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laneous, Li IT OF PERIL. K‘ ,> uiirhl oil place >ii 1 1 11 w "rli l . Big llllt W,l li VO P t lio non rest ml kid IJo'l Ranch, •ed thirty. Tim k<l pilolioil upon ■Put, wlmii iho\ tlm <• 1 1 1 onnn .Mr. Forest i \ ;ist trnok <>i mi r ni lho Bed Ri vor, ’Lt.horo, like the hi- wile bis moil sinwants I‘-. hi- li<dßk>ml ® _ w V ■HHHHBT 1 i • 111, i Ik Bk RflK in 111 < .' ii'i jJ^b 1 * ' KBB v mil' ..I ;yß'- uni m <nt < * 111 < i iii ■ XJ'-fySj'slnE II" ' ini i 'y.o^^Jr-^9 l ■ 1 ’■ " i 11 • I m ! ' 11 HK •(*■' mm '11■ gi<• i■ 1111111 ■ ,-7.:H;ln Imr I Hill. in:i Hm-e. Y oung Fred North V'chlcst miii, wa one of inml devoted ;i' miii li. wa- I\i in 11111 < nit ll ■• ■r< il ll ll \ WBt 1 1 • 11 1 ' \\ w.i :i I\\ ;i\ |l|||9k i \ iv i• i l'> I<>i i- I • pl’cli'Vl '>l ''ilh I PPpßlmn hi m In |• I;t i 111 \ Ti long before, hut Miss kjivas ;i flirt. She wonM es" hiil >lm iliil iml :iml iiiimii wInI• ■ I ii ll |Bll ill pi’ll i'. ' ’lullin'’ im I enough. mnl yet bound loot ti> hi" will ill, charm mnl pm Imp- in in her nil tin' linin' Im mrice. [as a hrillimil morning in summer w out Imr in llm WM West, Ill** 'ini alreadx M;t/ ing down fiercely, and promising a tropical noon day. Mr. Forest and young Fred Northcote, who had been s|M*nd ing a day orlwoal Forest llill. were standiTig together before i lit* picturesque pordi *d‘ t In* long, low farm-house. Fred was a brown faced. Idm* **yt*d young lellow. -Ilong and athletic. Ho looked very handsome in hi' careless backwoods cost nine of knickerbockers and gaiters, striped bine and white shirt, light loose jacket, and broad brimmed hat shading hi- manly, trank face, w ith its soft mustache and bright keen eyes. A black horse of great beauty, deep chested, strong-limbed, was standing l**sid* him, pawing (In ground and tossing his handsome ' ead under his master's caressing I ml. Hotspur was an English rse, almost thorough bred - >r fifty miles round there was a Ids equal for speed or on nance, nor, in Fred's opinion, r beauty either. Mr l "ie>t was speaking. ■ * L “Tell your father, B-aunot answer lor Merchant l)ob*oii. lie asked no* make inquiries about him Lid repot 1 s In* is a slippery to be trusted ie can *ee him." Kho w .t' <ni t In* iift* his departure g*and 1 will eonu* ■jtt.-m 1 T;.U >" i' Forks. Mind do not get cauglu. Tin* right from there, and for fires." sV'Avy l(.-d I j.,. BhßS||Kc*.'^ ' I"' 1 B ■ want In go to tiio Hod Knlioh ; you must unit lor mcl" oriod a pretry, impori<uis voioo, just ns k rod' liorso had mado a st*] for ward, and a tall slight girl came running down tho veranda steps, her nut brown hair shining like burnished gold in tho sunlight, a bright eolor in her lair arched face. I' rod was down instantly, hi' lace assuming an expression ol surprise. Not hall’ an hour ho lore ho and Nanoio had had high words, and that 'lie should voluntarily seek his escort now was somewhat unaccountable.-- But most of Miss Nannie's oapri cos were nnaooountahlo. ■•lt is too hot, chi Id,” interposed her lather. • Thirty miles in this blazing sun it would half kill you.’ no. eyo- sweet and *!."l■ i ■ -I"' I can i •’ .hi oi nm.' ■BQIW' "i i"ii : lull Nmioie a pot and darling overruled (hem all, and finally,. as she al Ways did, go I her own way. and in hall mi hour the two were riding together through the ma ple woods which clothed tho ris ing ground all ahout l ores) I fill. I Nuncio and her chestnut mare, m - Molly were a picture to look Tho girl was a perfect rider, MB. in her close lilting ha hit of light gray cloth the only thing suitable for the country—with its touch ol scarlet ribbon at the throat, and her broad brimmed ~traw hat, looked her very best, and know it, too. ••This is an unexpected honor," began l-'red,its tlu-y quilted the sliailc of the trees, and entered on the dry, crisp grass of tin* open prairie. *• I)o not tint ter yourself,” re turned Miss Mancie, with a toss of her bright young head. --It suited my convenience to come. I oxpeet to find some letters at t lie set I lenient which I w ish to get tor mysell." “Sixty miles is a long wav to rule for let ter w