The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-10-15
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The FIHELY WARNING.
~ MARY g. HALPINE.

friends knee: for though this was ou
fri meeting after a separation for som
y-ars, had SUPPOSED linn chiIdIess.
She tad entered the room so noise
lr-siy that, until she spoke, neither o
u had been conscious of her presence.
Good night, my daughter" said M
host, "a smile of infinite tenderness soft
eming his rather stern features, and hold
lug out liis arms as he spoke.
rhe child sprang quickly TO the shelter
Of that broad breast, laying hersof cheek
lovingly against his.
As he held her thus, stroking, as ten
derly a a mother might, the shining
hair that mingled with his own jetty
locks, l thought that had never seen a
prettier picture.
She was in form so petite, with fea-
lures almost infantile in their delicacy of
outline, lie so strong and stately; her
complexion was exquisitely fair, and her
eyes of the softest blue, while his were
dark and piercing, and his face bronzed
| by the exposure to sun and storm incl
| dental to his adventurous life.
4 matronly looking woman opened
the door, pausing upon the threshold as
if reluctant to disturb them.
As soon as my friend observed her he
arose, and blessing the child with So
lemiIity and tenderness | had never wit
messed in him before, dismissed her.
mot your own daughter" / said, as
soon as we were left alone.
mo; but l could not love her better
if she was. She is the most precious of
all my earthly possessions, as well size
might be- My darling little Kathie she
s.ved my life
WHAT that slender, delicate childF"
Eyes; and when she was smaller aud
younger than she is now.
81 will tell you how it was, added my
friend, replying more TO the eager inqui-
ry in my eyes, rather than to anything
had said; sit is not long story
And pushing toward Inc a cut glass
dish, of some quaint and curious pattern,
filed with heavy clusters of grapes, my
host settled himself back in his easy
chair, and commenced as follows:
"About two years ago, important
business called lie to 4, in the
western part of Canada. Partly be-
cause | was more accustomed TO that
kind of locomotion, and partly because
public conveyances in that section of
the country we're slow and Uncertain, l
started on horseback.
had been about a fortnight on my
way. and was beginning TO congratulate
myself that I must be near the termina-
ton of my Journey.
1t was near sundown, and the sky be-
gan to look as if storm was brewing.
had ridden many houIs through rude,
thinly settled country, and began to
look anxiously about for some human
habitation. 1t was, therefore, with a
feeling of relief that | saw, ccw rods
ahead of ne, what seemed to be public
house. 1t was so long since ! had seen
one that, in sslte Of its dark, dreary ap
pe.;rance, it had pleasant look to me.
There were neither trees nor am
signs of vegetation around the house, in
front of which a crazy-looking sign Was
creaking in the wind that was rising,
and upon which could be seen few let
ters of what was evidently onoe-'entor-
tainment for Man and Beast, now near
ly effaced by exposure to the weather.
''As rode tothe 3o2r, saw q stout,
middle-aged man sitting upon the rude
porch, cleaning a gun.
Good evening. friend, said. Can
you tell me how far it is to the village of
A.
The man gave me quick, compre-
hensive glance, ard then dropped his
eyes.
1T is matter of eight miles" lie re-
piled; lust beyond Black Forest, the
edge of WHICH yeu can see from here.
''You had better not attempt it to-
night" " lie added, as he saw | was hest
tating as to whether l lad better stop
or push ehead, new that | Was so near
my Journeys end. ''There is a storm
coming up; besides,a good many travel
ers have been robbed in Black Forest
lately
II believe won't risk it, thep," l
said ''for l have that about me that |
should not care to lose"
l recalled, afterwards, th2 sudden
frightening OF the landlords eyes as l
said this, but it was so brief that it made
little impression on Inc at the time.
Reinarking that his hOstler had gone
away au ssn errand, he took charge OF
my horse, and taking my saddle bags in
my hand. entered the house.
1t consisted of a large hall, with a good
siz-d room on either side IS soon as
| stepped IN ny attention was arrested
by little girl, in spite of her neglected
appearance, one of the most perfectly
lovely little creatures that ever saw.
Il learned afterwards that she was
nearly nine, but so small and DELICATE
was she, that she looked full three years
! younger.
In one of the rooms was q large. coarse
| featured woman, with a peculiar disa-
sreeable expression Of cOuutenanee, Ell
gagged in some domestic duties; the 9TH
er WAS vacant, and entering it, took a
| seat upon a settee.
The little girl came and stood by the
open door, fixing her large, earnest eyes
upon me with a mournful intentness of
expression that never saw in any child
before OF since.
! sniled ana held out my hand to her.
To my surprise she came directly to me.
Touched by this expression of conf
dence in an entire stranger, 10 less than
by her exceeding beauty, | took her up
on my lap.
You are not my papa" she said, re.
garding lie with the same wistfuI look,
but you look like him.n
''Where is your papaF' 1 Inquired,
more for the sake OF talking than be
cause | cared to know,
The child shuddered and turned pale
Just then the landlord entered. Ht
frowned as his eyes fell upon the child
and looked uneasy.