The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-05-06

4 f-tfr 2 srs
/ Perhaps she has gone into some of tb
neishbors. and they have invited her int
tea. Let's eat supper, aud then she don
come, we'll hunt her up, spoke Caleb
my oldest brother. -, ro.a h.
Tacitly consentiug, We took our seat
at the table, But that was an uuusuall,
quiet meal. 1t was DO common occur
renee to miss the golden head from IT,
foot of the table, and the vacant hisi
chair drawn up. so stiffiy before the uu
used plate and the untouched tum bier o
fresh white milk seemed omiuous of des
olation. There was shade of anxiety
on mothers naturally, serene countenancc
father scarcely spoks during the meal
and could not help glancing often and
wistfully at the open door, hoping every
moment to see it shadowed By the en-
trance of a little dancing figure. which
yet something told me, forbodingly. would
not come. Only my brothers, thinking o1
no possibility Of harm, and with the heal
thy, eager appetite of growing and work.
ing boys, ate with avidity.
Supper over, they went out, taking diff
ferert paths to the neigbbors, and after
clearing away the tea things, We seated
ourselves to wait for them.
The faint shadow of early dusk was
beginning to fall. when Willie returned
Hngeringly toward the house.
Hash t she come yet!' he asked as he
came within hailing distance.
Then | must go right back, be added
IN reply to our anxious mo- Father
and Caleb are waiting Tor me at Mr.
Gould's. They thought they would send
word before they went any further'-a
be ran Oft without stopping to answer our
eager enquiries. ~.
Mr.. Gould's was as far as We had ever
known Lucy to 60 alone, and knew by
the distressed look on mothers counte.
nance that she was getting seriously a.
larmcd.
| could not bear to sit there, with the
dreadful uncertainty of QUO darling's fate
weighing on my heart like ice, and throw.
ing Cd my bonnet and shawl. and bidding
mother keep up good courage, for | was
sure We should find Lucy, l went out in.
to the sober twilight ..- 20
| thought of the we'll in the back yard
and went to it, half expecting, as leaned
over the mossy boards, to see the white
frock and shining hair of my little sister
gleam mp at me from the cool, dark wa.
ters. But no! they were clear and glas-
sy, and silent as ever
[ went into the orchard 1t was de-
serted. even by the robins which had sang
there all the day. | wandered down to
the brook There were the prints of tiny
shoes in the sand, and few witbered
siolets that Lucy bad scattered that af-
ternoon: but through the shallow waves |
could see the CLEAN of the gray pebbles
and the music Of the water as it rippled
over them smote my heart like dirge-
[ leapcd the brook aud walk cd swiftly
and resolutely along the narrow path
that led from it. for every moment the
fear in my heart grew stronger and more
terrible that Lucy was surely lost and |
must help to find her. n Ids e7 - -s
Before NE stretched long strip Of
woodland, and beyond it lay another VIII
lage : the twin to ours, as we Elton peo.
pie used to call it. Perhaps Lucy had
rambled out there, and fallen asleep in.
forest. gif 9g.r G. .aa e- aa9s aoI
The solemn usic of the trees, as their
leaves ru'tlcd iu the evening wind, and
the gray gloomy light that pervaded the
wood. chilled me with an overpowering
sense Of loneliness, but hurried on per.
severipgly. A light pattering step among
the leaves by my side startled me. I
turned, with quick outstretcbing of m y
arms, and my heart leaping to NY throat.
1t was only Bravo, who had followed me
thus far. Hlt" 4s7s eT5 aa9.
For long time I wandered about,
searching among the trees, and calling
Lucy by her name. Weary and di>hear-
tened, 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 obscurity of
the wood, had not noticed the sradual
gathering of the storm which now hung
black and threatening. ai.7 e#s1@t7 NJ
| had reached a littio clearing among
the trees, where some wood cutters lad
reared a TEMPORARY shelter. 1t was al
most 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
10 the rain | could not decide. At last |
concluded to do the former. H,
Quickening my pace. I soon reached
the rude hut that stood like rough her.
NIT alone in the wilderness. What was
my surprise, as | stepped upon the tbres-
hold, at hearing voices. Seated on the
ground, with their backs to the entrance
some su.picious looking food spread
upon their laps, and with couple of we'll
filed pipes laying beside them, waiting
to be used-sat a man, whom | at once
recognized as the organ grinder and his
mate, who had stopped at our house that
afternoon. " A2y4sHia .aa -
Cite eout. ye baste 7 screamed the wo-
~ n