The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-27
smoutA s ysrr'H'r Adoption.

ooh, father, Eva is losty' al
Such was the exclamation of John, my
Youngest brother, as, out of breath from
running, and wild with excitement, he
dashed into the kitchen, where we sat round
the breakfast table in our new home in
Western Canada.
eva lost /! Explain yourself2" said faith
cr, turning quickly to him.
John dropped into a chair, gave gasp
or two to recover breath sufficient to speak,
and said: you know she went with me
after the cows. They were offin the woods,
and 1t was night by the time we found theni
We were driving them home, and just got
10 the edge of the woods when, Of sudden,
felt her hand withdrawn from mine.
Then began searching for her, but in
vain; she had mystcrionsly disappeared.
Once, rs was leaving the spot thought
heard little cry, and called to her but
received no answer"
We were all very much startled at this
hit of news. The girls fell to weeping
and mother, showed signs of relapsing into
h, stories, while father, Fred and | stared
blankly into each others faces.
Eva, the bright, fairy, litrlc thrce-year-
old net of the whole family. gonc--lost:
impossible.
"Did you make . thorough search for
Her! Hshtu lltlltIs uNllltsSlilS JbIlili
"Ycs--as complete as I could"
well we must look for her." said he,
rising to his feet Light the lantern boys,
and prepare to follow me. Wife, you and
the girls stay here till we get back. Wen
doubtlt SIS find the child"
We left the house, and proceeded to the
spot where John (who accompanied us) said
he had missed Eva. Holding the lantern
close down to the earth we commenced n
diligent search for the little child; but all
in vain. Not one trace Of her could we
discover. At last, when it was near midi
night, wearicd with our iruitlc-s quest we
returned to the house.
\ slceplcss night | passed. Eya's face
was ever before me-that sweet, childish
face, with its wealth of golden hair and its
large blue eyes. Should | ever sec it
again?
Day broke. and, ere the sun passed over
the eastern horizon, |, accompanied by the
whole tamily. was at the edge of the wood,
,carching for lost Eva. Vain search. Not
even n Footprint Of the little ohc could we
discover
And SO the days passed ill imonlh had
down by. bn, still no clue "t the missing
Eva.
Mother WAS taken i'll. The physician
wa, summoned, and pror ouncci her in Il
dangerous state. She grew rapidly worse,
and the doctor finally gave mp all hope. If
her recovery.
THE uncertainty Of her daughter fate
j. killing her" was his decision
One day. at dusk, n, | was wandering
aimlcssly through the woods, near where
Eva had disappeared, q low cry suddenly
brought me TO stand-still. ! listened.
The cry was repeated. Good heavens !
| Iraan,innr Tho xvaa Exn'a
But from whence did it come a.? glanced
around. Nothing met my gaze but forest
of trees, and a few birds and squirrels skip
ping about on the branches. Again | lis
tened, then, rs the cry was repeated.
gave a start of surprise. 1t seemed to come
from directly under my feet.
Here was plenty of food for thought.
Where was Eva, that l should hear the
sound Of her voice under the earth on which
was then standing?
While I was thus celebrating. Il shaggy
head was suddenly thrust up out of the earth
Il short distance away, and the next instant
the shoulders and body of large gray wolf
followed. The animal paused a moment to
shake ITSELF and then trottcd leisurey off
through the forest. 1t did not observe me,
as was standing in the shadow Of large
oak.
/ ran forward to the spot where it had en-
erged from the earth
A large black hole, fringed at the mouth
With some bushes and heavy growth of
grass, was what saw and while l knelt
beside it, q low, faint cry reached my ears
Like lightning the whole truth in regard to
Eva and her mysterious disappearance burst
upon me. She was at the bottom of the
hole, in the den Of the wolf
His woltship had doubtless found her ly.
ing on the ground the night she was ost,
and taken her to his den to adopt her AS
one of his cubs. Wolves frequently do
such things, especially when they have lost
their own young.
Now the question arose, how shall get
her out? To be sure / might light one of
the lucifer matches l carried in my pocket
and go down for her; but suppose there
was another wolf within? had revolver
but, even with that, it would be ticklish
matter for me-a youth of seventeenth to
beard wolf in his den.
"Shall go DOWN." | glanced nervously
into the Stygian darkness as put that ques-
ton to myself
l thought of home-of my father-my
poor sick mother, whose life might even
now be saved, were her child .orcd to
her. The thought gave me courage.
eyes, will go down, wolf or no wolf, "
concluded, resolutely, drawing my re-.
volver and matches from my pocket.
One of the matches lighted, and then,
with my cooked revolver in my hand,
began crawling into the cave. Once /
paused, irresolute, my knees beginning to
tremble; but then setting my teeth firmly
together, l pressed on. A little further,
and my heart gave great bound as l saw
curled up on pile of leaves at the bottom
animal of any kind was visible.
Tenderly lifted her up and kissed her
pale checks, The soft blue eyes opened
Walter" came in lisping whisper
from between the quivcring lips.
ayes, dear" / said. "IIush. don't cry
til get you out Of this horrid place"
She wound her chubby arms around my
neck, and nestled closely against my breast.
Turning, | began slowly 10 crawl ont of
the den.
had nearly reached the mouth, and was
beginning to congratulate myself on not
meeting with the wolf, when, CHANGING 10
lift my head, | saw sight that fairly froze
the blond in my veins with a fear and hor-
.-r ron. .--
Standing az the mouth of the den was the
wolf, his lips wide apart, revealing n double
row of long, sharp-looking fangs, his eyes
glowing down upon me like balls of fire
For moment was as one parayzcd;
bnt only for moment. Tho next, and
had taken aim with my revolver at the
brute and pulled the trigger.
A report that fairly stunned me. The
Of n f.Il