OCR Text |
Show Cleaver district," as the place was culled, the men had been out all night, and at noon none had returned. The schoolhouse stood on the rise of ground that, in auy other part of the country, would have been called the br.nk of the 6trcaiu; but here, where streams were only lengthened mud-holes, mud-holes, and the grass-tangled bottom rose imperceptibly into oak-covered ridges, one scarcely know when he was well out of a river bed; in ibo spring this same school house had stood a foot under water. Now it. was directly in tho path of a huge natural fuse, and the fire creeping creep-ing along it n6t more than a mile away. , Through sheer obstinencc and pettish-ne6s pettish-ne6s Julia refused to dismiss her school until the scholars, alarmed at tho great columns of smoke that tho rising wind swept over them, declared their intention inten-tion of going home, whether or no. Some ran out into the middle of "the crik," and from there fancied they could see red flames gleaming ferociously; instantly in-stantly the children were panic stricken, and ran about crying, in aimless confusion. con-fusion. Then Julia's real womanliness and strength rose to the surface, while tho petty willfulness disappeared. She brought order into tho childish ranks, bade them secure their books and properties prop-erties and file out quietly, leading them herself through the woods, where the winding footpath led most of them to their homeR. She saw that every one was safe in the care of parents, then composedly, but quickly, made her way to the Cleaver homestead, whero she boarded. She found every door open and not a soul in sight. Looking out from the back porch, she could see on the right tho big barn full of hay, the sheds, wnirrtna citirl fnpni mnf-Vi i norv rlllfctprnrl burned and left tho bare sod her kindled fire met the advancing column; she threw herself face downward on the smoldering ground, and awaited the sweep of the fiery tempest. Not a draught of air was there that was not also heat, smoke and ashes; and above and around, the hot sea roared and crackled.ns though it had conspired with all its forces to crush the life out of one weak little wo. man. "This is death:" was Julia's last thought, then camo unconsciousness. 1 It was 9 o'clock, and a soft rain was falling. Over tho miles of desolated for ests still smoldered, in sullen defiance, spots of fire, bnt tho fury of tho elements had spent itself.. Harry Selden stood before a long, low log house, tying the panting horse that had brought him there on as fierce a gallop as ever steed was made to run. lie was gazing eagerly now through open doors and windows even while engaged with caring for his horse, but no graceful form, with its piquant face, met his gaze. For this he was both glad and sorry. She had not come, she had obeyed his wishes, but was she safe after this terrible day? It was not a scene of merrj making that he looked in upon, though several strangers were present, among them the two young men from town, standing a little apart from the others. Tho people seemed to be discussing something seriously, in little groups of two and three. The fiddler sat idly with his instrument at his feet, and the pans of apples and popcorn on the table remained re-mained undisturbed; evidently the party was a failure. Harry Btepped into the open door without with-out knocking; a silence fell upon the company, and none dared meet his gaze. Mica Afl.nrt.in la lint hptp'" llO USkt'd THROUGH THE FURNACE. . . "Julie, the fires are coming nearer; 1 wish you would dismiss school, and go to town with me I don't like to lcavo you here." "I should be a weak minded girl, indeed, in-deed, to shut up the school house and send the children homo for a little imoko. I am in no more danger than the others." "But the others are not so dear to me." "You are selfish, and very presuming." presum-ing." "Oh, very well Then I may as well say good-by." There was no answer, and for some moments the two silently stood in the hazy September sunlight, with the dull mists and a strange quiet all about them. The young man, dark eyed, handsome and strong, neiu ms norse s bridle in his hand, ready to leap into the saddle, yet with an unsatisfied, troubled air, hesitating to do so; while tho young girl, with her dimpled hands in her dainty apron pockets, looked provokingly indifferent and pretty. On the knoll behind them stood a low, log school house twenty years ago log houses were no novelty in northwestern Ohio and back of that "the crik," which was a crock only in wet seasons, and at others, as now, but a succession of grassgrown "swales," sleeping in the dry heat, with a "sandy desert" appearance. appear-ance. On three sides the low oak woods, . with their dead looking branches and curled up leaves, came down to the very achcol yard, and a few straggling trees overshadowed the humble seminary of learning itself. The horizon was a woody circle, beyond be-yond , which rolled up dark, ominous looking clouds great purplish shadows that filled the heavens, made the air thick and oppressive, and disguised the sun itself as a sullen, overgrown moon. .. It was still early, but there was no dewy freshness or breezy coohiess, nothing noth-ing bright and invigorating, such as a well disposed morning is expected to bring; the red glows that had shown out against a starless sky all night had simply sim-ply paled as the gray light crept on and turned into black, heaving piles as the dawn whitened the skies. One or two farmhouses, with their