Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-06


stuffin the corner. She rose on her elbow
and looked at me with eyes which seemed
poor. Emma's own. She had seen me
but two or three times in her life, yet
recollected me at once.
"Why, Marty, is it your" said I, shak-
ing hands with her. "I haven't dis
turbed you, have I? How do you do?''
She said, "pretty WE'LL and that she
was glad to see me; "for," she added,
with timid glance at her father, 81
don't see anybody now that | used to-
Lonesome, my dear? Well, it's quite
natural, Pm sure. Strange way of tray
cling, isn't it. Quite funny in these
big, white topped wagons. Do you like
! itw
metimes-though / get tired and
want to get out. | wish / might ride on
a horse, as one of them do.'
&C You ridev' said Marriott, with a
coarse laugh.
You're not very strong" l said, "my
dear. Perhaps [ could give you ride
on my black horse-if your father is
willing. Tomorrow, may be. My road
lies with yours for some distance"
She said, with a wistful look, that it
would be very pleasant, and glanced
again in a frightened way at Marriott,
who watched every word. After little
| strolled away to join Miner But when
Marriott thought me out of sight among
the wagons, | heard an oath, blow and
bitter cry from the child; and my
blood boiled in my veins.
could not sleep that nigh t. Marty
Marriott's pitiful face, with it's sad, en-
treating eyes, for forever looking into
mine. [ tossed and tumhled, sat up,
poked the fire, lay down again, and
what? Did l dream? Was it a ghost?
Something came softly, swiftly through
the tall grass-a phantom, a shadow
under the dark purple, starry sky, and
almost touched me as [ lay with the
blood slowly freezing in my veins.
Please get up; please wake up, Mr.
Ransomn' and the faint voice was shaken
with bitter sobbing; like the sob of the
wind on a gusty autumn night. "Please
do wake up and take me away!"
Miner was on his feet, though sleepily,
as | caught the poor little, shivering fig
ure, and felt it to be indeed flesh and
blood. Over the wide, dark prairie slope
she had followed our campfire alone
the pitiful little child-with only God
and the angels to care for her.
What is it my little girl? tell me-"
DO take me away-please do take me
away. [ shall die if you don't take me
to my mammal
'How did you come here with him."
said Herries.
He stole me in the night and made
me stay asleep; and he will kill me. I
don't dare to go back"
up with yer buds, Herries; saddle
up, boys" whispered Miner, hoarsely.
"We'll take the child an clear out. I
can't stand this, you know. Lively,
| boysn
La about ten minutes the horses We're
saddled, and we rode swiftly through
the timber. Marley before me, wrapped
in my blanket [ shall never forget that
ride. Miner led-he knew the country
and Herries brought up the rear. The
stars glinted, the damp night breeze
blew in our faces; the horses never
broke their gallop for miles and miles
over the dark, amending, rolling prairie.
By and by the east turned gray, the west
darker; a long, pale streak Of yellow
trimmed the far-lying swells It turned
rosy; crimson streaks shot up; the stars
paled and vanished-it was day.
Tired, my dear@' for she leaned her
head YEARLY against me.
GA little, little bit. Only don't stop
don't stop yet. We are not yet far
enough away"
Miner turned and shot an incompre-
hensible glance over his shoulder with
out speaking. [ understood. George
Marriott had stolen the child to torment
his wife, and it was quite probable that
he would move heaven and earth for her
recovery. He knew me for friend of
Emma's.
"There's some pretty rough places be-
an hour later when we had halted for
rest, and the child was asleep. "Ef he
kin git an mixing of our route, there's
ways enough to hinder us. We're only
three. Just now it's nearest to Xavier
station, and then to Austin But we
won't go there, as he'll nat'rally think
we will. If the law has judged the chill
dren to his wife, he'll keep out of reach
Of the law-don't you see? Conse-
quently, We'll git round back ards to
Montresa-you don't know it; it's
dirty little Mexican place-then twenty
miles further to-holloW
A peculiar echo resounded from the
rocky mouth Of the pass where we had
camped. We were on the verge of a
mountainous region; had struck west
ward from our original trail.
II rather guess-hold on!" said
Miner. "saddle up, boys before you
wake her. [ didn't camp in this here
place for nothin'. This echos good
warnin', as I've found out afore; an
these rocks don't tell no tales. Pm
goin' ter reconnoitre." And he darted
away, and was back before we had COM
pleted our hasty preparation for de-
parture.
"Jest so. They're in sight. A bit
puzzled-halted to consider" He was
out of breath, and shot forth these ir-
regular sentences in the intervals of sad
ding up. CHOW, then, don't let on
about 'em to her, We know. Wake her
up, Rafe. Times out"
Marty looked frightened and chung to