Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-03

He set out at once, with Albert, in quest Of
the truants; and Mrs. Forester, after walk.
ing about the piazza for little while, and
watching, in vain, for their return, grew toe
restless to wait longer; and putting scarf
over her head, sailed forth in the same dl'
rection, in order to putan end, the more quick
ly, to her suspense.
It was now quite late, and she was terrified
to think of her little ones being astray amid
the dusky shadows of the wood. She ven
tured in as far as she could trace the path,
then stopped and called aloud. There was
an answering call, and Albert came running
"Have you found them ?" was the question
asked by each of them in the same breath, and
the same answer, mo" was returned by each.
Papa and I have looked everywhere.
mamma, and called and whooped just as loud
as we could, but nobody has answered. They
must have gone awfully far, don't you think
so? Papa sent me back to tell you that he
has gone on towards Bellevue, thinking they
might have taken that path by mistake de
wouldn't let me 20 with him"
Bellevue was a small settlement some two
miles distant. "Oh! they could never have
gone in that direction Juanita knows her
way through the wood too WE'LL" exclaimed
Mrs. Forester, clasping her hands. "Oh
my children, what can have become OF them
Oh that I had never let them CO."
"Don't fret, mamma DEAR" said the boy,
consolingly, as he put his arm around his
mothers waist. "They will soon be found, l
expect. There's nothing to hurt them, you
know"
Mrs. Forester was too much troubled to
reply. A hundred vague anxieties and pos
sibilities aoated through her mind. She felt
quite sure that some accident must have hap
pened, and reproached herself bitterly for
having consented to Juanita's request, though
such self:reproach was unavailing now. She
walked back with Albert toward the hotel,
but fingered outside, pacing restlessly up and
down before the door. Mrs. Cobb, the land
lady, came out and added to her fears, by her
lamentations and excited suggestions. :,
II know something dreadfuls happened.
May be some prowling Indians has met them,
or some of that ere fierce cattle from Devlsos
ranch-he's none too particular about his
fences. If it's Indians, they'd as likely carry
them all off as not. Juanita had on that sill
yer chain of hern, and your children always
has on lots of pretty things. Whatever it is,
they must have gone an awful long distance
from home, or they'd have been back an hour
and half ago. My husband, he's agoIng at
ter them too he says he'll search the country
with lanterns, and bring 'em home dead or
alive"
"Oh don't speak so" Mrs. Forester wrung
her hands in agony. "They cannot have met
with any such dreadful fate as you suppose;
Surely, they must only have missed their way"
"Juanita knows every inch of that wood"
replied Mrs. Cobb, with portentous shake OF
the head. ut would be mig ghty strange for
her to lose herself in it; aud she would
never"
"There they come now!'' shouted Albert,
and with joyful halloo he bounded forward
to meet a party, dimly visible in the distance,
coming from the direction of the wood. Mrs
Forester, with glad cry of thankfulness, fol-
lowed him at a rapid pace, impatient to clasp
her restored darlings to her heart
But that fond heart almost stood still with
renewed terror, as she came sufficiently near
to discern the figures of the group. She saw
but her husband, Helen, and the Spanish girl.
Where was Ada?