The daily gazette., 1875-09-17
The Lost One Restored.
HY PAUL PLUME.

"oouou portion OF tne country IN MI!
souri,. He had ridden all day, and nigh
overlook him and found him lost in wha
appeared an impenetrable forest. Th
vines and underbrush grew 80 thickl
that he was compelled to halt, and dis
mounting from his beast, sheltered him
self the best he could from the storm
His servant, a young man some eiehteel
years old, accompanied him, and wa
very much terrified at the situation i,
which he found himself, never hayin,
been outside the limits of a city unit
MIR. Randolph had employed him to ac
company him on his journey.
Journeys in these days were generall,
made on horseback or stages, for rail
roads had not then intersected all part
Of the country as at the present day.
"John," said Mr.. Randolph, eve shal
have to remain here until after day
light, there is no possibility of findin,
our way in the darkness"
If we are on the right road" replied
John, I'VE must surely be near the cabiI
we were told about at the blacksmith
shop"
II fear" replied Mr.. Randolph. cha
we have lost the road entirely. In fac
| am positive Of it. We can do NOTHING
but wait until it becomes light enough
for us to resume our journey"
While Mr.. Randolph was speaking tn,
wind lulled for few moments, and there
came cry that caused John Glover t.
start with terror. Mr.. Randolph, who
was crouched beneath tree, started t.
his feet and laid his hand on his pistol
Again the cry broke forth, and Mr.. Ran
dolph commanded John to search in tho
saddle-ba for box of matches.
ITS some wild animal, suppose >
said Glover, his teeth chattering with
fright.
NO." replied Mr.. Randolph, whose
practised ear knew the cries of beasts
too we'll to be deceived, "tis human
voice. and the cry is one of distress"
:. In few moments Mr.. Randolph had
lighted a pocket lantern and was peer.
ing about him with John Glover eau.
tlousiy standing in the rear. Follow
me, he said to Glover, and Immediately
he pushed his way among the bushes
where he listened for repetition of the
c-y. Once again it came. and it seemed
SO near to him that he started backward
and stood perpleTed. Just then a vivid
flash OF lighting lit up the forest, and he
saw something white lying upon the
ground about dozen yards in front of
him.
Mr.. Randolph darted forward and
seized the object, which proved to his
astonlshment to be O female child of
some eighteen months old, who was bad
ly 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.
Ii Mr. Randolph 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.
what are you going to do with il ?"
inquired John.
That 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
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 2"
suggested Jonh.
Then suppose shall have to adopt
her as my daughter, said Mr. Randolph.
But you are not married." said John
Glover.
And am never likely to be-" re-
sponded Mr.. Randolph, upon whose mind
came the memory of one ne loved who
passed away from earth and left him a
lonely man.
I'VE must not anticipate" he contin-
ued. Tomorrow may bring the parents
Of the child to light"
When daylight came Mr.. Randolph
found that he had wandered a good way
off the road, and the sun was well up
ere he gained the cabin ut the edge Of
the forest 1t was inhabitated by an old
hunter by the name of Stubs. 4 He gave
Mr.. Randolph "a hearty welcome, and
was not long in preparing breakfast
well, l never heard of such thing
before" said Stubbs, looking at the child
with curiosity. There's no one living
within twenty miles OF this place, and
can't imagine how she came in the wood
Old Bill Swoot's cabin is good twenty
miles from him, and that's all the pee
Neither Bill or Dan is married, and it's
passing strange where that young one
came from."
II wish you to take ride through the
forest" said Mr.. Randolph TO Stubbs.
take the whole day to search for some
person claiming thiA child. | will re-
main here until your return" and he
placed piece Of gold in the hunters
palm.
The suns rays were slanting low
among the trees in the west when Bill
Stubbs returned to his cabin.
I'm afraid you'll have to father that
young one," he exclaimed, addressing
Mr.. Randolph I've ridden nearly forty
miles to-day, and can hear nothing of
anybody who has lost child. Perhaps
she's been lost purposely."
Mr.. Randolph looked serious. Such
an idea had not before occurred to him,
but from the moment he heard the words
Of the old hunter lhe mentally vowed
that he would adopt the child if her pa
rents were not discovered.
Seventeen years later and Madge Ran
lolph, as the founding was demoninated,
had became the reigning belle Of the
town of l..
Mr.. Randolph had an occasion to make
, trip to the State of Durango, in Mexi-
%, and for that purpose joined party
IF traders who were starting from indie
oondence. All the men were we'll armed
md had much experience in Indian
lighting, so they felt pretty much at
ease on that score.
After two weeks travel beyond
5moky-hill Fork they came upon
T. - "a =.