The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-09-14
KATY DID FIND THE BEARS HOUSE.

"Where you dom, Tousin Taty 2"
piped tow-headed urchin, as he hung
upon the gate, beside which stood q
handsome horse, whose flashing eyes,
small, nervous ears, and restless motions
spoke as plainly as words his impotence
to be going. His chestnut coat was like
satin; dark in the shade, but with a
golden glint in the sun.
'eTousin Taty" came sweeping down
the path, in trailing habit, high hat and
riding gloves, and giving the tow-head
tweak of the nose and kiss, replied
mischievously. "Doin toe woods to
fnd'9 Bears House"
"Don't go far, Katy, called the moth
er of the urchin, from the house door.
F'These Jersey woods roads are all alike,
and you are a perfect stranger, you know,
and it will be the easiest thing in the
world for you TO get lost. And il you
should, you might ride for hours with
out seeing house or any person to di-
rect you home f"
Oh, there's not bit OF danger,
aunty. IF l should get lost, which [
don't propose TO do, the horse won't.
He'll bring me back all right. Won't
you, old fellow ?"-stooping from her
saddle and patting his glossy neck.
g You'll not see me again till tea time,
mind that" she shouted back, as she
cantered gaiIy away.
There was a hint of rain in the soft
moist October air, and in the light clouds
that at times hid the face of the sun
but to Katy, fresh from the prairie coun-
tries of the West, there was some
thing so new and delicious, and allur-
ing in the shadowY stiffness of the
pines, their murmurous whispering, and
spicy breath. that she rode on and on,
oblivious alike of time and distance ;;
now threading some old unused twood
road, !" q winding avenue, shut in over
head by interlacing branches, and car
peted underfoot with the " needles Of
the pine, and now emerging suddenly
into a grassy Opening-once a cultivated
field-with the remains of a human hab-
itatIon yet visible-a heap of broken
bricks. an old well, an apple tree or two,
and 0 clump of sweet briar-and then
plunging again into the pleasing gloom
of the pines. Once or twice she passed
house with few sandy fields about it,
and ragged, sunburnt children playing
upon the roadside.
She bethOught herself at last to look
at her watch, and was thunderstruck to
find that she had been out two hours,
and that it was past 4 o'clock. Her
aunt's tea hour was 5, so quickly turning
her horses head, she gave him the rein
and began retracing her steps, Gliding
herself severely for the anxiety which
her long absence would cause her aunt.
''Come, Barney, my lad I" said she,
: let us get home, now, as quickly as we
can. Wen leave the bears house till
another time. 1t was your part Of the
contract to take me home, you remem-
ber; SO the responsibility of our get
ting there safely, rests entirely upon
you. [ wash my hands of the affair
altogether"
And we'll she might, for she was per-
fectiy at loss herself as to the direc-
tlon, even, she ought to take; for, dur
ing the last hour, the clouds had been
gradually thiekening, SO that now the
sun WIS totally obscured. After riding
half an hour or SO, she began to suspect
that they were not upon the road over
which they had just past She soon be-
came assured Ct it, But what Of
that 2" she reasoned. There are so
many roads, and they ali run into or
cross each other, sometime or other. It's
all right, dare say, Barney knows, Of
course and we'll he home all in good
time Y t-and none too soon either ;"
she addict, glancing up at the clouds,
for it Wi ram within half an hour, or
I'm mistaken
An0thf.9. i,aif bo11r ne hr;sLr >; !ino
and still no familiar landmark appeared.
Ka5as dark brown eyes widened little
with the unc- rtaintg of the situation,
but she was not in the least disrnayed.l
she had long ago. by her ready wit,
presence of mind III Ter difficulties, and
ability to g take care of hersalf, " earned
the sobriquet among her friends, OF
Kate the Daun'l 81 ;" and now, al
though she realized That she had been
guilty OF very foo lii ihingin thus ven-
turing into Strange country, trusting
TO the sagacity of her horse TO guide her
back, Still she iei5 M fear and even
thought she would rather enjoy an adj
venture of some kind. one that she could
afterward relate-so that 1t did not prove
of too serious a nature. So she dashed
boldly on, wherever Barney's inclination
directed. 1t was near sunset when they
merged into well-traveled but rather
narrow and sandy roadway. Here Bar
ney halted, raised his head and gave
voice TO loud and joyful neigh, and
then dashed off along the sandy track at
the very top of his speed.
"Good /" CALCULATED Katy, thinking
they we're nearly home at last; but what
was ! or surprise when In about ten
ies time she suddenly found her