Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-06-24
cottage tidy and to take care of Little

cottage tidy and to take care of Little
Pearl.
Every afternoon we went to meet him
taking little Pearl, through the Crane
and gorgeous prairies, and as often as hii
happy eyes caught sight Of US he would
approving words.
"Ah, Belle" he would say, II believe
am the happiest man in the universe
and you are growing contented, too
dear; can see it In your bright face"
chill November rains set in, bringing
dreary, sunless days, and changing tht
gorgeous prairie-bloom into endless
leagues of sodden gray. My girl left me
and little Pearl grew cross and frstful in
her teething. In addition to his Law
business Philip had gone into farming,
and we mad two or three laborsrs to feed
and lodge, which greatly increased the
housewsrk. Under this accumulation
of trials my patience began to give way
I worked late and early, but I grew mo-
rose and fretful, and never had pleas
ant word for my husband. But he new
er complained.
| "Poor Belief" he would say. "Poor
over-worked little wife, be as brave a.
you can better days will come by-Rnd-
by. Just as soon as get off frona my
business I'll 60 to the city and obtain
permanent help. In the mean time
don't fret the roses from your cheeks
and tho brightness from your eyes"
But despite my husbands loving
words and constant help, for he tack one
| half the household labor on his own
hands, continued to murmur at my
fate, and one morning the crisis came.
Breakfast was unusually late, Little
Pearl cross to absolute fretfulness, and
the dick laborer upstairs in need OF
constant attention; Philip obliged to
leave early, and after eoaxing and hush
ing Pearl to sleep laid her in her dainty
little crib and went about my mornings g
work.
felt wronged and injured, and while
r worked away dusting off the SCOT and
ashes and scrubbing up the mud the hot
tears fell SO fast as almost to blind me-
MY husband had been eruel-heartless,
thought-to take me from home
where all was beauty and pleasure and
bring me out to that dreadful place to
wear my life out in hateful drudgsry. I
would sooner be in my grave than to 1--we
on SO from year to year.
In the midst Of this despair heard
the sick man calling from above and
hurried to him. His fever was rising
again. He nesded cooling draughts and
ice cloths to his head. Iwent TO work
to prepare them with nervous haste, for
the morning was slipping by and the
noon meal must be ia readiness for the
farming hands. In the midst of my
work and hurry Little Pearls sharp,
imperative cry came piping from below.
What should I do? I had just spent
over half an hour lulling her to sleep,
and here shs was on my hands again. =,
| II won't 60 down." I cried In real
anger. "She may have her cry OUT
Oh, dear, I wish had no baby!'
| But the instant the unwOmanly wish
had passed my lips I Irepented Of having
uttered it. No baby. no Little Pearl!-
The bare thought filled me with shud-
dering terror. Hurriedly administering
the sick mans potion, I hastened down,
eager to compensate for my unmother-
ly words by fond car.sses.
There stood the little cradle In its sc.
customed corner, the dainty lace cover
lid thrown back, the pillow still damp
and warm from the impress of the curly
head, but Pearl was gone!
For an instant stood dumb-breath
less then in frantic foolishness search
ed the rooms, the yard, calling upon the
child's name, as if she could hear and
answer me. And then at last q happy
thought broke like sunlight upon me-
| My husband had been home, and stolen
away the child to tease me. set about
preparing dinner, looking every mo-
ment to see him come in. In little
while the noon-bell rang, bringing the
lsborers from the clearing. 1 hurried
out to meet them.
"Whsre is Mr.. Weston ?' question
ed, with my heart in my mouth.
Haven't seen him, na'am, since this
morning."
''Not seen him? You surely have he's
got my baby"
But the men shook their heads, and,
catching up my shawl, hurried off in
the direction of his Office.
Half a mile from the cottage met him
on his way home.
"Why, Belle" he cried, catching my
arm and looking down in CONSERVATION
at my draggled garments and muddy
the matter?"
10, Philip, the baby, Little Pearl,
/ y
"Done with Little Pearl? Are you
going-mad, Belle? Tell me what you
mean?"
"She's gone-Little PEARLS gone.
came down stairs and found her little
cradle empty, and was sure you had
her."
He stood silent moment, his face
growing as white and stern as death
then said sOlemnlV.
mo, Belle, haven't seen the child.
I haven't been home since morning."
He started on before me, with long,
rapid strides, into the cottage, and up to
the little cradle standing in the corner,
as if to satisfy his own eyes. Then he
turned back to the yard, and began to
examine the tracks in the mud around
the doorway. The farm hands were ex'
amining them also.
"Moccasin tracks, Boss, said one old
man, significantly, pointing to an in
denture in the yielding soil. "Injuns,
I guess"
my husband face grew shade whittier,
eyes," he responded, "that's it /; come
my lads, we haven't moment to lose. u
He started off, followed by the laber
ers, but a few rods from the house hi
turned back.
| "Poor Belle" he said, putting his
arms round me, "this is terrible for you
but you must be strong, and hope for thu
best. The Indians have passed here,
and it was they, no doubt. who stole the
child. We must try to intercept then
before they cross the river we may no
be back to. night !; you had better 60 ovsl
to Mr.. Delevan's and stay till we re-
turn"
But did not 60. I went into th'
lonely cottage, and fell on myl be
side the little empty crib. God had giver
me my wish; had no baby. All. nae
the self-torture, the bitterness of those
long, long hours can never be described
Morning dawned at last, lurid ant
misty a red sun struggled up through
ragged pillows of gray fog. About II
o'clock my husband and his party re-
turned, weary haggard, and hopeless
They had followed the Indians all night
but when at last they came up with them
far beyond the river. they could gain M
tidings of the child; and all our after
efforts were equally unsuccessful. we
offered rewards, and instituted every