liicli I could have brought with me on Tlnir day . iemarke*l I* red. w ith a somewhat incredulous smile. *•! do not suppose they are of such vital conse<|lienee." I have no wish to make you my postman," retorted Miss Mancie ; “and it is not of the slightest consequence what you suppo e or do not suppose." “Probably not," allowed Fred, try ing In look cool. “You take care no one shall have a very ex ailed opinion of himself or his opinions cither where you are, Mancie." “Of course," returned Mancie, cumly. “So lam glad your pen ft rat i *ii has discovered that I cam** to please myself, not you." Fred disdained to answer, ex cept by a most unnecessary cut of the w hip on Hotspur's glossy llank. The quarrel between the two had been in progress some days. In this unsocial style the two pressed on mile after mile, till the sun was high in the lieav oils and half their journey over. The track it could scarcely be called a road was simply a narrow path beaten through the tall grama grass and reeds of the prairie, which rose on either hand live or sj\ feet high, all mat ted and tangled together with wild pea vines and creepers; it was burnt quite crisp and brown by the heal of the sun, and was as dry as tinder. As they brush -ed it in passsing, the twigs and canes snapped at a touch. Right ahead, fifteen miles away, rising blue above the undulations of the prairie, was a steep bln ft', the termination of a range of low hills, oft shoots ol tin* Rocky Mountains. This blutf was their landmark and guide, for a mile or two behind it was tin* Red Ranch settlement, or Northeotes, as it was often called. Mean while the clear bin** of the skv was becoming overcast with a sultry leaden ha/e. The air was intensely hot and heavy. The wide, t reeless. shadow less prairie rolled away on every side in long undulations like the swells of the great ocean. At last Fred grew tir**d of keeping up even a show of resentment, and began to talk again. ••How well Aliss AloHv goes to day r “Mi** always doe-," returned Nancie, a shad*- more graciously than before; she was tired of keeping silent s,, long. ••All tin* same, I would not hark her against Hotspur.” ••No,’because llot-pur would THE FIELD AND FILES! DE. be beaten," asserted Naucie. confident ly. ••Will you try?" he asked. ••No. 1 wont.” It is too hot to race. How can you suggest such a tiling in this blazing sun ?" • Hot or not, it strikes me it is what you will have to do." lie re marked, coolly. ••What do you meant" -he said, raising a pair of dark incredulous eyes. ••Look there," and raising hi' whip, Fred pointed to the right behind them, whence the leaden lined cloud was spreading over the skv. ••What does that look like ?" Nanoie turned her eyes in the direction indicated, and as 'he looked, her face blanched to an awful whiteness. “Fire !" The prairie is on lire!" she cried, fearfully. ,*•(). I'red. what shall we dot" nivoluntari lv she drew up her horse and gazed anxiously around. The ominous leaden gray haze was sweeping down upon them— already it had crept round be hind them. Below the haze a faint line ofdull red was just vis ible. ••Yes, the prairie is on lire, sure enough.” the young man said.— ••Are you frightened. Nanoie?" She turned her dark clear eyes to his. Her face was pale, but there was no sign of weakness about the steady, brave mouth. "No, 1 am not frightened." she answered, gravely, but smilingly back into his anxious face. "But I know the danger.” ••And how we can escape," lie said, reassuringly. "Now for it!” In another moment they were flying along There was no need to urge Hotspur and Miss Mollie’ —they scented the danger and could scarcely be restrained. — The bluff showed blue in the dis tance —fifteen miles away; and behind them was a waste of hot dry tinder which caught fire with lightening like rapidity. The odds against them seemed awful! A faint, tremulous wind pres entlv overtook them. The sun shine died out as a deep, black shadow stole over the plains.