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

THE TIMELY WARNING.
Good night, papa, said a sweet,
childish voice.
| looked down in surprise upon the
little girl that was standing before my
friends knee: for though this was our
first meeting after q separation for
some years, had supposed him to be
ehildless.
She had entered the room so
noiseEessly that until she spoke,
neither of US had been conscious of
her presence.
Good night, my daughter" said
nv host, smile Of infinite tender
ness softening his rather stern feat
ures, and holding out his arms as be
spoke
The child sprang quickly to the
shelter of that broad breast, laying
her soft cheek lovingly against his.
As be held her thus, stroking as
tenderly as a mother might, the
shining hair that mingled with bis
own jetty locks. | thought that ]
had never seen prettier picture.
/ She was in form so petite, with
/ features almost iufantine in their del
icaey of outline, be So strong and
stately; her complexion was exquisite
ly fair and her eyes of the softest
blue, while his were black and pierre
ing, and his face bronzed by the expo
sure to sun and storm incidental to
his adventurous life.
A MISUNDERSTANDING woman opened
the door, pausing upon the threshold
as If reluctant to disturb them.
I As soon as my friend observed her,
be arose, and blessing the child with
a solemnity and tenderness L had
never Witnessed in him before, dis
missed her.
Not your own daughter" | said,
as soon as we were left alone
! "No; but I could not love her bet
ter if she was. She is the most
precious ofall my earthly possessions,
as well she might be. Ny darling
little Kathie she saved my life"
/ What? that slender, delicate ehild?"
/ "Yes; and when she was smaller
and younge than she is now"
Il will tell you how it was, " added
my friend, replying more to the
eager inquiry in my eyes, rather than
to anything | had said 1T is not
long story"
i And pushing toward me a cut
glass dish, of some quaint and curl
Gus pattern filed with heavy clusters
of grapes, my host settled himself
back in his easy chair, and commene-
ed as follows:
/ About two years ago, important
business called me to A., in the
western part Of Canada Partly be-
cause l was more accustomed to that
kind of locomotion. and partly be-
cause public conveyanees in that sec
ton OF the country were slow and
uncertain, | started on horseback
l had been about fortnight on
my way, and was beginning to con-
gratulate myself that | must be near
tie termination of my journey.
1t was near suudown, and the sky
began to lock as if a storm was brew
ing. | had ridden many hours
through rude thinly settled country,
and began to look snxiously about for
some human habitation. 1t was
therefore, with feeling Of relief that
saw a few rods ahead of me, what
seemed to be public house. Itwas
SO long since ! had seen one that, in
spite of its dark, dreary appearances,
it had pleasant look to me.
There were neither trees nor aHy
signs of vegetation around the house,
in front Of which a crazy looking
sign was creaking in the wind that
was rising, upon which was evidently |
once-'Entertainment for Man aHd
Beast, now nearly efaced by expo
sure to the weather
As | rode 20 the door, | saw
stout, middle-aged man sitting upon
the rude porch, cleaning a gun
Good evening, friend,r | said
CaE you tell me how far it is to the
village Of AZ"
The man gave me a quick eompre-
bensive glance, aud then dropped his
eyes.
"It is matter of eight miles," be
replied, Just beyond Black Forest, |
the edge of which you can see from
here
"You had better not attempt it to-
night,n be added, as be saw I hesi- |
tated as whether / had better stop or
push ahead, now that | was so near
nv journeys end "There is a storm
coming up; besides a good many
travellers have been robbed in Black
Forest lately"
II believe | won't risk it then" |
said; "for i have that about me that
shouldn't care to lose"
l recalled afterwards, the sudden
frightening Of the landlords eyes as
said this, but it was SO brief that it
made little impression on me at the
time
Remarking that his hostler had
gone away on an errand. be took
charge of nv horse, and taking my
saddle-bags IN nv hand, | Ientered the
house.
1t consisted Of large Lail, with
good sized room on either side. As
soon "a | sfaDDed in nv attention