Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-02-08

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The Sunday dinner was over and
Hebecca 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.
hve 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 hecked by
Tying cinders. Rain had not fallen for
several weeks, and the woods were
Ike 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 IL the wind don't
change pretty soon.''
The wheatfield 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 to be affected by the fire
even II 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 checks
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 bis
coat on his arm and slipped into it
as she came up with him. They had
smiled 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 it. Ralph?" she asked.
The young man laughed good ma
turedly. ut isn't necessary. There
are half a 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 1t until it dies OUT
for want of something to burn"
"where is 1t now. Ralph?" qucs.
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. II. owns right through to the
| farm here 1t means a serious loss 70
him." said Beth.
Its TOO bad. Beth. but nothing can
save II, so there's no use in worry
| ing" returned Ralph carelessly.
| Come; let us go and see the Jun. 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 shovel In
one hand.
There" she painted. thrusting the
utensil iato his unwilling grasp
Take that along. Ralph. I'm ashamed
to have You appear there unprepared
| to fight to. fire.
Not In these clothes-not on your
lifew calculated Mr.. Clinton inele-
gantly. I'm carry the shovel for the
looks of the thing. but If tight q
forest fire 1t will be by proxy! Some
| Of the negroes from the hollow will
| be smoked out and glad Of job to
take nv place for consideration,
eh?"
Those poor negroes" cried Beth,
disregarding his selfish speech. Il for
rot 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
at greater speed than the young man
fancied. Given this time and OppOr-