email "clearings" attached, a winding road with bushes on either side drooping over it, and a creeping team in the distance, dis-tance, were the only signs of civilization discernible in the monotonous wilderness, wilder-ness, destined to bo more., dreary before the day was over. -- "Have you nothing more to say to me, Julie?" - "I do not think of anything at present," pres-ent," the little teacher said, with aggra-. vating coolness. ' "Well you will not go to the party near; on the left, tho schoolhousr, still safe; before her and across tho plowed fields, an arm of the woods, through which the clear space of the creek could bo discerned, and a little more to the right, and further away, tho sweeping clouds of smoke pouring up and onward with hurrying density; Voices in quick, broken shouts fell on her ear, and grasping her straw hat she hastened out in that direction. She found mother, sister, daughter and younger children eagerly flinging down the fences, scattering the rails widely over the bare ground. "Wo must get the fences down before the fire comes," cried Mary Cleaver, tho eldest daughter, as she saw Julia approaching. ap-proaching. "I'm glad you've come, aud it's lucky your dress is woolen, The fire is raging so that tho little space of burned ground around the fences won't stay it at all, an' if it once gets to run-nin' run-nin' through them, barn, horses, hay, home and everything must go." "Where arc the men?" "Over at Johnson's settlement, fighting fight-ing like beavers and dead tired out. Three houses and barns have gone up a'ready." The hearty, rosy cheeked girl, in short worsted skirts and a man's coat and hat, tosacd a huge knotty rail over her shoul der end looked at the little schoolma'am with a superior air. "Are you equal to that sort of thing for an hour or two?" Julia fancied she could hear the roar of the on coming flames, and already the air was stifling; but, for answer, grasped a rail in her lithe young arms, and flung it out as lightly as the stouter girl had done. How she worked! Her sleeves were soou torn from the round, whito arms, and they wera quickly rasped and scratched until tiny red streams ran down to her wrists. In her excitement she flung rails about that she could not have lifted in ordinary moments; even the Cleaver girl looked at her admiringly, and sueeested that "she take it easier." .But of tho good woman of the house. "Aluckaday! sho is not, sir; no more do any of us know where she is. They I" "What! Isn't sho at homo at her boarding place, I mean?" "Not without she's come there within tho last quarter of an hour. A parcel o' men has gone to look for her, though they was that tired' and worn out" Harry waited to hear no more, but darted out, mounted his horse, and flew away to the Cleaver place. Sho was not there, and Mary and the younger children were crying bitterly. "Oh, sho can't be alivo yet, I am very much afraid," Mrs. Cleaver said chokingly, choking-ly, "and it's all on account of these mischievous mis-chievous young 'uus, that I should ever have it to say o' them. Jeanette she went off among tho corn stalks, all safe and sound, and Jakio must be thinkin' he saw her goin' fer the woods, to see the fire burn. They bo hero all safe, while the poor dear lady who went to look fur 'em be wo none o' us knows where. Oh, but these 'uns '11 catch it when their father comes," at which the crying children set up a fresh howl. Pale and stern, Harry made them tell all they knew, then set out himself, knowing that, alive or dead, ho should find his darling. Had the men not been so nearly worn out, they would have found her sooner, for it was not far, and there was no brushwood to hide the view. But the night was dark, their rude lanterns threw but little light, and the men stumbled stum-bled about half asleep. Love was more alert. In half an hour Harry wts bending bend-ing over the poor unconscious form, in .its wet and half burned dress, moaning over tho blistered cheeks and arms, and calling wildly on her name. She moved, as his arms enfolded her, and whispered his name, and this ' "I did not go to tho party, you see; it's all right, isn't it, Harry?" Iiarrv would never agree that it was "all right," until she could declare with smooth and blooming face, many weeks lifter, that she wes an well as ever, and would come to town to be his little wife and housekeeper, instead of remaining the "Cleaver district school-ma'am." school-ma'am." ... "Indeed," he said, "ns your school-house school-house is burned to the ground and the directors will not build another until they are ablQ to put up a fine brick one, your occupation is gone, aud there is no alternative." Julia did not look as though the alternative alter-native was very distasteful. May Huntley Hunt-ley iu Yankee Blade. "I think J shall. If you cannot trust me by myself at nn ordinary neighborhood neighbor-hood gathering, I cannot bo wortii any anxiety of wind on your part." "It is not that, dear. But I know those fellows from town too well. They intend to como out for tho sole purpose of seeing the 'pretty little schoolma'am' and ridiculing 'the natives,' as tbey say. You are naturally , bo unsuspecting, bo . wect arid kind in your disposition they will misunderstand and take advantage of what they will term 'your simplicity.' If I come, knowing I had not intended it, they will believe I could not trust you, I cannot endure ti.vat they should even know you, to laugh wd chatter about you for weeks afterward. To please me, dear Julio, remain away and disappoint them." "Yea, and creato more wonderment and expostulations than it Is all worth. I hare promised my simple hearted friends and pupils to be present, and Bhall go, and I don't care for your town companions, compan-ions, or for you either." "Ydu'do not mean that, surely. Come, Julia, I have ridden five miles this morning, morn-ing, left tho store to the mercies of a green clerk, to see you, and to speak one word of warning. Give me a kind word before I go, and the smile I have dreamed of for days, to cheer and reassure me." But Har ry Selden bent in vain to catch a glance from tho deep blue eyes, veiled so obstinately by their long black lashes. 