The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-30
The Lost One, Restored.
BY PAUL PLUME.

fell in torrents, when traveller, one
night in July, was traversing a thickly-
wooded portion of the country in Mis-
souri,. He had ridden aliday, and night
overlook him and found him lost i'll what
i appeared All impenetrable forest. The
wines and underbrusn grew so thickly
that.he was compelled to halt, and, dis
mounting from his beast, sheltered HIM
self as best he could, from the storm.
His servant, a young man some eighteen
| wears old, accompanied him, and was
lyery much terrified at the situation in
which he found himself, never having
| been outside the limits OF city until
MIR. Randolph had employed him to ac-
lcompany him Oh his journey.
| Journeys in those days were generally
Imade ON horseback or stages, ,or raiI-
roads had not then lntersected all parts
of our country as at the present day.
John" said Mr.. Randolph, tive shall
lhave to remain here unril daylight.
There is no possibility OF finding our Way
in the darknesS"
"Il we are on the right road" replied
John, tive must surely. be near the cabin
we were told about at the blacksmith's S
shop.
II fear" replied Mr.. Randolph, s'we
have lost the road entirely. Ii, fact, |
I am positive Of it,. We can do nothing
but wait until it becomes light enough
for US to resume our way"
While Mr.. Randolph was speaking the
wind Iulled for Il lew moments, anu there
came Il 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.. Ran
| duIph commanded John TO search in
| the saddle-ba3s Tor box OF malches.
.I's some wild animal, suppose"
said Glover, his teeth chattering with
SNo," replied Mr.. Randolph, whose
pracliceu ear knew the cries Of beasts
100 well to be deceived. "'tis a humans
voice, and the cry is one OF distress"
| LII u few moments Mr. Randolph had
lighted "a pocket-iantern and was peering
about him with John Glover cautiously
standing IN mis- rear. "F0lloW ine,f he
said " Glover, and immediately he
| pushed his way among the bushes, where
he listened 1or d repetition of the cry.
Oace again IL came, and it seemed su
near 10 him that he started back and
| seemed perpleXed. just then u vivid
flash of ligntning lit UP the forest t, and he
saw something wnite lying upon the
ground, about dozen yards in his front.
MIR. Randolph aarted Forward and
sse zed the object, which proved, to his
astonishmeut, to he feaiale cuild oil
some eighteen months old, who was bad
Ily bitten in The shoulder by some wild
animal. He took tne little creature to
lhis arms, and carried her back TO where
the horses were tied.
If Mr.. Randolph cl,lld have seen John
Gloyefs face, he would nave noticed that
lit wore a perpleXed look; but 1t was
ldark, and he could not observe the ex.
Ipression of the man ps.countenance.
| "What are you going 10 do with it?'
Inquired John.
''rhat thought was crossing my own
mind at the moment" replied Mr.. Ran
dolph. Il can scarcely imagine. First
must try and discover who has lost g
lchild in this part OF the country, and by
\ tnat means endeayor to find the parents
OF this. poor little creature"
| land suppose you can't find them ?'
suggested John.
"Tnen suppose shall have to adop1
h.r as my daughter," said MIR. Ran
ldolph. .;...,... ......
"But you are not married." said JOIN
lGlover.
"Aud never am likely 10 be-" respond
ed Mr.. Randolph, upon whosemind came
the memory of one he loved who haC
passed away from earth and left him q
kOnely man.
4 "We must not anticipate" he con
tinued. "To-morrOw may bring the pa
Efents of the child to light"
|. When daylight came Mr.. Randolph
found that he had wandered good way
of the road, and the sun was we'll up ere
he gained the cabin at the edge OF the
lorest. 1t was inhabited by an old
hunter by the name of Stubbs. He gave
Mr.. Randolph. a hearty welcome. and
was not long in preparing breakfast.
"WAl, l never heard OF such a thing
before, '<said Stubbs, looking at the child
with curiosity. 'rhere's no one living
within twenty miles of this place, and
can't imagine how she came in the wood
miles from here, and Dan Neal is ter
miles from him, and that's all the people
there are this side the State line. Nei
ther Bill or Dan is married, and it's pass
ing strange where that young one came
from. .s.,...-
~ wish you to take ride through the
Forest" said Mr.. Randolph to Stubbs
"Take the whole day. to search tol
some person claiming this child. l viii
remain here until your return" and be
placed piece of gold in the hunters
palm.
The suns rays were slanting low
|
Stubbs returned to his cabin.
"Pm afraid you'll have to father thai
young one," he exclaimed, addressing
Mr. Randolph. "Pve ridden nearly forty
miles to-day, and can hear nothing O
anybod who has lost a child. Perhap!
she's been lost purposely."
Mr.. Randolph looked serious. Such al
:. idea had not before occurred to him, bu
from the moment he heard the words o
|, the old hunter he mentally vowed thai
he would adopt the child ii her parent,
were not discovered.
i Seventeen years later. and Madge Ran
dolph, as the foundling was denQminat
ed, had become the reigning belle OF tht
town of L-.
| Mr.. Randolph had an occasion to make
q trip to the State of DoraDgo, in Mexi
co, and for that purpose Joined a party
OF traders who were starting from lnde
pendence. All the men were we'll armed
aud had much experience In Indian fight
ing; so they telt pretty much az ease OF
that score.
After two weeks travel beyont