Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-05-06


sistently for the past year.
Life with one meant the unceasing
drudgery of the prairie farm; with the
other. wealth to enable her to live
wherever she might choose herself and
also give her parents comfortable
home.
But which of the men held the key
to her heart?
Really she could not tell. but she grew
drowsy making herself believe she
would be able in any event to compel
her mind with its power of judging
wisely to control her heart
Toward midnight she was aroused
by strange pungent smell pervad-
Ing her little room. Her breathing
was not quite free. What could it
mean?
She lay for a minute dazed, yet with
what sense she could command, trying
to discover the cause of the odor that
was gaining in strength and sitting
power.
Suddenly a great crimson light illu-
mined the small window. With
quick movement Rachel sprang from
bed, and as she did so there came to
her ears the rapid beat of horses
hoofs on the prairie road
Then she heard Dams voice bur
dened with awful import.
"Racheln' he called. mir. Winton!
Get up! Get up quick! The prairie is
on firep'
"Father! Motherr' the girl called
running to their bed. Get up! Do
you hear? There is a big fire. Yes
DAN" she called from the window as
she helped her mother to dress.
There's not a minute to lose,'
Southland called back 1.-THE fire is
sweeping this way as fast as a strong
wind can bring it."
There had been no rain for three
weeks, and everything was dry as tin
der
The Wintons understood the terrible
danger impending.
Not only the cabin, but stock, crops,
even they themselves. were at the
mercy of those leaping flames.
Bring the blankets, quick" shouted
Southland. Obeying him instantly,
Rachel dragged every blanket out of
the house.
Dan had ridden his horse to the lit
tie spring in the hollow and was rap
idly filing every pail he had been
able to find about the place.
Acting under his directions, the girl
mounted her fathers pony, and she
and Dan carried water for Mr.. and
Mrs. Winton to wet the blankets, this
being their only means of fighting the
fire.
How they worked and fought II
seemed as if the whole world was ar
rayed against them, and all the while
the moon looked down, cold and un
caring, while the fire swept fiercely
onward until it caught in row of dry
cornstalks that reached nearly to The
cabin. Here the battle must be fought
with renewed energy.
The smoke of the burning grass ant
Grain assaulted their nostrils, scorcheC
their throats and blinded their eyes
but with hands torn and bistereC
they toiled on.
When the old couple fell back over
come Dan and Rachel took thei
places with the heavy wet blankets
and worked side by side. Inch by incl
they beat back the angry flames.
Even in that terrible situation tn
girl felt singular strength and cool
ness in working by Southard's side
She felt that the enemy must yield f
such grand and compelling superior
ity.
When the fire attacked them iron
another vulnerable point it was Dan
eXhaustless energy that saved the day
By sacrificing a patch of ripe grain
through prompt back fire, the TO
was net and made to recoil in wrath
full flames upon itself.
After time the great body Of tn
fire swept away northward. havini
consumed everything of the Wintons
except cabin and stock.
With a thankfulness in their heart
for the preservation of these, the oil
couple entered the house and threw
themselves upon the floor.
Then Southland and Rachel cam
back with weary, tagging feet from
their last successful onslaught.
"Everything's safe now, Rachel" b
said huskily, starting toward hi
horse.
DAN" she questioned, queer chok
ing In her throat, you are not goini
now"
He stopped and looked at her. Sh
had never appeared more beautiful t
him than now, with the marks of tina
great fire battle upon her face ant
tattered dress.
"All we have left we owe to you
Dan," she went on, noting his scorcheC
face, bleeding hands and burned cloth
ing.
Then she placed her blackened han'
on his shoulder How he tremble'
under that touch.
II don't feel as If I could bear t
have you leave us, Dan" There wa
a taDda, r1aadfnO I'm har tomas