'I can stay no longer, Julia, and your scholars are coming through the woods. You are not treating me fairly, and will aee it yourself presently." Ho pressed ber passive hand, and vaulted into the aaddle. "Good-by. ' If the fires como closely) dismiss school and go home. The Cleaver place is safe, I think, as there are fields of plowed ground round it. Good-by, dear." "Good-by, Harry," she 6aid, a little more softly; but lUu restbss horse was claiming his attention, and soon ho was speeding down tho road like the wind. Julia Atherton looked after him a moment mo-ment with a moisture gathering in her lusitrous eyes. Tho shouts of tho children chil-dren rang out nearer, and glimmers of pink calico and blue gingham peeped now and then through the branches. Seutiment mid self must be resolutely X)ut aside.. "I don't care. He had no right to suppose I was not able to deal with thoso fops from town, and iie should not attempt at-tempt to control my actions." Nevertheless she was very heavy hearted heart-ed aa she turned to call her little 0-)ck logeuier. Ai the ilay advanced the a' grew more dense und sultry; tho whoi eky was dark, and the sun rode througlt it like a dull rod ball, while the smell of burning leaves and wood overpowered the faint marsh and forest perfumes. The "openings"' Cres were spreading rapidly, i . At that time there were miles und miles of unsettled land alternate ridges Cov- ' cred with oak and underbrush, and , marshes where the dry grass and weeds were like tinder. Every year a few fires wero expected, but there had been a severe se-vere drouth this' season, and already the men in the various settlements had organized or-ganized into companies to light lires, and BA.rA linniM juirl wnnartr. Vrom tho there was littlo time for rest. A red flame leaped over tho tops of the trees, here and there, and burning cinders were falling around them; one more line of fence must bo, at least, partly scattered before there was safety. It was farther out and directly in the way of the thickest thick-est rain of flying cinders., ' But tho two girls, ona so slender, willowy and quick, the other strong and steady, attacked it with undaunted spirit, and just as the hot breath of the devouring monster Btirrcd the hair on their brows the fire bait was rendered harmless. ' Julia was panting with exhaustion and wondering if she was going to faint, when Mrs. Cleaver came up with the frantic cry of: - , "Where is littlo Jeanette? Where in the world is tho girl? Huve you seen her?" Jakie, tho slow, old fashioned 12-year-old, made his mother understand after a while that Jtanio had gone in the direction di-rection of tho fire" 'cause she wanted to see it burn." , "That darin' child! Shu ain't afraid of nothin'. She'll be burned nlivel" And the woman tried to run and find her youngest born; but weariness and emotion emo-tion overcame her eagerness aud she fell helpless to the ground. Mary hastened to her mother's si'le, ad no other woman or child dared venture ven-ture nearer toward the surging storm of flames and smoke Uiat was bearing down upon them. Only Julia. She looked forward in dread but for one moment, then calling up every reserva of strength and courage, cour-age, she paused like a bird ready for flight, thinking which was tho best course, and with the grace and speed of a deer sprang through the bushes, calling call-ing Jeanttte's name. Toward tho right the tiro was not so near, and in that direction di-rection Julia flew, peering; under every oush and behind every log for tho missing miss-ing girl. On and on, through tho dense smoke, with the agonizing fear in her heart that tho child had already met hei terrible fate lending her a false strength, on and on she passed, as long as a possible possi-ble pathway opened before her. But suddenly bIio came upon a wall of fire; tc turn aside was but to face another, until sho realized with appalling force that she was hemmed in on every side. It seemed to her tho fire fiend had suddenly sud-denly encircled her, by some skillful trick, and was mocking her despair. The sun refused to shine and the. sky vas blotted out in darkness; this was not the world, the bright, beautiful earth sho had loved so well, but some chaotic space out iu the universe, w here the elements were fighting' for mastery.' The quiet morning when she and Harry had stood together making believe they did not lova each other an J were not happy must havo been far away in some other life. Bho would never get back to that life egain, never see Harry, r.ever receive i his forgiveness, never let him know how dear he was. How sweet that far away ' life and love now seemed to her! - : One chance remained. As yet nearly two acres of ground, comparatively barren bar-ren of trees, was free from fire. She ran and seized a fallen fagot, lighted the dead leayea where Cjev were thickest and , |