— Flocks of birds flew past them 'ileiilly. Wild dogs, prairie liens, hares and rabbits scudded along through the grass ami tangled reeds. Scarcely daring to look back, they pressed on, their hors es straining every nerve. Five miles were passed, six, seven. They were getting on well, but the tire behind was getting on better. Looking back, and seeing how fast it was gaining on them, Fred would have given worlds to have Naucie safe at home. They reached a belt of low trees, a conspicuous landmark in the prairie, .lust eight miles more before them ! Heavens, it seem ed like a journey across the world! They were galloping along like race horses, every sin ew and muscle strained to the utmost, (treat clouds of smoke were now overtaking them, cir cling and eddying above their heads. A pungent-smelling va por came creeping along the ground, almost suffocating them with its fumes. The dull, rush ing roar of the tire increased ev ery moment behind them, while the snapping of the cane brakes and the crackling of the dry gram ma grass were distinctly audible. Still they were get ting on. Sev en, six, five mil.es. The fire was gaining on them with aw ful rapid ity, but the dill'was rising clear and distinct before them. Half an hour more and they would be safe. Suddenly, without a mo ment's warning. Mancie's horse stumbled in a lode.pitched lieavi ly forward, and fell on her knees. Fred threw himself oil Hotspur in an instant, and. before Mancie could free her feet from the stir rup, was at her side. "AYhat i> it ?” cried Nancie.— **ls she hurt ?” A ml, though her voice was steady, she trembled violently. “One of her legs is broken." he replied. “You must ride be hind me. Quick. Nancie. there's no time to lose!”—mounting Hotspur as he spoke, and holding out his hand to help her mount. “Quick, your hand t” ••Oh. Fred, 1 cannot leave her tube burned to death!" cried Mancie, bending over Miss Molly, who looked up to her mistress with agonized eves, and uttered a low moan of intese, painful s u tiering. Fred drew a pistol from his holster, “There is no other way." he said, quietly, as he tired. The chesuut’s pretty head fell prone on the rank grass, a shud der passed over her graceful limbs ami he lay' dead before them.' With a soh Nanoie turned silent ly from her favorite and gave her hand to Fred. In another minute they were living over the plain. Alas, with how small a chance now! The gallant horse, strive as he might, made but lit tie wav with hi- double burden. There were only few miles more. Already the air was scorching. The 'moke and vapor enveloped them in suffocating clouds, hiding the bluff from view and choking lliem with their stifling breath.— The roar of the tire sounded fear fully near, the moments dew fast and the deadly sounds behind grew every moment more dis tinct. The wind had increased to a tempest, which blew the smoke in denser clouds over them. A lurid yellow glare tinged the heavy rolling masses, the heat of the furiousconllagration was per ceptibly fell. "Is there a chance ?" w hispered Naucie, looking fearfully behind as the horse strained onwards. ■•Yes. if we can holdout for ten minutes more." lie answered. ••Heaven help us !" she cried, closing her eyes as a furious blast of w ind brought a breath of fierce heat against her cheek. He drew her arm closely round him, taking one small hand in an eager, covetous grasp. -Fray for us, Nanoie," he whis pered, quietly. Only two miles now. Ten lit tie minutes of time, and they would be safe. But Hotspur was failing. He sprang forward now with convulsive bounds; his gal lant limbs trembled beneath him; every breath was a short, gasp ing sob. Another mile—half a mile! () heaven, have mercy! The scorching breath of the lire was upon them; they were in a whirlwind of dense, suffocating smoke. The horse stumbled at every step—he gasped and moan ed like a human soul in ext remity. Covered with foam and tremb ling convulsively, lie struggled on. Little dames and eddies of fire, heralds of t he horrors behind, crept among tin* tangled grass. Fred turned on the saddle ami tried to draw Nancie's head down to his breast. She made no re sistenee; but when he would have hidden her eves from sight, she lifted them clearly and un tlinchingly to his. ••Don’t, Fred—l can face death