular proceeding.
Their daughter Beth waved them a
farewell as they drove out of the big
| gate.
Beth looked anxiously away toward
the woods that bordered the distant
wheatfields. Behind them rose a 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 were thickly
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 afre, Miss Beth .
she said excitedly. your pas wheat
will be done for if the wind don't
change pretty soon"
The wheatfield was an unduIating
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 If 1t 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
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
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 Oh his arm and slipped into ii
as she came up with him. They had
smiled a greeting into each others
eyes. and their first words were com
monplace enough.
1.-The woods are afire," 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 to
fight 1t. Ralph?" she asked
The young man laughed good ma
turedly. ut isn't necessary. There
are half hundred trying to kill IL
with sand or back fire. but it's got
too big 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 Ia it now. RalphY 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 Wayneville
yesterday"
Deep Hollow woods belong to my
father. He owns right through to the
farm here. 1t means a serious loss TO
him." said Beth.
''It's too bad. Beth. but nothing can
save 1t, 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 in
one hand.
'Therer' 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."
mot In these clothes-not on your
lifeP' calculated Mr.. Clinton lnele-
gantly. I'm carry the shovel for the
looks of the thing. but i'll fight O
forest fire 1t will be by proxy Some
of the negroes from the hollow will
be smoked out and glad Of Job to
take my place for a consideration,
eh?"
Those poor negroesp cried Beth.
disregarding his selfish speech. II for
got all about them. Their little homes
win be ruined, Let US hurry. Ralph,