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

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! would have retreated. but the rain was
now pouring in contents without; and
more than all quick overwhelming sos.
gpicion flashed across my mind. Lucy bad
not been seen since they went away. and
who knew but what they had stolen her
I looked all around. There was no
place for concealDent. unless it was the
chest, and by that Bravo was sfill IDger
ing. scratching i. with his fore paws, and
whining most piteously. x -aial.fi'
With th thatinstinctive cautiousness whicl
comes to persons in sudden emerge '"i",
| called Bravo away;. for the conviction
that | was nearer Lucy than had S,-en
before that evening, settled upon me With
force that | could not shake of, and
must be crafty sl '.a'SAH .'o@'1 Dos e
4 hope my good people,' said T. in a
modifying tone, you. will excuse me il
intrude; but as you see. | am caught 10
the shower and caunot 90 on. May l sit
here = &'5"tat $3.50
And advanced toward the chest q
They had sat staring at me while [
spoke. and apparently no more than half
comprehending what said; but when |
made a movement toward that the ~o-
man. with ferocious scowl, aud an oath
worded in bad English, spraug to inter-
cept me. '~. 7.''s @.'. sf
She was too late. l bad already taken
my seat, aud was unconcernedly stroking
the head of Bravo, who couched, still whi.
ming at my side.
Thrown off her guard, by my apparent
listuess, she returned to her place. and
took up her pipe. Evidently. though she
eyed me narrowly, she had not recogniz-
ed me-
And now heard movement 10 tho
box beneath me. that made my very heart
stand still to li,ten-a movement as of
some living object confined, and feeling
about in its prison. l turned my eyes
carelessly, while STOPPING down, apparent
ly to earess Bravo aud discovered two or
three rows of holes in the side Of the box.
They seemed to have been newly toared
By the little ridges of sawdust that sur
rounded them. Nothing more was need
ed to convince me. Lucy was there, and
those holes were for ventilation
l could hardly restrain my agitation
within bounds. Doubtless she had heard
either my voice or the whining of Bravo,
and had taken the only method in her
power to manifest her presence. Even
then her little heart might be aching with
its burden Of uncertainty, terror aud de-
spair. What could do to save her!
A thousand plans darted through my
head in an instant. My first impulse was
to acuse them to their faces, and bid them
release her on the spot; but desperate as
they would become on the discovery of
their guilt, what mi : ht they not be tempt
ed to do, Ifthey should murder me and
bury NE in the woods, what chance would
either of US have Of icing found, so long
as our whole family and perhaps half the
neig ghborhooi were running hither in
search for Lucy; | knew by the evil ex-
preston of their faces, they would not
hesitate to kill ne, If stood in the way
Of their plans, and it would be the height
of foo! hardness for me to attempt to re-
sist or retain them if they chose to depart,
for either OF them could have mastered
three like me, nersed though | was to
meet the worst elnerge ney ;hat offered it
self
bravo, my good doggy, do you think
you could do an errand tor mel" | said
play checking any expression Of my
emotion by strong effort of will. Bravo
wakged his tail and tarked joyfully.
l took small piece of paper from my
pocket, but found had no pencil. L
had noticed as l came in, place where
fires had been built outside, aud going
out | found bit of charred wood, With
which | returned to my task. NJ COM
panions were cycling me suspiciously. '
"P l.ea-s-e. please bring, bring"
| said spelling aloud as wrote, that they
mi hit her me, ''m.e. an, u b-r.e.l-l.a."
spelled the note one way and wrote
it another. 1t was to my mother and ran
thus. ifa#s1 aal a9t E ss.ea
"Send father and the boys to me with
out delay. think have found lucy. a.
live and we'll. For Heavens sake tell
them to hasten. Bravo will show them
where to find me-" aa9-' C.aa4if" .Il
Folding the almost eligible missise |
put iu Brayo's mouth, telling him to ear
~ it home As if he understood the er-
rand on which he wa. going, aud the re-
suit depending upon the faithful fulfill,
ment of it. he started on bri-k trot
That vas along long time / sat
there waiting for bis return. The evening
9 gathered slowly, till the darkness in the
little cabin become almost impe uetratle.
The rain had leaked down through the
loose board roof, till was WET and chilly
The sobbing of the wind aud rain among
tbs trees, and the low mumbing couver-
sation carried on between my eompanions.
we're the only sounds that interrupted my
drcary aow of thought. What if none OF
the men folks lad returned home! What
if Bravo should lose his note, aud was
forced either to remain there all night, iu
that desolatc and uncomfortable position,
n