The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-08-18

nearly y nine, but so small and delicate
was she, that she looked full three
years younger.
In one of the rooms was a large
coarse featured woman, with peculiar
disagreeable expression of counte-
nance, engaged in some domestic du.
ties the other was vacant and enter
ing it, took a seat upon a settee.
The little girl came and stood by
the open door fixing her large earnest
eyes upon me with a mournful intent
ness of expression that 1 never saw in
any child before or slice.
i smiled and held out my hand to
her. To my surprise she came direct.
ly to me.
Touched by that expression of conf.
dence in an entire stranger, no less
than by her exceeding beauty, I took
her upon my lap.
"You are not my papa" she said,
regarding me with the same wistful
look, "but you look like him."
"Where is your papa?" l asked,
more for the sake of talking than be-
cause | cared to know.
The child shuddered and turned
pale.
Just then the landlord entered. He
frowned as his eyes fell upon the 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 used in
spea aking 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 quickserom my
knee and left the room.
After partaking of warm, substan.
tial supper, requested to be shown to
my room, as was desirous Of taking an
early start in the morning.
The room into which the landlord
took me, was an upper one, of good
size and comfortably furnished. l OBJ.
served that there was only one window,
and that one very small and provided
with shutters. .
As was examining my knapsack,
with my back to the door, l heard 8
faint rustic, and turning I saw the lit.
tie gin / had observed below standing
10 the middle OF the room, with an ex-
preston upon her eountenance, which
staaSIS4sme as much as her unexpected
appearance.
"Are you going to stay here to-
night2" she said, in a hurried whis
per.
EYES," 1 replied, wouldn't you like
to have me :"
"No, oh no." she said, witR the
same look and tone, and shudderine
as she spoke. "This is dreadful
place. Don't stayl If you do, they
will kill you just aAthey did"
"Kathie, Kathie" screamed the
landlords wife, "come down here this
minute"
Kathie's eyes dilated with terror
turning she glided from the room d.
quickly and noiselessly as she had en-.
tered it.
Listening, l heard angry voices, be-
low then a sharp cry, ending III Pite
Gus sobs. which gradually died away
as if the child was conveyed to some
distant part of the house..
Filled with indignation and alarm
l opened the door, with the intention
of interfering but feeling upon sec
ond thought how uselss any such at
tempt would be, in my present situa
tiouSI closed it and went to the win
dow, 4 placed my hand upon the
shutaee; they were iron, and firmly
fixed into the easement.
1t did not take me long to decide
what to do. After examining my re.
volver; to see if it was all right,
took my traps and descended to the
bar.room.
The landlord started with an angry
look when he saw me.
"I have concluded to resume my
Journey" l said in as careless a tome
as / could assume. Please bring my
horse directly to the door"
every one to his foncy," said the
man, glancing sharply at me from the
corner Of his eyes; "but l shouldn't
want to pass through the Black Forest
alone such a night as this"
"You forget my trusty friend here. y
! said, touching my revolver signif
cantly as l spoke.
The villain covered for he saw in
a moment, that l understood him.
81 s'pose you know your own bust
ness best" he muttered sullenly, as he
went out for my horse.
1t was with feeling of joy that ]
found myself again in the saddle,
gloomy and lonely as was the way be.