The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-11-02
SETTING THE
LAKE ATTIRE
By LAURA IDA ROSS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
By LAURA IDA ROSS

On Que ct he Vermont lakes there
n n house one eud Of which projects
ever the water. Farmer Enoch Dale
occupied the place with dis family,
consisting OF his wife and children.
His oldest daughter, Daisy, was 4
daisy indeedstraight. comely, and Z
pleasant smile usually played about
her lips whenever she spoke.
1.-THE only trouble about Daisy" said
bet father to his friend dickson. rs
that she's got lover. don't like
him. He's a good boy. but there's no
sand In him. Nobody will ever accuse
Dan Potter Of setting tie lake Btire."
"'t'ears to me-" REPLIED Hickson.
that most gals at your darter's age
have lover If they can git one. and
% for Dan Potter. | don't remember
you or ever settin' the lake afre."
THAT may be-" responded Dale. but
I'm not goin' to give Daisy to any.
body that isn't we'll fixed nohow."
One night Dan was awakened by q
glare Of light shining in at his win.
dow. and. raising himself on his ell
bow. he looked out to see about 1t. 1t
was ACROSS the lake and was either
Farmer Dalc'S or one Of Two other
houses that were built close together.
a dame was just breaking out Of one
Ct the upper windows.
TIE flrst thought that entered Dams
head was that Farmer Dale would be
burned to char. and he hoped he
would The second thought was that
Daisy might be burned. too. and this
Jumped him ont Of bed. HulTying on
his clothes. ne ran down to the water
edge. catching up lair Of oars as Il.
went. got into boat and started
across the lake
The distance was 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
Hight Of the Games 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 took
ers on were running about wildly to
no purpose. and Dan could see Farm
or and Mrs Dale with several Of theil
children about them. wrtnging theiI
hands. Daisy was not there.
The explanation was this: ,Wnea the
ore vas discovered FARMER Date took
the smaller children. his wife carrying
tlhe youngest. and got them safely
DOWNSTAIRS and out Of the house. II
was caly then that he thought Of
Daisy. who occupied a room Ii thai,
part 81 the house that overhung the
hke.
Dale went upstairs again. but the
are. that had been caused by de
fective chimney running up through
the center Of the building, had ac-
quired such Roadway at Lat point
that it cut him off from Daisy's room
He ran downstairs and went about
frantically. vainy looking for some
! way of reaching that portion Of the
house where Daisy slept 1t being an
extension over water prevented lad
der being raised, and the wind being
OF the shore the flames and smoke
he wished to reach. v
While the shore was lighted by the
flames Dan was in darkness and part,
" obscured by smoke. He was igno,
rant that Daisy was supposed to be
still in the burning building. but he
knew very well where her room was
located, for he had often while on,
on the lake seen a white handkerchief
waving to him from her window.
| Perhaps it was this that led him in
BILE to the burning house. When he
came SO near as to feel the heat he
turned the boat around and kept or
slowly backing in. Then above the
cracking. the roar and the shouts OF
those on the shore he heard cry. He
could see nothing for the smoke. bu
he backed his boat in to within some
twenty yards Of the house. Then he
heard splash in front OF him. an(
he backed right in under fame ant
smoke till within few feet Of thu
house.
Suddenly something rose right VI
cut OF the water beside him, Ell
seized ii and held garments. Pulling
1.-The thing partly up out OF the water
HE realized that he held a 5htlManfsbe
ing. With difficulty he pulled the 10
fuRo into the boat. and II NY limp 4
ahtAe bottom. Then. taking up the oars
- bacised away from the heat ant
onobe that had become intolerable.
Reaching point where the light
unobscured by smoke. enabled him +
use his eyes he saw that the figure II
his boat was a woman In 4 night
4 leoWn. Turning up the face. he 81
Il elaAmed:
"Great heavens: It's Daisyv'
Selling the oars again, he pulled th
boat with n few vigorous strokes t
the shore some distance away froI
the burning building and gave
shout Several persons heard hin
! Farmer Dale among thrm and ran II