Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-11-05

ana tbs clear brightness Oi DAY, ana sui
Michael and Agnes were chi.dless.
I" She has sunk into some messy and
miry place." said Michae to man near
blm, into whose face he never looked.
+" A cruel, cruel death for one like her;
the Garth gu which my child walks has
closed over her, and we shall never see
her more -
A last man who had left the search
and gone, 10 direction towards the high
road, came running with something IN
his arms, to The place where Michael
and others were standing beside Agnes,
VINO lay apparently exhausted almost 10
dying on the sward.-He approached
tesitaungly, and Michael saw that he
carried Lucy's bonnet, clothes and PLAID.
Il was impossible not to see some drops
OF blood upon the irill that the child had
worn round her neck. " Murdered-
murdered--" was the one word whisper
Ell or calculated all around bu. Agnes
heard II not, fer worn out by that long
night of hope and despair, she had fallen
asleep, and was, perhaps, seeking her
iost Lucy IN her dreams.
Isobel took the clothes and narrowly
Inspected them with eyes aud hand, said
with iervent voice, that was heard even
10 Micbaeps despair, No--Lucy is
yet among the llving.-There are no
marks OF violence on The garments oil
the IDnocenl--no murdereis hand has
been here. These blood spots have been
put there to deceive. Besides, would
not the murderer have carried off these
things! Fox what else would he have
murdered he, ? Blu, Oh foolish despair
what speak of. For wicked as this
world is--aye, desperately wicked
tnere is Dol, on all the surface Of the
VIDE earb, hand that would murder
our child! Is il not plain as that sun in
Heaven, that Lucy has been stolen by
some wretched gypsey- beggar, end that
before that sun has set, she viii be saying
or prayer 10 hci fathers house, lth all
OF US upon our knees beside her. or with
our faces PROSTATE upon he floor :"
ASnes opened her eyes and beheid Lu-
cy's honne' ADD plaid, lying close beside
her, a. hen sien, crowd. Her sen
sco ali al once returned to her, aud sac
rose np--' Aye, sure enough drowned
droWned---dr oWse,.- out where have
you land her? Let me see oui Lucy, Mi
chael, for in ny sleep nave already seen
her laid out for bnrial" The crowd
quietly dispersed, aud nurse and foot be-
gan TO scour the country. Some took
the hlgh-rcads, aud others ali the bye
paths, and many the trackiess hills. Now
ttfal they were III some measure relieved
from the horrible belief that The child
was dead, The worst other caiA.niiy seem
ed nothing, fer hope brought her back to
their arms. Agnes had been sole 10
walk TO Brack en- raes, and Michael and
lsobel sa By haf bedside. Lacy's empty
lille crib Was just as The enid had lett
II TIC morning before, neatly made up
with her own hands, and her smali red
Bible was lying on ths pillow.
Oh. my husband---lhis is being IN
deed kind TO your Agnes, tor much II
must have cost you 10 stay here; but bad
you Left me my silly heaH had ceased TO
beat altogether, tor it VIII moi lie still
even now, that | am we'll nigh resigned
10 the will OF God." Mlchael put his
hand on his wile's bosom, and ieit her
heart beating as il il were knell. Tnen
ever and anon the tears came gushing,
tor ali her strength was gone, aud she
lay al the mercy OF the rustic oil ieai,
or shadow across the window. And
thus hour alter hour passed Oh I'll 1t &" as
again twilight.
81 hear footsteps coming up the brae,"
said Agnes, who had Tor some time APP
peared 10 be slumbering, aid in lew
moments the voice oil Jacob Maynes wa,
heard at the outer door. 1t was no time
tor ceremony, and he advanced into The
room where the family had been during
all that trying and endless day. Jacob
wore solemn expression OF couh,eDance,
and he seemed, from his looks, 10 bring
them no comlort.-M Icnael stood up
between him and his vile, and looked
into his heart. Something there seemed
TO be III his face that was act miserable.
II he has beard nothing OF my child,
thought Michael, this man must care but
little Tor his own fre-side. 80 speak,
speak .-said Agnes; "yet, why need
you speak Al this has been but vain
belief, and Lucy is in Heaven. "--"Some-
thing like trace of her has been dis
coyered-a woman with a child that did
not look like child of hers, was last
night at Ciovenford, and lett IL by the