The Press., 1911-09-20
SETTING THE LAKE AFIRE By LAURA IDA ROSS Copyright by American Press Asso-
 citation. 1911.

On one of the Vermont lakes there
 is a house one end of which projects over the water. Farmer Enoch Dale occupied the place with his family
 consisting of his wife and children.
 His oldest daughter, Daisy, was g daisy indeed-straight. comedy, and g
 pleasant smile usually played about her lips whenever she spoke.
 "The only trouble about Daisy" said
 her father to his friend Hickson, ''1s that she's got a lover. l don't like him. He's a good boy, but there's no sand in him. Nobody will ever accuse
 Dan Potter of setting the lake afre."
 "'Pears to me-" replied Hickson
 'that most gals at your darter's age have a lover if they can git one. and as for Dan Potter. l don't remember you or 1 ever settin' the lake afire."
 "That may be-" responded Dale, ''but I'm not goin' 10 give Daisy to any body that isn't well fixed nohow."
 One night Dan was awakened by a glare of light shining in at his win dow, and. raising himself on his el- bow, he looked out to see about it. II was across the lake and was either Farmer Dale's= or one of two other houses that were built close together. A flame was just breaking out of one of the upper windows.
 The first thought that entered Dams head was that Farmer Dale would be burned to a char. and he hoped he would. The second thought was that Daisy might be burned, too, and this jumped him out of bed. Hurrying on his clothes, he ran down to the water edge, catching up pair of oars as he went, got into a boat and started across the lake.
 The distance was a mile, the burning house not being directly opposite Dams starting point. As he drew, near enough to get his bearings he saw that the house was Farmer Dale's. The light of the flames lit up the faces of persons. standing about. A line had been formed to pass buckets of water. but the work had evidently been stop ped by something appalling. The look CTS on were running about wildly to no purpose. and Dan could see Farm CT and Mrs. Dale, with several of their children about them. wringing their hands. Daisy was not there ,.. !
 The explanation was this: When the fire was discovered Farmer Dale took the smaller children. his wife carrying the youngest. and got them safely downstairs and out of the house. It was only then that he thought of Daisy, who occupied a room in that part of the house that overhung the lake, ..
 Dale went upstairs again, but the fre.- that had been caused by de- fective chimney running up through the center of the building, had &C., quired such a headway at that point that 1t cut him off from Daisy's room. He ran downstairs and went about frantically. vainly looking for some way of reaching that portion of the house where Daisy slept. It being an extension over water prevented lad der being raised, and the wind being of the shore the flames and smoke were blown so as to envelop the part he wished to reach.
 While the shore was lighted by the flames Dan was in darkness and part ly obscured by smoke. He was igno- rant that Daisy was supposed to be still in the burning building, but he knew very we'll where her room was located. for he had often while out on the lake seen white handkerchief waving to him from her window. "
 Perhaps it was this that led him in- to pull in as near as possi- ble to the burning house. When he came so near as to feel the heat he turned the boat around and kept on slowly backing in. Then above the the roar and the shouts of those on the shore he heard a cry. He could see nothing for the smoke. but he backed his boat in to within some twenty yards of the house. Then he heard a splash in front of him. and he backed right in under, flame and smoke till within a few feet of the house.
 Suddenly something rose right up out of the water beside him. He seized 1t and held garments. Pulling the thing partly up out of the water. he realized that he held a human be Ing. With difficulty he pulled the fig ure into the boat. and 1t lay linn in the bottom. Then, taking up the oars, he backed away from the heat and smoke that had become intolerable. ~
 Reaching a point where the light. by smoke, enabled him to use his eyes. he saw that the figure in q his boat was a woman in night gown. Turning up the face, he ex- 
 Great heavens! It's Daisy!" ..
 Seizing the oars again. he pulled the boat with few vigorous strokes to the shore some distance away from the burning building and gave a shout. Several persons heard him, Farmer Dale among them. and ran to- ward him.
 i've got Daisy here." he said. "She Jumped into the lake and I picked her lp." I
 Daisy was soon brought back to con- sciousness and was looked upon by aer parents as one raised from the lead.
 "Waal, Dale," said Hickson later since yer tried to set the lake atire md failed. reckon yer don't expect is much of Dan Pattie?"
 'No. don't" Dale replied.
 ''Goin' to give her to him?"
 Reckon she's his'n anyway, seein' f 1t hadn't been for him she wouldn't | a been alive"
 Guarding It's Own Goods. Honesty, in its purpose, looks but | lttla outside of itself. honor panar- 1