Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-12
THRICE LOST
Struggle for a Name.
BY MRS. r. 3. EDISON.
(Wrtxsn Expressly for Ais Rhpsr- Copyright S.
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(Wrinsn Expressly for stis Piper Copyright S.
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CHAPTER Nv.
THE hours slipped away, and 1t was
noon, and, though search had been made
in every direction by the police, as well
as bv Mr.. Anderson and Bradlee, who
could not stay in the house and wait,
though they could do little good, strangers
as they were, still not the slightest trace
of the missing girl could be found. The
landlord of the hotel, Mr.. Gordon, had
thought at first there was no cause for
serious alarm, as the child might have run
into the street, thinking to meet her
adopted father, and getting bewildered,
had been unable to find her way back to
the house. But as the hours slipped
away, and systematic search OF every
street in the city was made, and nothing
was heard Of her, he came the conclusion
that she had got down to the wharf in her
wanderings, and, in some way, fallen into
the water and got drowned. 1t was not
very probable that child like that had
been abducted In city where scores OF
children swarmed in the streets unmo-
Tested every hour in the day. A founding,
too, like this, coming from an Eastern
country town SO far away, perfectly un-
known to a single soul in the city-why,
it was the height of absurdity to fancy
she had been abducted, and so he told the
half distracted Andersons, though his
hypothesis was not particularly comfort.
ing, and poor Myra Anderson only grew
w6iter and more scare-looking when he
preached 1t.
"Viola is accustomed to the water, and
I hardly think she would venture where
there was danger" Mr. Anderson said,
thoughtfully; "still it is not impossible
but she might have attempted crossing
the plank to the steamer, and fallen Oh,
someway."
"But some one would have seen her,
it's likely" interposed Ralph, land rescued
her. don't believe she went near the
everything is always laid to the
water |"
said, smiling at his earnestness You
should pillow the sea, instead OF the
prairie"
quick reply, sudden glow lighting his
face.
Through all the grief and alarm of the
nresent. wild fear tor the future struck
= sudden. deathly chill to Mrs. An
derson's heart. 1t would kill her to have
Ralph 90 to sea! But he would forget
and outgrow this love for the sea when
he was once fairly away from it, she com.
forted herself by saying.
"Perhaps we had better go down to the
shore" Mr.. Anderson said, though
have little idea that it will be OF any
avail"
AT that moment Ned Bradlee opened
the door and looked in.
"Any news!" asked Anderson, anx-
"Wall, no, not ra'ally," he replied,
slowly. "One of them fresh water sailor
chaps says he see girl run down the
wharf to the side of the Caspian that's
the name of the boat we come in-quite
early this mornin'. But he didn't notice
whether she went back, or not, and in
fact he didn't seem to notice much OF any
thing, and l don't b'lieve he could tell
whether she was two year old or twenty
five. Idon't."
"But why didn't you go on board the
boats Maybe she is there" interposed
Ralph.
"Didn't II Though I knowed afore-
hand tLat bright little critter like her
wouldn't be likely to stay there all this
time. Lord wouldn't she made 'em walk
back with her double.quick ?"
but what did they say?" asked Gordon.
90, they didn't know nothin', of course
There wasn't anybody there only four or
five niger gals, and of all the stupid cat
tie 1 ever see, they was the beat. I'm
afraid might ha' sworn at them II ia
staid there two minutes longer-I couldn't
saw for certain. I didn't as it was" he
added thoughtfolly.
81 think we had better 90 down there y
Mr.. Anderson said, putting on his hat.
at won't do any good, Ben, but how.
ever. I don't blame you for wantin' to co.
Bradlee replied. "Poor little Hummin'
Bird |" and he turned suddenly and walked
away to the window, and stood moment
looking out into the busy, hurrying street.
but seeing absolutely nOthing-not even
the great blocks of buildings, or the blue
sky, or the soft spring sunshine.
Slowly and YEARLY the long afternoon
hours dragged on to Myra Anderson
The first excitement of wonder and alarm
had given place to dreadful sinking, dread
and fear. People came and went, but she
sat by the window, gazing steadily into
the street, and starting nervously at every
sudden hustle or stir she saw, fancying II
was some one coming to bring home lit.
tie limp, drenched form, the bright color
all washed out of the dear little face and
the soft lips that had wakened her only
that morning with kisses. Only that
morning! She said it over drearily to her
self, like one talking in his sleep. Gould
It be that all these long, dreadful hours
were only one day. How many and many
the weeks she could remember that had
not seemed one-half as long! Sometimes
some one, thinking to comfort or rouse
her, suggested that it was not as though
it was her own child" and perhaps 1t wai
not but remembering the little grave in
the green shadow of the Plymouth hills
and the little face that faded so early from
earth, she eaid soberly that "there could
be no diffcrence-she knec by experience
Bot she did not remember that it was that
softened the first sorrow, and made it
looking back through the sanctifying vista
of years, seem 50 much less bitter than
this. Viola was lost; her baby God had
s1alIen. and she was safc. This was the &c.