Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-10-28

coming up; besides, good many
travellers have been robbed in Black
Forest lately
| 81 believe I won't risk it. them
| said for have that about me that ]
should not care to lose.'
81 recalled, afterwards, the sudden
Frightening of the landlords eyes as
said this, but it was SO brief that il
made little impression on me at the
| time.
"Remarking that his hostler hat
gone away on an errend, he took
charge Of my horse, and taking my
saddle-bags in my hand, l entered the
house.
at consisted Of a large hall, with 8
good sized room on either side. A,
soon as stepped in my attention was
arrested by little girl, in spite Of he'
neglected appearance, one of the mos1
perfectly lovely little creatures that
ever saw.
81 learned afterwards that she was
nearly nine, but so small and del
icate was she, that she looked full three
years younger
SIN one of the rooms was large,
coarse featured woman, with peculiar
disagreeable expression of countenance,
engaged in some domestic duties; the
other was vacant and entering it, l
took seat upon settee.
"The little girl came and stood by
the open door, fixing her large, earnest
eyes upon me with mourntul intent
ness of expression that never saw III
any child before or since.
81 smiled and held out my hand to
her. To my surprise she came directly
to me.
"Touched by this expression of con-
fidence in an entire stranger, no less
than by her exceeding beauty, I took
her upon my lap.
"You are not my papa" she said, re-
garding me with the same wistful look,
"but you look like him.
"Where is your papa" I inquired,
more for the sake of talking than be-
cause / cared TO know.
'TLe child shuddered and turned
pale.
Gust then the landlord entered.
He frowned as his eyes fell upon Il Q
child, and looked uneasy.
"You must not trouble the gentle
man" he said, in voice whose harsh'
ness was in marked contrast to the
smooth, oily tones he had uttered in
speaking to me. Get down and 90
into the Kitchen
"The child shrank, in mortal fear,
from that look and in spite of my de-
tanning hand, slipped quickly from my
knee and left the room.
"After partaking of warm, sub.
stantial supper, requested to be shown
to my room, as / was DESTROYS OF
taking an early start in the morning"
"The room TO which the landlord
took me was an upper one. of good
size and comfortably furnished.
observed that there was only one wins
dow, and that one very small, and pro-
vided with shutters.
Gas was examining my knapsack,
with my back to the door, heard a
faint rustic, and turning I saw the lit.
tie girl had observed below standing
in the middle of the room, with an ex-
preston upon her countenance which
startled me as much as her unexpected
appearance.
care you going to stay here to
night?" she said, in hurried whisper.
eyes," 1 replied. wouldn't you
like to have me? rl.e-
sNo, oh, no, she SAID, with the same
look and tone, and shuddering as she
spoke. "This is a dreadful place. Don't
stay: If you do, they will kill you just
as they did ~
"Kathiel Kathie!' screamed the
harsh voice of the landlords wife,
come down here this minute.
Kathie's eyes dilated with terror; and
turning she glided from the room as
quickly and noislessly as she had enter
ed: w
'Listening, heard angry voices be-
low; then sharp cry, ending in pite-
GUS sobs, which gradually died away las
if the child was conveyed to soma dis
tant part of the house.
s'Filled with Indignation and alarm, ]
opened the door with the intention Of
interfering; but feeling, upon the second
thought, how useless any such attempt
would be, in my present situation,
closed it and went to the window.
placed my hand upon the shutters; they
were iron, and firmly fixed in the case.
ment. sea
SIT did not take me long to decide
what to do. After examining my revolt
yer, to see if it was all right, l took m.