The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-05-05

swell, my boy, what brings you here 2"
81 came, sir" replied the lad, con ac-
count of that child"
"Did the mother send you 70
''No-the mother is dead
''How is that 81
swell, sir, when the alarm of the at
tack was given last night, poor Mrs.
Webber was frightened nearly to death
She sprang from her bed, and, forgetting
her little one entirely, she ran into the
cellar for safety. 1t was not long after
before she discovered the building was on
fire, and then she thought of her child. =
She made an effort to return for it, but a
faintness came over her, and for a time
she could not move. But she rallied and
staggered forward only TO fall from suffo-
cation. And there she perished.''
GLOW do you know this
81 was sleeping in the same apartment
with Agnes. When she ran 10 the cellar
l followed. l was as much frightened as
herself, and only thought of the child
when the mother spoke of her. l tried
to save my sister but 1 had only time TO
! crawl through window and save my
own lile''
care you the brother of Agnes Web.
ber ?''
'You can see that I am if you ever
met Agnes, by my strcns resemblance to
her"
''The resem blance is a striking one, l
confess. But where was the husband of
your sister.?''
''He went to the mountains for hunt
several days since, and had not returned
last night
''Well, what do yo1 want with me 2"
81 knew you had the child, for | saw
1t in your arms last, and | heard it cry
as you passed by me. was too much
frightened to speak to you then. But
when | came to think, didn't know why
you should wish to harm me or to keep
the babe, and SO / resolved to come to
you and ask for it
"What will you do with the brat -
81 really don't know but | am the
uncle of the little one and of course,
must do all | can for it, for | think its
father must have already been killed.
Then the best thing can do with this
little whel is TO dash its brains out against
| a tree said the monster, raising the child
by one foot, and making a movement as
if to put his suggestion into execution =
But the boy sprang forward, and catching
the infant in his AIMS, he cried:
so no! Don't harm the innocent
thing She will be woman some day,
and then you might be glad you let her
live"
''True, true-I never thought OF that"
continued the fiend. ''And she may look
like her mother. 1t is a long time to
wait, and shall be old then. But the
death of the brat will do me no good now,
and I'll let her live, if don't change my
mind. Still l cannot help cnrsing myself
for permitting Agnes to slip through my
fingers. l loved her as much as | could
love anybody; and if l had only been
more careful, | might have made her
mine.''
For some moments the villain remained
silent and thoughtful then he turned to-
ward the boy and exclaimed
''1 ou NAV be deceivin9 me. If thought
you were, ! would dash your brains out
| in an instant"
| DecelV!ng you IN what, sir z!
"Agnes may not be dead"
''You can satisfy yourself about that :"
s'How can | do so %
$50 with me an6 see the body your
SELF"
''How can this be IF it was in the
cellar, as you say, it is burnt to cinder
by this time"
''No. When drew it from the burnt
! timbers this morning there was still
enough left to recognize it by. Poor girl
"a smile was resting upon her face,
blackened as it was"
$50 you found the body 2"
eyes"
'tAnd drew it out 60
''1 did,
EWhat did you do with it ?"
81 placed it in the barn. I did not
know but her husband might be back in
few days, and l knew he would want
to see it when he came.'
Show many men are at the rancho, or
where it stood -
"Not one. They were all killed last
night -
els it possible that the father of this
child may be back by this time :"
''Yes, it is possible"
''Well, will take my warriors, and go
TO the barn. I will satisfy myself that
Agnes is dead, if such is really the case.
But it will be sorry deception for you,
if find that you are deceiving me-"
''Come on, and you will find it as tell
you. will carry the child. The little
thing is frightened when in your arms;
and if it cries, which it is sure to do, the
Indians may get angry and kill it,
Very well-you can hold the brat J"
Several of the savages were so drunk
that they were not able to walk, or even
stand alone, and these had to be left be-
hind. But Nathans started on his return
! TO the scena of the murder ACCOMPANIED