Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-06-29
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Good night, papa" said sweet
childish voice.
/ looked down in surprise at the
little girl that was standing at my
friends knee; for though this was
our first meeting, after a separation
of some years, had supposed him to
be childless.
She had entered the room so noise
lessly that, until she spoke, neither
of us had been conscious Of her pres
ence.
Good night, my daughter said
my host, smile of infinite tenderness
softening his rather stern features,
and holding out his arms as he
spoke.
The child sprang quickly to the
shelter of that broad breast laying
her soft cheeks lovingly against Lis.
As he held her thus, stroking ten
derly, as mother might, the shining
hair that mingled with his own jetty
locks, thought that / had never seen
a prettier picture.
She was in form so petite, with
features almost infantile in their del
icacy OF outline, he so strong and
stately; her complexion was exquis-
itely fair, and her eyes of the softest
hue, while his were black and pierre
ing, and his face bronzed by expo
sure to the sun and storm incidental
to his adventurous life.
A matronly-looking woman opened
the door, pausing upon the threshold,
as if reluctant to disturb them
As soon as my friend observed her,
he arose. and blessing the child with
solemnity and tenderness 1 had
never before witnessed i'm him before.
dismissed her.
"Not your own daughter?" / said,
as soon as we were left alone
No; but / could not love her bet
ter if she were. She is the most
precious of all my earthly posses
sions, as well she might be. My dar-
ling little Katie! she saved my lifel"
What that slender, delicate
child?"
Il will tell you how it was" added
my friend, replying more to eager in
quiries in my eyes than to anything
L had said. 1T is not a long story"
And pushing toward me a cut
glass dish, of some quaint and Gu
rious patterns filled with heavy clus-
ters of grapes. my host settled him
self back in his easy chair and COM
menced as follows:
About two years ago important
business called me to A, i'm the
western part of Canada. Partly be-
cause l was more accustomed to that
style OF locomotion, and partly be-
cause public conveyances in that sec
ton OF the country were slow and un.
certain, L started on horse back.
/ had been about a fortnight on my
way, and was beginning to congratu-
late myself that L was near the ter
mination of my journey.
1t was near sundown, and the sky
began to look as il storm was brew
ing. / had ridden many miles
through rude, thinly settled habi-
tation. 1t was, therefore, with
feeling OF relief that / saw, few
rods ahead of me, what seemed to be
"a public house. 1t was so long since
L had seen one, that in spite of its
dark, dreary appearance, it had
pleasant look to me.
There were neither trees nor any
sign OF vegetation around the house,
in front OF which a crazy looking
sign was creaking in the wind that
was rising, and upon which could be
seen few letters Of what evidently
once was-"E Entertainment for Man
and Beast" now nearly effaced by ex-
posure to the weather.
As l rode to the door, saw a stout
middle-aged man sitting on the rude
porch cleaning gun.
"Good evening, friend" / said
"Can you tell me how far it is to the
village of A-?"
1T is matter of eight miles," he
replied; "just beyond the Black
Forest, the edge of which you can
see from here. You had better not
attempt it to- night" as he saw / was
hesitating as to whether had better
stop or push ahead, now that was so
near my journeys end. "There's a
storm coming up; besides a good
many travellers have been robbed in
the Black Forest lately"
Il believe L won't risk it then" /
said; "for have about me that which
L wouldn't care to lose"
L recalled afterward the sudden
Frightening of the landlords eyes as
/ said this, but it was so bIief that it
made little impression on me at the
time.
Remarking that his hostler had
gone on an errand, he took charge of
my horse. and taking my saddlebags