The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-12

film borne down upon 'nO
but warningly, from the usual noo'
fires to the north.
Life went on in its usual mono'onoaS
routine at Woodyille. There was con-
slant discussion of the big forest lies'
hut thew had been hitherto evadeu' u
diverted or beaten out. Mr.. Burton
came into the house late one aiuei'
noon with a rather serious face
There won't be much sleep arouhu
here tonight" he observed No'iceu
the stray cinders in the air!
"All day long" replied his wife III
the change of wind, suppose!
With the big Badger forest N
front of it, blazing our way ana co,n
ing fast" declared Burton, aiarminey'
why. that is near began MIS-
Burton, flutteringly. :.
$50 near that we'll have to tight II
out or get it out when 1t strikes 70
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 inc
! husband. and when it began to get on
| towards dusk he started out TO nun'
her up.
There was a double alarm for the
solicitous parents as darkness cams
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' tne
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 nee 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 were in the direct
path of the fire. They had to return
to the settlement after vain quest to
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 the
fire, he crawled out from a Quagmire
where he had been forced to take ref
uge, and over which the flames had
jumped to seize upon more combustl'
BILE material beyond
The Burtons, husband and wife,
took up lifes burdens anew. bereaved
and depressed They had found no
trace OF their lost darling in the burnt
over area Their home had been only
partly burned down, as with some
other buildings in the settlement. Sub
missively, but with heavy hearts, they
set at work to make new home.
The village cemetery had suffered
no great devastation. At the end OF
q week a little white tombstone bore
the simple name. Nellie" above an
empty grave,
1t was ten days after the great fire
that man, hobbling along on home
made crutch, passed through the little
graveyard, leading a little child. Her
hands were full Of flowers. She sud
denly paused before the new white
tombstone
"Oh, look! look!" she cried. MY
name-just the same! Maybe it's
some poor little child that was burned
up In the big fire-just as I'd have
been II 1t hadn't been for you. dear
dear Uncle TIM"
Uncle Tim? Yes, otherwise Frowsy
finland Nellie, in life and reality
She ran and placed her flowers beside
the gravestone.
Don't delay. dear" spoke Tim
They are waiting for you," and then
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. His
presence revived poignant memories.
Good people" he said, I've news
for you. but don't 60 to pieces. Il
your little one should return"
They gasped in unison, swayed will
a vague thrill.
She will return" went on Tim, ant
called, "Nellie!" from the doorway.
4 He had strange story to tell: O
swamp island where he had gone t
live; Of lost Nellie being discovered b,
, him at the edge of the swamp; of tn,
nre passing over their place Of refuge
but he. crippled through fall, unabl,
, to travel until he got we'll and strong
And this dear child was my house
Keeper and nurse" explained Tim
, And because have been able to saw,
, her. l can think of my own dear dea,
little one as glad that her poor, worth
less old father has done some good |,
II