Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-03-27
NUMBER l3.

Then she heard Dams voice burden
ed with awful import
"Rachelr' he called "Mr. Winton!
Get up! Get up quick! The prairie is
on frew
"FSther! Motherr' the girl called,
running to their ted "Get up! Do
you hear? There Is big 6re. Yes.
Dan." she called from the window as
she helped her mother to dress.
There's not minute to lose" South
ard called back. "The fire Is sweeping
this way as fast as strong wind can
bring It"
There had been no rain for three
weeks. and everything was as dry as
tinder.
The Wintons understood the terrible
danger impending.
Not only the cabin. but stock. crops.
even they themselves. were at the mer-
cy Of those leaping flames.
Bring the blankets. quick! shouted
Southard. Obeying him instantly,
Rachel dragged every blanket out Of
the house.
Dan had ridden his horse to the little
spring in the hollow and was rapidly
filing every pail he had been able to
find about the place.
Acting under his directions. the girl
mounted her fathers pony. and she
and Dan carried water for Mr.. and
Mrs. WInton to wet the blankets. this
being their only means Of lighting the
fire.
How they worked and fought! II
seemed as II the whole world was ar.
rayed against them, and all the while
the moon looked down, cold and un.
caring, while the fire swept fercely on.
ward until It caught in a row Of dry
cornstalks that reached nearly to the
cabin. Here the battle must be fought
with renewed energy.
The smoke Of the burning grass and
grain assailed their nostrils, scorched
their throats and blinded their eyes.
but with hands torn and blistered they
toiled on.
When the old couple fell back over
come Dan and Rachel took their places
with the heavy wet blankets and work.
ed side by side. Inch by inch they beat
back the angry flames.
Even In chat terrible situation the
girl felt a singular strength and cool
ness in working by Southard's side.
She felt that the enemy must yield to
such grand and compelling superiority.
When the fire attacked them from
another vulnerable point 1t was Dams
exhaustless energy that saved the day.
BY sacrificing patch Of ripe grain.
through a prompt back fire, the foe
was met and made to recol IN wrath
full flames upon itself.
After a time the great body OF the
fire swept away northward, having
consumed everything Of the Wintons
except cabin and stock.
With a thankfulness in their hearts
for the preservation Of these, the old
couple entered the house and threw
themselves upon the floor.
Then Southard and Rachel came back
with weary, tagging feet from their
last successful onslaught.
"Everything's safe now, Rachel" he
said huskily, starting toward his horse.
"Dan," she questioned. q queer chok.
ing In her throat, you are not going
nowr
He stopped and looked at her. She
had never appeared more beautiful to
him than now, with the marks OF that
great fire battle. upon her face and
tattered dress.
"All we have left we owe to you,
DAN" she went on, noting his scorched
face, bleeding hands and burned cloth
ing.
Then she placed her blackened hand
on his shoulder. How he trembled
under that touch!
II don't feel as II ! could bear to
have you leave US, DAN" There was
tender pleading in her tones.
1.-THE dangers over, Rachel" he re-
assured her, "and must ride all the
way to Westfeld before daybreak."
"Vhy to WestfeldY' she asked.
without a word he pointed across
the blackened prairie toward his claim.
Only q mass of smoking ruins mark
ed the place where his house and stable
had been. She understood.
"You left all you had to come to u,
Dan," she said, with sob. "Now you
have nothing left. Without your help
everything here, even our lives, would
have been sacrificed. Oh, Dan, the light
Of that fire has given me q sight Of my
own heart! i see that the tr1e life for
me is right here, and II you'll let me
I'll help you make another home"
"Rachelw he cried. "You can't mean
It! Do you really love meT
II have loved you all the time, my
Knight Of the prairies," she answered
as his strong arms gathered her to his
breast. ,A t... p
A time came when the home was 10
built and all the other property re-
stored. The pair lived a new and a
different life.