The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-17

ing leaf and faded flower had sae
ceeded to the opulent bloom Of the
rich forest land. The little isolated
settlement among the pineries was
dosing daily In the haze Of the smoke
Aim borne down upon them lightly.
but warningly, from the usual wood
dres to the north
Life went on In tn usual monotonouS
routine at Woodville. There was con-
slant discussion Of the big forest fires.
bat they had been hitherto evaded. o.
diverted. or beaten out Mr.. Burton
came into the house late one after.
noon with Q rather serious face.
There won't be much sleep around
here tonight" he observed. Noticed
the stray cindefs in the ART"
"All day long" replied his wife. ITS
the change Of wind. suppose!"
with the big Badger forest in
front Of It. blazing our way and COM
ing fast" declared Burton, alarmingly.
why, that is near" began Mrs.
Burton, nutteringly.
80 near that well have to fight Il
out or get 1t out when 1t strikes u
tonight" was the ominous reply.
where's Nellie?"
She went OF to the south woods
after flowers" replied Mrs. Burton.
she ought to be home" said the
husband, and when it began to get ON
towards dusk he started out to hunt
her up.
There was double alarm for the
solicitous parents as darkness came
down. No trace could be discovered
of the missing child. Over this the
Burtons were frantic. The forest two
miles to the north was all ablaze, the
sky red as blood, the air heavy with
, smoke and cinders.
Mounted runners sent out to the
north returned with the intelligence
that the flames would be upon the
town within two hours. There was but
one course Of action open-to fee the
town and take to the lake . mile to
the east.
| Friendly neighbors had joined in the
! search for little Nellie. The woods to
which she had gone we're in the direct
path Of the fire. They had to return
to the settlement after vain quest tc
arrange for their own safety In flight
Burton intrusted his wife to their care
He renewed his search for little Nellie
alone. The next morning. after . des
perate retreat mile by mile from thu
fire, he crawled out from a Quagmir'
where he had been forced to take ref
uge, and over which the flames hai
jumped to seize upon more eombusti
BILE material beyond
The Burtons, husband and wife
took up life's burdens anew, bereave(
and depressed. They had found n,
trace of their lost darling In the burnt
over area. Their home had been onl,
partly burned down, as with some
other buildings in the settlement. Sub
missively, but with heavy hearts. the!
set at work to make q new home.
The village cemetery had suffered
no great devastation. At the end o
q week q little white tombstone Dor,
the simple name, Nellie" above n
empty grave.
1t was ten days after the great dr.
that q man. hobbling along on . home
made crutch. passed through the iittl'
graveyard. leading 4 little child. He
hands we're full Of flowers. She sud
denly paused before the new whit
tombstone.
"Oh, look! look!" she cried. M
name-just the same! Maybe it.
some poor little child that was burne
up in the big f1re-just a. Id hav
been II 1t hadn't been for you, deal
dear Uncle Tim!"
Uncle Tim? Yes. otherwise Frows
Tim-and Nellie. in life and reality
She ran and placed her flowers besid
the gravestone.
Don't delay. dear" spoke Tin
They are waiting for you," and ther
as they came to the remodeled home
he made her draw behind an old tree
while he approached the house.
Husband and wife were within
They greeted him with a pang. Hi
presence revived poignant memories.
Good people" he said. i've new
for you, but don't 90 to pieces.
your little one should return"
They gasped in unison, swayed wit
a vague thrill.
"She will return" went on Tim, an
called, "Nellie!" from the doorway.
He had a strange story to tell: Q
q swamp island where he had gone t
live; Of lost Nellie being discovered
him at the edge Of the swamp; of tn
fire passing over their place Of refuge
but he, crippled through q fall. unabl
to travel until he got we'll and stronl
And this dear child was my house
keeper and nurse" explained Tin
And because have been able to say
her. can think Of my own dear dea
little one as glad that her poor, worth
less old father has done some good Il
the world, after all"
Earth's Richest and Safest Spot.