Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-09-10

my heart grew stronger and more terri,
BILE. Lucy was surely lost, and | mus,
help to find her.
Before me stretched long strip Of
woodland, and beyond it lay another vii
lage-the twin to ours, as we Elton peo-
pie used to call 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 gray, gloomy light that pervaded the
wood, chilled me with an overpowering
sense of loneliness but l hurried on per-
severingly. A light, pattering step
among the leaves by my side startled me.
| turned, with quick outstretching OF
my arms, and my heart leaping to my
throat, It was only Bravo, who had fol-
lowed me thus far. =, ..g.r
For a long time wandered about,
searching among the trees, and calling
Lucy. by her name. Weary and dis
heartened, l 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, had not noticed
the gradual gathering of the storm which
now hung black and threatening.
had reached little clearing among
the trees, where some wood cutters had
reared them a temporary shelter. Itwas
almost night, yet knew by the looks of
the clouds, that the storm would not last
long. Whether to wait there until it
should have passed over, or hurry home
in the rain, 1 could not decide At last
| concluded to do the former.
Quickening my pace, l soon reached
the rude hut that stood like rough her.
init alone there in the wilderness. What
was my surprise, as stepped upon the
threshold, at hearing voices? 1t was too
late to retreat, however. Seated on the
ground, with their backs to the entrance
some suspicious-looking food spread
upon their laps, and with a couple of
well-filled pipes lying beside them, wait
ing to be used-sat man and woman,
whom L at once recognized as the organ
grinder and his mate, who had stopped
at our house that afternoon.
Git eout, We baste screamed the wo-
went smelling around, and stopped with
a low whine in front of small, rough
wooden chest which stood near.
Neither of them had as yet perceived
me, but as the man aimed cold bone he
had been picking, at Bravo's head, |
sprang forward. He leaped to his feet,
and the look of mingled malignity and
confusion that crossed his features, fright
ened me. | would have retreated, but
the rain was now pouring in torrents
without; and more than all, a quick,
overwhelming suspicion flashed across
my mind. Lucy had not been seen since
they went away, and who knew but what
they had stolen her.
looked all around. There was no
place for concealmcnt, unless it was the
chest, and by that Bravo was still linger-
ing, scratching it with his fore paws, and
whining most piteously.
With that instructive cautiousness
which comes to persons in sudden emer-
gencies, | called Bravo away for the
conviction that was nearer Lucy than l
had been before that evening, settled up
on me with force that Icould not shake
off, and I knew I must be crafty.
Il hope, my good people. said |, in
] modifying tone. you will excuse me if l
intrude but, as you see. am caught in
the shower, and cannot 60 on. May | sit
here p
And l advanced toward the chest.
They had sat staring at me while |
spoke, and apparently not more than hall
comprehending whatI said but when !
made movement toward that, the wo-
man, with ferocious scowl, and an oath
worded in bad English, sprang to inter-
cept me.
She was too late. had already taken
my seat, and was unconcernedly stroking
the head of Bravo, who crouched, still
whining, at my side.
Thrown off her guard by my apparent
listlessness, she returned to her place, and
took up her pipe. Evidently, though she
eyed me narrowly, she had not recog
nized me-
And now heard a movement in the
box beneath me, that made my very hear
stand still TO listen---a movement as O
, some living object confined. and feeling
about in its prison. ! turned my eyes
earalasclv while stoopinO down anna