Evening star., 1926-12-11
THE EVENING
STORY
The Frost Bell.

thought Of it before. He could feel
It pressing through his fingers as they
opened and closed.
II was an old habit but one OF his
fathers before him-"shaking hands
with the cold to try It's strength" his
father had called it.
When Pierre's hand dropped he
knew it's strength and what his
strength would do this night. The
warning bell on the hill was true
three periods of two clangs with ono
to commence and long one at the
end. That meant killing frost, and
for all shall farmers to be doing what
they could. In Is minutes more 1t
would send out It's message again.
and then in another Is and SO on for
two hours. so that every one In the
valley should know.
But Pierre hesitated. Back there
in the valley bottom was his all; up
in the hotel where lights were begin
ming to quiver was infinitely more.
waiting. Down below was the prob
able making Of 10000 little melons
such as sold at hotels and stores for
o big price. He had been doing well
the last few years, and this fine crop
would make him independent and in a
position to marry. Up in the hotel
was the sweetest girl in all the world
who had been kind to him and had
promised to dance with him this night
In her eyes he believed he had seen
more, battling to. understand, but
that somehow had made his heart
: beat faster and his feet to walk on
air.
At the hotel, though were young
men Of wealth and social knowl-
edge, any Of whom would gladly throw
himself and all he had at Maries feet.
II he didn't go to her dance her smiles
would be given to them. Then she
would leave on the morrow; she had
told him so. And she would go away
believing him too Indifferent to attend
ter1nined steps up the hill.
"Clang. clang! Clang, clang! Clang.
klang! Clang, cl-a-n-g"
The steps slackened, and from force
OF habit he threw out his hand again.
BY IL o'clock 1t would be freezing;
or 4 would find black death in
possession of the carefully nurtured
valley.
But what of it to him in comparison
with the greater stake? What were
10000 melons and-ah, he had forgot
ten. His mother depended on him.
He paid his sisters school expenses.
He was helping his brother through
IN agricultural college.
That carried his thoughts to Diff
ferent angle Of the hotel ball. Marie's
father had spoken to him pleasantly.
But he was practical, self-made. with
ample means. What would he think
Of q suitor who threw away all. he
had and all that was In his grasp
to go wooing? What would Marie
herself say If she knew about his
mother and sister and brother and
the melon fields danger?
Pierre paused and half turned. He
could not go. Should he try 1t and
through some miracle win her, she
would ask about his melon field, Of
which they had talked, and would
know and scorn him. And her father,
too. with the same clear, steady. quiz
zical eyes, would merely smile and
bow and point toward the door.
Pierres shoulders squared and his
head rose. He was again the man
who had been meeting difficulties and
conquering them-debts of his father,
education and establishing himself
with the burden of the family on his
shoulders.
He stopped at the little house and
changed his party clothes for rough
not harm. His mother and sister
were not there. They had gone to
the melon field to help, of course, and
were now wondering at his absence.
But no harm had been done yet.
It would be midnight before the frost
started in on its deadly work and he
had the smudge piles scattered over
the field in readiness. Never before
this evening had he neglected his
work.
Some Of the piles of wood would
have to be shifted a little more into
the wind and perhaps the thick COW
erfng OF the bog hay dampered to
make more smoke. 1t was very close
work to calculate wind and wood and
hay to cover the field with a dense
canopy of smoke through the hours of
danger: but that was just what Pierre
had done many times.
''Clang! Clang -clang. Clang -clang!
Cl.a-n-gv'
Hurry. Pierrev' came the voice of
his mother as he entered the field.
Where have you been?'
Started for the ball, you know.
mother, and had to change my clothes
Now you and Annette dip water from
the brook and throw It on the straw;
ing some Of the wood more to the
northern side. Then I'll pitch on the
damp hay and see that the kindlings
underneath are all ready for quick
firing. Don't worry. We've got two
hours"
Better not wait too long," fear
fully. 'Some Of the fires are already
being kindled"
II see. The kindlers are burning
up some Of the chance they have
Wen wait till the mercury drops a
little below 34-about midnight that
will be--then fire and keep the smoke
over the field until morning. We have
plenty OF fuel and hay for that, but
none to waste on premature alarm"
The next two hours were too busy
Tor more than a word of question
Or advice flung here and there. From
81 the mercury dropped to 36, 35, "a,
then faster az 1t neared midnight.
Now, fire." suddenly called Pierre
''You have all got matches
AS the fiickering lights ate into
the kindling and blazed up through
the wood, changing to dense clouds
OF smoke at the obstruction of damp
hay, Pierre. saw his mother and An
nette running crouching, from pile to
pile. carrying burning brands or
blazing wisps of hay to save time and
matches. And-yes, there were two
others beyond them-neighbors come
to help.
At l o'clock the thermometer stood
at 81: at 2. 20. and from that on until
dropping slowly. when 10 nearly
touched q. Then IL commenced to
rise rapidly and at was "a and above
danger
Pierre was blackened by smoke and
cinders almost beyond recognition.
His mother and Annette were nearly
as begrimed. and the neighbors.
who. were slipping away. in much the
same condition. Pierre hurried for
ward to thank them. But one of
them. girl, cut his thanks short and
with a merry laugh.
NWa'rA the QnaS iY1dahfed Piarxo :,