The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-08-11

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In one of the rooms was large,
coarse featured woman, with a peeu-
liar disagreeable expression Of eoun-
.tepance, engaged in some domestic
duties; the other was vacant, aud
entering it | took seat upon the set
tee.
The little girl came and stood by
the open door, fixing her large earn
est eyes upon me with mourBful IN
tentness or expression that | never
saw in any child before 0; since
/ smiled and held out my hand to
her. To my surprise she came di-
rectly to me.
Touched by this expression of con-
fdenee is an entire stranger, no less
than by her exceeding beauty, | took
her upon my lap.
"You are not my papa" she said,
regarding me with the same wistfuI
look, ~but YOU look ike him"
"Whe,e is your papa?n / inquired
more for the sake of talking than be-
cause | cared to know
The child shuddered and turned
pale
Just then the landlord entered
He frowned as his eyes fell upon the
child, and looked uneasy.
"You must not trouble the gentle
man; be said, in voice whose harsh
ness was in q marked Contrast to the
smooth, oily tones be had used 10
speaking to me. iGet down and 20
into the kitchen. +"
The child shrank, in mortal fear,
from that look; and in spite Of 10y
deeaining hand, slipped quickly from
my knee and left the room.
After partaking of q warm, sub
stantial supper, ! requested to be
shown to my room as l was desirous
of taking an early start in the morn
ing.
The room into which the landlord
took me, was an upper one, OF good
size and comfortably furnished /
observed that there was only one
window, and that one very small
and provided with shutters.
AsI was examining the knapsack,
with my lack to the door, / heard a
faint rustic, and turning / saw the
little girl / had observed b-low,
standing in the middle of the room,
with an expression on her counte-
nance, which startled me as much as
her unexpected appearance.
Are you going TO stay here to-
night - she said in q hurried whis-
per.
Yes" l replied, wouldn't you Ike
/ to have me ?"
"No, oh mo- she said with the
same look and tone, shuddering as
she spoke. This is a dreadful place.
Don't stay. If you do they will kill
you as they did"
"Kathie, Kathie,n screamed the
harsh voice of the landlords wife,
"eome down here this minute"
Kathie's eyes dilated with terror;
turning she glided from the room
as quickly and noiselessly as she en-
tered
Listening, heard angry voices be,
low; then a sharp cry ending in pite.
Gus sobs, which gradually died
away as if the child was being con-
veyed to some distant part Of the
house.
! Filled with indignation and alarm,
I opened the door with the intention
of interfering, but on second thought
how useless any such attempt would
be, in nv present situation, | closed
it and went to the window.
l placed my hand upon the shut
ters; they were iron, and drmly fixed
into the easement.
1t did not take me long to decide
what to do. After examining my
revolver. to see If it was all right, |
took nv traps and descended to the
bar-roOm.
The landlord started with an angry
look when be saw me-
Il have concluded 10 resume my
Journey" / said in as careless a tone
as could assume. please bring
nv horse directly to the door,
Every man to his fancy" said the
man, glancing sharply az me from
the corner of his eyes ''but | shouldn't
want to pass through Black Forest
alone such a night as this"
"You forgot nv trusty friend here. "
l said, touching my revolver signif7
cantly as spoke.
The william covered; for he saw in
a moment that l understood him
Il suppose you know your own
business best,n be muttered sullenly
as he went out for my horse.
1t was with feeling Of joy that |
found myself again in the saddle,
gloomy and lonely as was the way be-
fore me. Yetmy thoughts reverted sad
Iy 10 the sweet child to whose timely
warning | owed so much. l deter
mined to obtain a search warrant
and rescue her, if possible from the
cruel hands Of those whom felt
could have no legal claim on her.
| soon struck into the Black Forest
which was composed principally Of
fir and pine, and to whose dark foil
age it doubtless owed its name.
But sooR the faithful creature that
had never failed me before, began TO
halt. and finally became SO lame as
to be unable to proceed further. Sus-
peeting some treachery, / dismount-
ed.
The sky had partially cleared, and
the moon had risen, but it gave only
a faint light, and now had entirely
disappeared under cloud But
striking a match, discovered that
two sharp PEBBLES had been skillfully
inserted into one of the fore boots,
and which had been driven with
every step further into the bone. |
succeeded in dislodging one, bat tie
other deied all my efforts. So tying
TIE animal to tree, | determined TO
proceed on foot
| had hardly done so when | heard
the quick sound of horses feet.
along the road. l stepped back in
the shadow of the tree, and looked