with open eves," she said ; and, catching hold of his hand, she pulled if gently away. As she did so a great shower of sparks, borne on the fierce wind, fell around and over them. “Oh, my darling, to think this should be the end!” be cried, despairingly, knowing how very near it was now. “No, no," she cried, “it is not the end! See—w<* are close to the bluft! Oh, thank heaven, thank heaven!" And she pointed to the towering rock, which a rift in the smoke disclosed rising right before them not fifty yards away. “On. Hotspur—on, good horse—one more struggle—on. on!" she shouted, encouragingly. Cheered by her voice and hand, tin* brave horse gathered all his strength for one tremendous ef fort and bounded forward with frantic leaps. Hut it was an ex piring struggle. Ere ten yards were passed he fell to the ground gasping and panting, his brave ■spirit overcome at last. Fred dragged Mancie away, and, seiz ing hand, began running towards the blutf, so near now, so near— and yet one look back she gave. The tire was close behind, a fear ful sight. The tierce heat scorch ed their faces, sparks of burnt grass, cane, and splinters of wood fell in showers about them. The stilling, choking smoke half suf focated them, paralyzing every nerve. On, on, with frantic, (ly ing feet; safety in front, death behind—and such a death! “Leave me. Fred." gasped Nan cie, faintly. “1 can go no far ther. Tell them at home—my love—kiss me once, Fred, and—” She dropped to the ground with a choking sob. With a wild cry he caught her up in his arms and staggered on. They were dose to the blurt* now. A dozen steps and he gained the foot ol' the ascent. Stumbling, struggling, panting, he pressed on up the face of the rock. The fire rushed after him, send ing out long tongues of flame as if to grasp its prey ; it licked up the scanty herbage, and raged and roared in tierce fury. But a few more yards ! **o heaven, have mercy!”— Staggering, dizzy; almost frantic, lie struggled on, step after step, .stepafter step. One more! “Oil, thank heaven, thank heaven— safetv at last!’’ It was a terribly narrow escape. So close had been Site fire, so deadly the peril, that it seemed as if only a miracle had saved tlit-m. Half an hour afterward' when they had recovered siifti cient strength to struggle on wards to the Red Ranch, they began to realize to what an ex tremit yof danger t hey w ere re dured. Their clothes looked like tinder and hung on them in shreds and patches. Nancie's lace was deadly white, except for a vivid red scar down one side of her cheek and neck, where a scorching flame had caught it.—- Fred's right arm was completely disabled ; his hands and face were a deep crimson in lute.— The lire had scorched him terri bly. As they crept slowly along. Fred looked wistfully into Nan eie's face. ••Did you mean it. Nancy ?" lie asked gently. ••Mean what ?’’ >he said, her eyes drooping shyly before Ids. ••What you said awhile ago.— Will you kiss me. Naucie. my own love?" ••Yes,'' she whispered, turning her sweet face to his. 'lVlinl Tickled Tlr. .laii-.cn. A NTOt‘T I. A l)V cl. AI MS HIM AS IIKK MISSING SCOTCH HUSBAND. Mrs. Elizabeth Alnesley, a tall, portly woman, with a red face and strongly marked features, appear ed in the Jefferson Market Police Court yesterday in the double ca pacity of a prisoner and a com plainant. A small man with san dy whiskers and mustache stood bv her side. The woman talked to Justice Wandell with great.vo lability,gesticulating freely,while the little man laughed heartily and rubbed his hands together from time to time, as though the matter in hand was the best joke of the season. ••That man, your Honor, is John Alnesly, and my husband,” said the stout woman. “I am Eliza beth Alnesly, and his wile.’’ ••Tell us your story," said the .1 list ice. ••I will,” said Mrs. Alnesly hear tily. and she did. "i was married to that man there," she said, “in ! the year 1805, in Charleston, S.C. We lived together, sir, as man an' wife, an’ I win! with him where ever he wint. We came to New Y ork, sir, and kept house at No. 205 West Twenty first street, -ir. Two years ago, lie left me, an' 1 have never seen him since, until yesterday, when I met him upon Broadway. 