The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-10-26
A MANS MISTAKE.
BY REBECCA FORBES STURGES.

''My Godi My Godl" was all the
stricken, excited man could murmur
audibly, and the words came out from
his lips blasphemously. He pressed the
slight form of an infant against lis broad
breast convulsively, trembling visibly,
like one in an ague, as he gazed upon
the receding form of woman, and that
woman his wife.
He was standing beside the track of
the A. and N. railway, that crossed the
edge of the little town of Haughtonville,
and from the track he had just snatched
this child as the great fiery engine dart
ed by.
eShe must be crazed," be muttcred at
last. "God forgive her-she is MUIR
deress at heart"
He wrapped the child in his coat and
strobe forward like one demented. Five
years married and this was the end, the
bitter end, and nothing to Tighten its
gloom. Six years before he had become
fascinated by the beautiful face of not
ed songstress, and after brief court
ship, they married. But used to excite
ment and adulation, the quiet routine of
their life palled upon her taste, and she
became restless from that time her ex-
istence was scarcely endurable, for she
fretted against the bonds that bound
her. Then an old lover appeared upon
the scene, and there were many gather
ings OF which her husband knew naught
The birth OF her child enraged her, and
she hated the tiny being because it look
ed up TO her with its fathers glowing
eyes, and scarcely ever looked upon it,
On this night her husband had learned
all her falsity and uebraided her in terms
that jealous heart and an enraged hon.
or dictated she vowed to him that she
would leave then end there, that she had
intended to do 30, but before leaving she
would have revenge that would burn
into his heart like hot fire.
Her demoniac looks of fury alarmed
him, and he watched her closely About
he saw her steal forth from the
house, something in her arms pressed
closely to her. He crept out and follow
ed stealthily. She took the most unfre-
quented streets until she reached the
edge of the town, advanced to the car
track-the midnight freight train was
already in view-and threw her burden
directly in front of the great destroyer.
One feeble wall broke from the infants
lips, and the Mortified father just had
time to spring forward and catch the
child from its perilous position before
the train thundered by.
From that night the fate of that un-
happy family was bathed in mystery
they had all vanished, as it were, from
the world at large, and years came and
went their places were filed by others,
and no tidings reached Haughtonville
from either of the trio, until their exist
ence was almost forgotten by all who
had once been relatives and friends.
Sixteen years later Guy Haughton, of
Haughtonville, 81 sprang from his horse,
fettered him to tree, and prepared to
solve mystery.
'The Tangle' was name given to
large, and what seemed inpenetrable
tnicket, that had originally belonged to
the Haughton estate, though lying some
miles away from any habitable building.
About the time of the disappearance of
the party mentioned in the beginning of
the story, it had been sold to stranger,
and cards were posted all around it
warning strangers off the premises.
There was no need to warn the old resi-
dents of Haughtonville, for long, long
years before young Haughton and a
friend had been murdered there, and
the place had been avoided as uncanny
ever since.
Guy Haughton smiled to himself now
as he prepared to enter, thinking how
all his boyhood days he had avoided the
spot as he would pestilence. he tied
a piece of firm cord to the outside edge,
and carried the ball in his hand, a pre-
caution he congratulated himself upon
taking, after he had penetrated a few
rods, for he found it the most unac-
countable, mystifying maze OF trees he
had ever encountered. It was almost as
dark as night, the boughs so interlaced
one another at the top, and the very air
of the place was close and unhealthy.
81 think will go no farther" he So
at last, sick of the adventure.
81 do not believe shall discover any
thing but some black Shiny pool to re-
pay me for my trouble" when suddenly
q sound burst upon his ears that startled
him. 1t was the voice of woman-a
glorious, rich, sweet voice, with tones
softer and clearer than anything he had
ever heard before. He rubbed his eyes
in dazed, bewildered manner. 81 must
be dreaming" he muttered. "I cannot
be under the palace of some enchanted
princess ?"
But no, his ears did not deceive him !;
the voice arose stronger and clearer than
ever, ripping like bird in notes that
showed cultivation as well as natural
talent.
81 must see the singer" he cried.
s.By CAD, this adventure viii be some
thing worth while. after all. -
He kept on his way until the light
grew brighter, and then scene burst
on his sight that would never be forgot
ten.