Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-01-04
''Gono to sleep in his chamber,

fact, the gentleman was seen to leave
the hotel the moment after he had Or
dered supper and given instructions
about his baggage, and had not re-
turned.
Laura was watching the uncom-
planning child. The large blue eyes
were directed toward us, as if guess
ing that he was the object of our con-
yersation. She could not restrain
herself any longer; and she rose from
her seat and went up to the child.
He shrank a little 1 thought, as she
approached, but there was something
about her face which speedily reas-
sured him.
"You are 4 little Engliah boy, are
you not ?' she said, as she sat down
beside him.
lie murmured, eyes" But I could
see working in the little white
throat; the poor, tired manikin was
striving brayely to keep down her
tears
"Yon &ant your supper, do you
nct?' asked Laura, as with one hand
she stroked the golden curls. "You
are very tired, anc orght to have your
supper and go to bed. Where is
papa? Was not that your papa who
brought you here?'
yes, my papa brought me here;
and he said we were t. have some
thing to eat; and / was to wait here
quietly till he came back. Very
quietly, he told me, and he should
soon be back"
Would not you like to have your
supper at once ?" said Laura. "Your
papa is tasirr . l,nger walk than hs
intended a~1 ae will be very sorry
that you should be so hungry. Shall
I not ask the gentleman" pointing to
the landlord, who had come up to the
table, to bring you something to eat
at once?'
'No, thank you, I must wait for my
papa.
Entreaties and coaxing were all in
vain, and Laura, fearful of distressing
him still more, left him alone, and re-
sumed her seat by me.
Nearly another hour passed away.
Laura insisted on remaining in the
room, and we listlessly studied the
LGrre des Elyongsys.
By-and~by the silence of the dark
corner was broken. The courage of
the gallent little mite had given away;
he was sobbing as if his heart would
break. Laura had him in her arms
in moment,
ooh. papa papar' he cried, in his
bitter agony. ooh, papa papa how
could you leave me 50 long alone !
Oh, para! come backbone backl"
Above his low, sad wall heard the
sound Of persons entering the hotel,
and then there was busy hum OF
voices, and a minute or two afterward
the landlord, with strange express
sion in his face, looked in at the door
aul becEoned tome, hastily left the
room. There, at the entrance of the
hotel, 7 found the walters and other
people gathered. Three peasants had
just come in, bringing with them some
thing they had found-something
Which lay in a disfgured heap upon
the ground.
They had found the body Of o man,
was quietly told, at the bottom of a
low cliff about a quarter of mile
from the hotel Then they uncovered
the face, md at once recognized the
man Laura and 'ad passed on the
ascent. Then, as a cold shiver came
over me, I heard a cry within the
room ! had left.
"My papa has come bsck-I know
he has!" and before any of US could
interfere the door of the Salle-a-man-
ger was thrown open, and the pallid,
weeping child tottered out, followed
hastily by Laura.
"Whore is papa? I know he is
here ' And, checking his violent
sob9, lie Looked eagerly at the solelaL
J.. ,-4 ,.-Ou..,t MA.
Why won't you tell me where
papa is? Oh what's that upon the
1oor?"
Then, before any one could stop
him, he cast himself down and laid
his cheek by the cold white lips that
never more could kiss him or breathe
d word of love into his ear.