1 knew him at once, sir, though he denied himself to me, an' I claim him to his face, sir, an' I can bring witnesses to prove as that is my John, sir, my own lawful wedded husband, which i can bring my marriage certificate if von desire." Here the little mail had a severe fit of coughing. "Now, none o' your laughing, my John," said Mrs.Alnesly severely. “Yon know vou are me husband. an"you can’t deny it. You're a Scotchman, John, though von do change your talk, an' I can bring witnesses to swear to von. There's a scar, judge, on his cheek, an' there's two teeth missing, which the was the case with myyJohn." “(’all your witnesses,” said tlie court. “Mrs. Scott, come here." called out Mrs. Alnesly. Mrs. Scott, with a baby on her arm, came forward. “Do you know this man ?" ask ed the judge. “That 1 do sir," was the reply. ••When did you know him ?" “Two year ago. sir, it wor. last February, that I saw him. He is John Alneslv, sir. the husband of this lady. H<* speaks different now from what he did then. He spoke Scotch like, and he has had his hair dyed.” ••How do von know him.” ••By his looks an* features, an’ certain marks and tokens, sir.” “That will do. Have you other witnesses. Airs. Alnesly?” Mrs. Alnesly went out to get a Airs. Jenkins, but failed, and re turned w ith Mrs. .Jenkins’ neice. ••I)o you know Air. Alnesly ?” asked the court of the little-girl. •■Yes. sir,” she said. ••Look about the court room and see if lie is here.” The girl looked slowly around the room. At length her eyes fell upon th** little man with the sail dy beard. ••There he is,” said she, pointing to him. The little man came up. • “Talk to her,” said the court. “Vat ish your name ?” asked he. “Alarv Edgerton,”' t “Andt you knows me f” ••Yes. but you used to talk dif ferent, and vour hair was a Jirt'er ent color.” * ••I will now bear your story," said ’the'judge to tho alleged John. “Yell, sir, I am not Jan at all; my flame it i- An grist Jansen. 1 am a Prussian, and I lioff worked as watchman in tier slitore at So. 477 Broome street for seven years. Hat woman she meet me yester day on Broadway, she throw her arms around my neck. She pull up mv mustache to look at mine teeth. She say lam her husband and that 1 must giff her £20.000 to support her. Then she go st way, and dis morning she cum in front of No. 477 Broome street and wait for me. I haffher arres ted, and tliai is all about it." Mr. Jansen's employer was pre sent with him. and assured His Honor that Jansen had lived in the store at No. 477 Broome str't for the last seven years; had a wife and t wo children, lid that the case w as mie identity. “Mrs. Alneslysaid the court, -you must be mistaken " “No, sir, lie is nty John." -I've no doubt lie looks like the man." “He /.s- the mail." ••W ell. I'm going to discharge the case,” said the judge, “as 1 am satisfied there is a mistake.” "The Lord have mercy upon me!" exclaimed the stout lady, throwing up her hands. -I hope he will," said the judge. As the alleged John turned to go. Mrs. Alnesly said, "Can't I ar rest him, judge ?" ••No, you must not molest him.” ••My (Tod f who else can I arrest hut you, Alnesly ?" cried the clai mailt, as she went out of court, w ringing her hands.—_Y. Y. Worh! iSomkbodv has discovered that there is not now living a single de seendanl in the male lineof Mil ton, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Spen ser, Cowiev, Butler, Dryden, By roil, Pope, Cowper, Coldsmith, Scott, Moore, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh, Drake,Crom well, Hampton, Monk, Peterdon, Marlborough, Addison, Johnson, Swift, Walpoole, Bolinbroke, Fox, Chatham, Pitt, Burke, McCauley, Crattan, Canning, Bacon, Locke, I Newton, Davy, Hume, Gibbon, Hogarth, Sir John Reynolds, Da vid Garrick, John Kemble or Ed 1 miiiid Kean. THE FIELD IMI FIRESIDE. BOOK AND JOB Printing EstaMmt! I'OWUHK si'KlMi STJSKKT, MARIETTA, GEO., BET NO FrT.LY PREPARED , WITH i\EW & IMPROVED PRESSES, Also, with tin* latest styles of (Tiijjc, Sorters, ORNAMENTS, &C. 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