The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-08-15
THE LOST ONE RESTORED.
BY PAUL PLUME.

THE LOST ONE RESTORED.
BYPAUL PLUME.
The wind blew furiously and the rain
fell in torrents, when traveller one
July night was traversing a thickly
wooded portion of the country in Mis-
souri,. He had ridden all day, and
night overlook him and found him lost
in what appeared an impenetrable forest.
The vines and underbrush grew so
thickly that he was compelled to halt,
and dismounting from his beast shell
tered himself as best he could from the
storm.
His servant, a young man some eigh-
teen years old, accompanied him, and
was very much terrified at the situation
in which he found himself, never having
been outside the limits of city until
Mr. Randolph had employed him to ac-
company him on his journey. Journeys
in those days were generally made on
horseback or stage, for railroads had
not then intersected all parts Of our
great country as at the present day.
john" said Mr.. Randolph, "we
shall have to remain here until day
ight-there is no possibility of finding
our way in this darkness"
off we are on the right road" re-
piled John, sswe must surely be near
the cabin we were told about at the
blacksmith's shop"
g. fear" returned Mr.. Randolph,
that we have lost the road entirely.
In fact, am very positive of it. We
can do nothing, | think, but wait until
it shall become light enough for us to
again resume our Journey"
While Mr.. Randolph was speaking,
the wind lulled for few moments, and
there came a cry that caused John
Glover to start with terror. Mr.. Ran
dolph. who was eronnhAd beneath q tree,
started to his feet and laid his hand on,
his pistol. Again the cry broke forth,
and Mr.. Randolph commanded John to
search in the saddle bags for box of
matches.
It's some wild animal, / suppose"
said Glover. his teeth chattering with
fright.
aNo," replied Mr.. Randolph, whose
practiced ear knew the cry of beasts too
well to be deceived, "tis a human veice,
and the cry is one of Distress"
In a few moments Mr.. Randolph had
lighted a pocket lantern and was peer
ing about him with John Glover eau
tiously standing in the rear.
Follow me, john" said Mr.. Ran
dolph, and. Immediately he pushed his
way among the bushes, while he listened
for a repetition of the cry.
Once again it came, and it seemed 30
near to him that he started backward
and stood perplexed. Just then vivid
fash of lightning lit up the forest, and
he saw something white lying upon the
ground, about dozen yards in advance.
Mr.. Randolph darted forward and
seized the object, which proved to be a
female child of some eighteen months
old, who was badly bitten in the shoul-
der by some wild animal. He took the
little creature to his arms and carried
her back to where the horses were tied.
If Mr.. Randolph could have seen
John Glover's face, he would have
noticed that it wore a perplexed look,
but it was dark and he could not OBJ
serve the expression of his mans counte-
nance.
"What are you going to do with it,
sirf' inquired John.
"That thought was crossing my mind
at the moment replied Mr.. Randolph.
az can scarcely imagine. First, /
must try and discover who has lost a
child in this part of the country, and by
that means endeavor to fiud the parents
of this poor little creature"
And suppose you can't find them p
suggested John.
-HThen l suppose l shall have to
adopt her as my daughter" replied Mr..
Randolph.
"But you are not married, sir" said
John Glover.
Sand never am likely to be- re-
sponded Mr. Randolph, upon whose
mind came the memory of one he loved
who had passed away from earth, and
left him a lonely man.
"We must not anticipate" he con,
tinued. Tomorrow may bring the
parents of this poor child to light
When daylight came Mr.. Randolph
found that he had wandered good way
off the road, and the sun was well uI
ere he gained the cabin at the edge O
the forest. 1t was inhabited by an olt
hunter by the name of Stubbs. H
gave Mr.. Randolph a hearty welcome
and was not long in preparing no
breakfast.
Well, never heard of such thin,
BEFORE" said Stubbs, looking at the chill,
with curiosity. "There's no one liyin
within twenty miles of this place, and
can't imagine hew she came to be in tn
wood. Old Bill Shoots cabin is goo
twenty miles from here, and Dan Nea
is ten miles from him, and that's all th
people there are this side the State line
Neither Bill nor Dan are married, an
it's passing strange where that youn
one came FROM"
/ wish you would take ride throug
the forest" said Mr.. Randolph I
Stubs. Take the whole day to scare
for some person claiming this child.
will remain here until your return" an
he placed piece of gold in the hunter
palm.
The suns rays were slanting 10
among the trees in the west when Bi
Stubbs returned to his cabin.
"Pm afraid you'll have to father tn,
young one" he exclaimed, addressir
Mr.. Randolph. "I've ridden nearl
forty miles to-day, and can hear nothir
of anybody who has lost child. Pc
haps she has been lost purposely."
Mr.. Randolph looked serious. SUE
an idea had not before occurred to hir