The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-02-21
CHAPTER XVII.
WI Y III
"Two's

Toward the east the forest tract was
completely burned to the banks Of Cod
ler's creek. AS the wind which had
sprung up had driven the fire west
ward. there was little danger OF the
flames pressing nearer than the creek
to Sunrise Cove and The Corners, .,,
Joseph Stage led the horse out ,ot
the water and advised Miss Amanda
and Carolyn May to get into the seat
Of the blackboard again. Then he set
forth, leading the horse along the mar!
row beach, while Prince followed
YEARLY In the rear, ~
1t was a rough route they followed,
but the blackened forest a still too
hot for them TO pass through, had they
been able to find a path. This was a
lonely strip of shore and they saw no
living soul but themselves. =, .,ji.ai.
/ 1t was a long tramp, and the horse.
the dog, and the man were alike
wearied. Carolyn May went fast asleep
with her head pillowed in Miss Aman-
da's lap. '''''
The latter and Joseph Stage talked
much. Indeed, there was much for
them to say after all these years OF
silence. ''''l' 'H''" .,' 10y
The woman, worn and 'scorched or
face. looked down on the smutted and
sweating man with an expression In
her eyes that warmed himItqtthe mar
row. She was proud Of him. And the
gaze Of love and longing that the hard
ware merchant, turned upon Amanda
Parlow would have amazed those peo-
pie that believed he had consideration
and thought only for business. tad, ~
In these few hours Of alarm and
close intimacy the man and the woman
had leaped all the barriers time and
pride had sch up. Nothing further
could keep Joseph, Stagg and Amanda
Parlow apart. And yet they never for
one instant discussed the, original
cause of their e~strangement. That was
a dead issue ~ ~ =, Ig'R 'ru1",'','.
The refugees reached The Corners
about nine o'clock. Jedidiah Parlow
had hobbled up to the store and was
just then organizing a party OF search
ers to 60 to the rescue OF the hard
ware dealer and those Of whom he had
set forth in search. ,I@u q ooa,n iuu,'
The, village turned out en- masse to
welcome the trio who had SO mirac'
ulously escaped the fire. Aunty Roses
relief knew no. bounds. Mr.. Parlow
was undeniably glad to see his daugh'
ter safe; otherwise, he would never
have overlooked the pitiable state his
horse. was In. Poor Cherry would
never be the same unblemished animal
again XXX, ,"' 'S 4 -
"Well, I yum" he said to Joseph
Stagg, "you done It'll Better'n I could
too, I reckon. I'll take the boss home
You comm with me. MandyT',"nn Then
he saw the burns on the younger man,
shoulders and arms. THE good land
Of Jehoshaphat! here's work for you to
do, Mandy. If you air any sort Of q
nurse, I reckon you got your hands
full right here with Joe Stage" he
added, with some pride In his daugh,
ter's ability. "Phewl them's bad
lookin' burns!" ,l
'They are indeed" agreed Aunty
Rose. ".N ~" ~" hfj.7gW'
II, was q fact that Mr.. Stagg was N
a bad state. Carolyn May had suggest
ed that iAuntyi Rose would dress his
burns. but Miss Amanda would allow
nobody to do that but herself. s,ujat
When the curious and sympathetls
neighbors had gone and Miss Amanda
was stlll busy making Joseph 'Stags
comfortable in the sitting room, Aunty
Rose came out into the kitchen, where
,.|lr.t' ,'} j.. utlittniynl