Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-05-31

hand which held the boats together is
gone.
Saved by Flash Of Lightning.
My name is Hunt. Yes, sir; Anthony
Hunt. am settler and drover on this
Western prairie. Wilds? Yes, sir; its
little else than wilds now, but you should
have seen it when I and my wife first
moved up here. There was not house
within sight for miles. Even now We
have are downright good ones. To ap-
have not many neighbors; but those We
preciate your ncighbors as you ought,
sir, you must live in these lonely places,
so far removed from the haunts of man.
What am about to tell Of happened
ten years ago. was going to the dis
liant town, or settlement, to sell some
fifty head of cattle-tine creatures. sir,
as ever you saw. The journey was a
more rare event with me than it is now
and my wife had always plenty Of COM
missions to charge me with in the shape
of dry goods and groceries and such like
things.
Our youngest child was sweet little
gentle thing, who had been named after
her aunt, Dorothy. We called the child
Dolly. This time my commission included
one for her-a doll. She had never had a
real doll; that is, a bought doll; only the
rag bundles her mother made for her.
For some days before my departure the
child could talk of nothing elsc-or we,
either, for the matter of that for she was
a great pet, the darling of us all. 1t was
to be big, big doll, with golden hair
and blue eyes. l shall never forget the
child's words the morning was starting,
as she ran after me to the gate, or the
pretty picture she made. There are some
children sweeter and prettier than others,
sir, as you can't but have noticed, and
Dolly was one.
"A very great big doll, please, daddy"
she called out after me; "and please
bring it very soon.'
turned to nod yes to her as she
stood in her clean, withey-brown pinafore
against the gate, her nut-brown hair fall
ing in curls about her neck, and the light
breeze stirring them.
"A brave DOLL" answered. "for my lit
tie one-almost as big as Dolly"
Nobody would believe, dare say, how
full my thoughts were of that promised
doll, as rode along, or what nice one I
meant to buy. 1t was not often l spent
money in what my good thrifty wife
would have called waste; but Dolly was
Dolly, and I meant to do it now.
The cattle sold, went about my pur-
chases, and soon had no end of parcels to
be packed in the saddle-bags. Tea, SUI
gar, rice, candles-but I need not weary
you, sir, with telling of them. together
with the calico for shirts and nightgowns,
and the delaine for the children's new
frocks. Last Of all, went about the doll
and found beauty. twas not as big
as Dolly, or half as big; but it had faxen
curls and sky-blue eyes; and by dint Of
pulling wire you could open or shut the
eyes at will.
do it up carefully" said to the
storekeeper my little daughter would
cry sadly if any harm comes to it."
The day was pretty we'll ended before
all my work was done; and just for mo-
ment or two hcsitated whether should
not stay in the town and start for home
in the morning. 1t would have been
the more prudent course. But / thought
Of poor Dolly's anxiety to get her treas
ure, and of my own happiness in watch
ing the rapture in her delighted eyes. So
with my parcels packed in the best way
they could be, mounted my horse and
started.
1t was as good and steady horse as
you ever rode, sir; but night began to set
| in before was we'll mile away from,
the town; it seemed as if it were going to
be an ugly night, too. Again the
thought struck me-should 1 turn back
and wait till morning? / had the price
of the cattle, you see, sir, in my breast
pocket; and robberies, aye, murders also,
were not quite unknown things ON the
prairies. But had my brace of sure
pistols with me and decided to press on
ward.
The night came ON rs dark as pitch, and
part. of the way my road would be pitch
dark besides. But on that score had no
fear; knew the road we'll, every inch Of
it, though could not ride so fast as
should have done in the light 1 was
about six miles from home, Isuppose, and
I knew the time must be close upon mid
night, when the the storm which had been
brewing broke. The thunder roared, the
rain fell in torrents; the best could do
was to press onward in it.
| All at once, az rode on, cry startled
me; a faint, wailing sound, like the cry Of
a child. Refining up, sat still and lis
tened. Had l been mistaken No, there
| it was again. But in what direction
could not tell. I couldn't see thing. 1t
was, as have said, as dark as pitch.
Getting off my horse, felt about, but
could find nothing. And while 1 was
seeking the cry came again-the faint
moan Of child in pain. Then / began
to wonder. am not superstitious, but
asked myself how it was possible that a
child could be out on the prairie at such
an hour and in such night. No; real
child it could not be.
Upon that, came another thought, one
less welcome: Was it q trap to hinder
me on my way and ensnare met There
might be midnight robbers who would
easily hear Of my almost certain ride
home that night and Of the money ]
should have about me.
don't think, sir, am more timid than
other people; not as much 80, perhaps, as
some; but I confess the idea made me
uneasy. Ny best plan was to ride on a.
FIST a. I could and get out Of the mystery
into safe quarters. Just here was about
the darkest bit of road in all the route.
Mounting my horse, / was about to urge
him on. when the the crv came again. II