The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-09-17

my sudden aversion had influenced them, they
both lifted their eyes to mine. There was
something in the insolent stare they gave me
brought the Angry blood to my face. Mother
had already withdraw from the window, and
gladt escape from the uncomfortable feeling
that had come over ma, followed her.
sWhere is Lucy?"
The afternoon had worn silently away, and
we were laying the table for tea, when mother
asked the question.
Invent to the window and looked ou., ex-
pecting to see her asleep, with her head among
the vines, for the piazza was her favorite at
terno On resort. Bravo was there, winking and
half asleep, his shaggy boldly stretched out in
the sun-but Lucy was gone. reg
81 guess she has run out to the field to meet
ia her and the boys" answered, in reply to
mothers inquiring look, ''she isn't in sight"
Nothing more was sail until the men-folks
came into supper. Lucy was not with :hen,
nor had they seen her on their way home.
"Fll run out and find her while father is say
ing grace" shouted Willie, snatching his cap,
..ihapll save time, and Pm hungry"
"Lucy! L-u-cy, L a-c-e-e,!,'' we heard him
call, with voice as sharp and as clear as q
young savage's. Soon he came in, out OF
breath, but without Lucy.
"Perhaps she has gone into some Of the
neighbors, and they have isvited her to teas
Let's eat supper, and then if she don't come,
well hunt her up" spoke Caleb, my Oldest
brother.
Tacitly consenting, we took our seats at the
table. But that was anunusual quie: meal
1t was no common occurrence to miss the sol-
den head from the foot of the table, and the
vacant high chair drawn up so stiily before
the unused plate, and the untouched tumbler
of fresh, white milk seemed ominous of DESC
lation. There was shade of anxiety on
mothers naturally serene coun,enance; father
scarcely spoke during the meal. and could
not help glancng cften and wishfuily at the
open door, hoping every moment to see j,
shadowed by the entrance of d little dancing
figure. which yet, something t. Id me, forebo-
dinghy, would not come. Only my brothers,
thinking of no possibility Of harm. and with
the healthy, eager appetite of growing and
working, ate with avIdi.y.
Supper over, they went out. taking different
paths to the Eeighbors; aud after clearing
away the tea things, we seated ourselves to
wait for them.
The faint shadow of early dusk was Just
beginning to fall, VIII n Willie returned ling
erin-ly towards the b ,use.
'.Hasn': she come YETI" he asked, as be
came within calling distance.
.s1'hen must go right back" he added in
reply to our anxious s'no" s.Fa!her and CT
Ieb are waiting for me at Mr.. G ,uld's. They
thought they would send word before they
went any furiher"-and he ian Off wiiheu
stopping TO answer onr eager Inquiries.
Mr.. Gould's was as far as We had ever
known Lacy 10 go alone, ard knew by the
distressed look on IN pther's counteaance, that
she was get ing seriously alarmed.
could not bear to sit there, with the dread
"n my heart like ice, and throwing on my bot
net and shawl, and bidding mother TO keep up
good courage, for was sure we should find
Lucy. went ont into the sober twilight.
thought OF the well in the backyard, and
went to it, half-expecting. as leaned over
the messy board, 10 see the white frock and
shining hair OF my little sister CLEAN up at
IRE from the cool. dark waters. But no! they
were clear and glossy, aud silent as ever.
/ went into the orchard. 1t was deserted,
even by the robins which had sung there all the
day. wandered down to the brook. There
were The prints of tiny shoes in the sand, and
Few withered violets that Lacy had scatter
ed That afternoon; but through the shallow
waves could see the CLEAN of the grey peb-
bles, and the music of the water as it rippled
over them smote my heart with diige.
ieaped the brook and walked swiftly and
resoiutely along the narrow path that led from
j., ,for every moment tn, fear In my heart
grew stronger and more terrible. Lucy was
surely lost, and must help to find her.
Before me stretched long strip of wood
land, and beyond it lay another village-the
t"hi ~ o"S 40 VIC hSitoh peoric uSeu " = al
it. Perhaps Lucy had rambled out there, and
fallen asleep in the forest.
The solemn music Of the trees as their leaves
rustled in the evening wind, and the grey,
gloomy light that rervaded the wood, chilled
me with an overpowering sense of loneliness
bat hurried on persevering.y. A light, pat
tering step among the leaves by my side start
lei me. turned, with aquick outstretching
of my arms, and my heart lesping to my throat.
1t was only Bravo, who had followed me thus
far
For long time wandered about, searching
among the trees, and calling Lucy by her
name. Weary and disheartened, was about
retracing my steps. when few drops of rain
upon my bonnet, caused me to look up. In
my haste and eagerness, deceived by the OBJ
security OF the wood, l had not noticed the
gradual gathering of ,he storm which now
hurg black and threatening.
had reached little clearing among the
trees, where some wood-cutters had reared
them temporary shelter. 1t was almost
night, yet knew by the looks Of the clouds,
that the storm would not last long, Whether
to wait there until il should have passed over,
or hurry home in the rain, Could not decide.
A: last concluded to do the former.