The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-09-15

NA~W IWNN.N IM"MN ~ AAN"HN A"NA|N|A
settlement among me pineries was
losing daily ~ the haze OF the smoke
ilm horne down upon them lightly.
out warnlpely, from the usual wood
lFes IN the north
Life went on In its usual monotonoua
-ouiine at Woodviilo There was con
Itant discussion Of the big forest fires.
,ut they had been hitherto evaded, or
Inverted. or beaten out. Mr.. Burton
,ame into the house late one after.
aoon WITH a rather aeriona face.
There won't be much sleep around
iere tonight" he observed. Noticed
he stray cindors In the ART"
IAN day long" replied his wife. "It's
he change OF wind. I SUPPOSED"
with the big Badger forest In
,ront OF II, blazing ouf way and com
ng fast" declared Burton. alarmlngIy.
Why. that IL near" began Mrs.
burton. futteringiy.
so Gear that wen have to fight II
Put or get Il out whon II strlkes Us
.onight.' was the ominous reply.
Where's Nellie7.
she went on 20 the south woods
lfter flowers" replied Mrs. Burton
she ought TO be home" said the
husband. and when II began 10 get on
,owards dusk no started out to hunt
her up.
There was a double alarm for tho
soliritous parents as darkness came
Town. No trace could b. discovered
81 the missing child. over this the
Burtons were frantic. The forest two
miles to the north was all ablaze. the
sky red he blood, the air heavy with
smoke and cinders.
Mounted runner sent out 70 tho
north returned with the Intelligence
that the flames would be upon the
town within two hours. There was but
n course Of action opcn-to Zee the
town and take 10 the lake a 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 tho FIRE. They had to return
TO the settlement after a vain quest TO
arrange for their own safety In flight
burton intrusted his wife TO their care.
lie renewed his search for little Nellie
alone. The next morning, after a des.
perate retreat mile by mile from tho
FIRE. he crawled out from a quagmire
where he had been forced TO take ref.
uge, and over which the flames had
Jumped to seiEe upon more combusti.
BILE material beyond
The BurtOns. husband and wife.
took up life's 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
missiyely. but with heavy hearts. they
set at work TO make a new home.
The village cemetery had suffered
no great devastation. At the end OF
a week a little white tombstone bore
the simple name, Nellie" above an
empty grave.
II vas ten days after the great fire
that a man, hobbhng along on a nome
made crutch. passed through the little
graveyard. leading a little child. tIeV
hands we're full OF flowers. She sud
denly paused before the new white
tombstone.
"oh. look look" abe cried. "My
~name-just the samel Maybe It's
some poor little child that was burned
up In the big fre-nst as I'd have
been II II hadn't been fer you. dear
dear Uncle Tim"
Uncle Tim? Yes, otherwise Frowsy
finland Nellie. In life and reality
She raj and placed her flowers beside
the ~grayestone.
Don't delay. dear" spoke Tim
They are waiting for you" and then
as they came to the remodeled homo
be made her draw behind an old tree
while no approached the house.
Husband and wife we're within
They greeted him with a pang. His
presence revived poignant memories.
Good people" he said, 1--we new
for you. but don't go to pieces. Il
your little one should return"
They gasped In unison. swayed witt
a vague thrill.
"She will return went on Tim, anC
called. "Nellie!" from the doorway,
lie had a strange story to tell: o.
a swamp island where he had gone L
live; OF lost Nellie being discovered b.
him at the edge OF the swamp; OF th'
FIRE passing over their place OF refuge.
but he. crippled through a fall, unable
TO travel until he got well and strong
And this dear child was my house
keeper and nurse" explained Tim
And because ! have been able to save
her, | can think Of my own dear deaS
little u as glad that her poor, worth
less old father has done some good II
tho world altar all %