The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-09-17
THE LOST ONE RESTORED.
BY PAUL PLUME.

The wind blew fuiiously, and the rain
fell in torrents, when a traveller, one night
in July, was traversing tbIckly-wooded
portion of the country in Missouri He
had ridden all day, and night overlook
him and found him lost in what appeared
an impenetrable forest. The vines and un-
derbush grew SO thickly that he was COM
PEELED to halt, and dismounting from his
beast, sheltered himself, as best he could,
from the storm. His servant, young man
some eighteen years old, accompanied him.
and was very much terrified at the situa-
ti"n in which he found himself, never hav.
ing been outside the limits Of city until
Mr.. Randolph had employed him to accom-
pany him on his journey.
Journeys in those days were generally
made on horseback or stages, for railroads
had not then intersected all parts of our
country as at the present day.
''John," said Mr.. Randolph, 1--WE shall
have to remain here until daylight; there is
no possibility of finding our way in the
Darkness
eff we are on the right road" replied
John, 1--WE must surely be near the cabin
shop"
81 fear,' replied Mr.. Randolph, 1--WE
have lost the road entirely. In fact l am
positive of it. We can do nothing but wait
until it becomes light enough for us to re-
sumo our way"
While Mr.. Randolph was speaking The
wind luled for few moments, and there
came cry that caused John Glover to
start with terror. Mr.. Randolph, who was
crouched beneath tree, started to his
feet and laid his hand on his pistol. Again
the cry broke forth, and Mr. Randolph
commanded John to search in the saddle
bag for box of matches
''It's some wild animal, suppose" said
Glover, his teeth chattering with fright.
'No," replied Mr.. Randolph, whose
practiced ear knew the cries of beasts too
well to be deceived, "'tis a human voice,
and the cry is one of DISTRESS
In few moments Mr.. Randolph had
lighted pocket-lantern and was pecring
about him with John Glover cautiously
standing in the rear. "Follow me-" he
said to Glover, and Immediately he pushed
his way among the bushes, where he lis
tened for repetition of the cry. Once
again it came, and it seemed SO near to
him that he started backward an6 stood
perplexed. Just then vivid flash of light
ming lit up the forest, and he saw some
thing white lying upon the ground, about
dozen yards in his front.
Mr.. Randolph darted forward and seized
the object, which proved, to his astonish-
ment, to be female child Of some eighteen
months old, who was badly bitten in the
shoulder by some wild animal. He took
the little creature to his arms, and carried
her back to where the horses were tied.
If Mr.. Ran dolph could have seen John
Glover's face he would have noticed that
it wore perplexed look but it was dark,
and he could not observe the expression of
his mans countenance.
"WIrat are you going to do with i. ?'' in
quired John.
'That thought was crossing my own
mind at the moment" replied Mr.. Ran
dolph. 81 can scarcely imagine. First
must try and discover who has lost child
in this part of the country, and by that
means endeavor to find the parents Of this
poor little creature
"And suppose you can't find them % sug-
gested John.
"Then suppose shall have to adopt
her as my daughter" said Mr. Randolph.
''But you are not married." said John
Glover.
"And never am likely to be-" responded
Mr.. Randolph, upon whose mind came the
memory Of one he loved who had passed
away from earth and left him lonely man.
eve must not anticipate" he continued.
Tomorrow may:bring the parents of the
child to light"
When daylight came Mr.. Randolph
found that he had wandered good way
eff the road, and the sun was well up ere
he gained the cabin at the edge of the for