Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-27
DISAPPEARED.

The speaker was a falr young man, scarce
twenty years of age David Golden by name
He was sitting at the kitchen table at work
upon a curious, Old-fashioned silver watch,
which might be traced back through series
of Goldens TO the first Golden who ever set
foot on American SOIL which timed his dying
breath, and stopped, SO tradition SAID, when his
heart ceased to beat.
Not that David was q matchmaker. 1t was
difficult to tell what he was. His father called
him universal genius" and We all know
what that means. 1t meant, in this particular
case, that David could do anything he under
took, but that he was inclined to undertake so
many things that it seemed little likely he
would ever settle down upon any one in such
way as to make it of any particular use.
With Willie and Boyd there had been no
( trouble. They had sowed and reaped, fed the
pigs and tended the cattle on their fathers
farm, in the good old way, till they came of
age, and then he had set them up with snug
little farms of their own.
He would have been glad 10 do the same
for David, but though he loved every creature
on the place like a brother, they might all
have starved while he was hunting the woods
for mossess and minerals, and little he rocked
of seed-time and harvest when lying under q
shady tree reading the arabian Nights" or
book of foreign travels. Both were equally
real to him, and both filled his head with
visions little in accord with the every day life
OF farmer.
Then nothing would do bu: he must 90
abroad and see some of the wonderful things
of which he had read, and once his father
allowed him to take sea voyage, in the hope
that IL would cure him of his fancies. But
unfortunately it did not J it only made him
worse.
Being, however, a dutitul son in the main,
he kept his wishes to himself, and plodded
about on the farm as best he might, varying
the scene by making toys for his little brothers,
or for the neighbors' children.
These toys were almost always ships, or
Chinese pagOdas, or leaning towers of Pisa
Lattenlv ne had discovered that he could take
a watch to pieces and put it together again,
and now half the chronometers in the neigh
borhood were under his care.
'Why don't you set up the business aud
make money Ivy it!' said his father, catching
at anything that looked like reasonable
means of earning livelihood.
81 like to do it, father" said he; II don't
want to be paid for amusing myself" And
this brings us to the beginning of our story
again.
Il can't finish it without piece of copper
wire, and piece of copper wire can't be had
short of Oldport. How yexatious!"
"Wen, it's an i'll wind that blows nobody
good" said his father Seeing you have got
to go totown, you might just call at the bank
and get package for me. l thought should
haYe to go myself, but I hate to spare the
time"
"PIl attend to it, father"
And suppose you call at the milliner's
and get me yard of ribbon to finish trim
ming my bonnet. l must have it before Sun
day. Miss Battles will know which it -
said David's sister Faith, who, with pretty
Jessie Wynne, was sitting or the porch she'll
ing beans.
Certainly, SIS" said the goodhumored
youth. "And what shall l bring you, Jes-
sie~
1So+b;,r br+ ,,o,,rsaIF y so;5 To.s;o o,5
blushed lest she should seem to have said
more than she intended.
Plucking a rose which was nodding its
head knowingly at the group, Es.ria flung it
into Jessie's lap, saying
keep that till l come"
Then he strobe away, and his TALL slender
figure was soon lost behind the row of pop
lars that skirted the lane.
Hasn't David got back yet?' asked Mr..
Golden, as he took his seat at the supper.
table that night.
NO." said his wife. The girls have been. tc
him, but he wasn't IN sight. do hope he
went be out after dark with all the money
81 most wish 1 hadn't sent him for it." said
Mr.. Golden. "But then he wouldn't let any
body know he bad it; he's bright enough fol-
that" Somebody might have been watching
him unbeknown," suggested Mrs. Golden.
"NOw don't you go to worrying about
David" said Faith. He's like cat-he al
ways lights on his feet. l do wish he'd bring
home my ribbon, though; wanted you t.
put it on for me, jess"
thine enough for that before Sunday,
said Jessie, with lightness which belied he
heart.
By-and-by the kitchen clock struck nine
nd springing to her feet Jessie exclaimed
"Oh, nyi didn't think it was so late! Mothe
will begin to think l am lost, too"
"Tn go with you, if you'll accept an oil
mans company instead OF a young ones
said Mr.. Golden.
''Its such beautiful night guess I'll &c
too" said Faith. perhaps we shall NEE
David on the way"
But although more than once they though
they discerned his 1.-THE form in the distance
it proved to be only the swaying shadow of
poplar.
''He means to show me that was too for
ward in saying what did" said Jessie to her
self, when she babe her friends good might
''but when he does come, I'll show him that
meant nothing at all, that will. As to tn
rose, I've good mind to throw it away,
snatching it from her belt. But perhaps
has a good excuse; and, anyhow, the ros
isn't to blame, poor thing"
81 wish knew where that boy was" sal
Mrs. Golden, taking last look out into til
night, as her husband went to bar the fror
door preparatory to gong to bed.
81 can tell you where he is" said Faith, col
-
It isn't the nrst time, by good deal"
Il know he and Tom are great cronies
said Mrs. Golden. "It's singular, too, for the
amt bit alike"
Il wish they were more like in some things
said MIR. Golden.
superior to our David! Why, he can't shak
stick at him"
81 mean to say that wish David had som
of Toms prudence, and his careful, savin
ways"
They say he's dreadful mean critter," r.
marked Mrs. Golden.
'tHe's steady ard industrious, and know
how to stick to one thing, and that's VIII,
you can't say of our David, more's the pity."
"There amt but one thing he knows. ;" sal
Faith, sand that's how to tend that lit
grocery OF his"
"Just So" said Mrs. Golden 1.-THE idea
comparing Tom Penhallow with eur David
This brief dis, ussion had SO diverted II
minds of thu Golden family that thew we
quietly to bed and slept till morning: b
when the morning was well on its way iowa
the noon, and still the wanderer had not I
turned, their anxiety was renewed.
IF it wasn't for the money, I shouldr
think SO strage of il" said Mr.. Golden
"Law, he's forgotten all about the none
and gone off snipe- shooting with Tom" sa
the invincible Faith.
But this view of the case, however satisfa
tory 10 taltn, was not reassur1ng to her fat
er, suggesting as it did the idea of his pre-,
GUS package having gone to feed the snipes.
II guess I'll harness up Dobbin and
down to Oldport." said he
His first call was at Tom Penhallow's she
where small boy informed him that "To
had gone off somewhere, he didn't knc
where"
This seemed to confirm the snipe.shooti
theory, SO he drove at a leisurely pace to t
Widow Penhallow's; but there he heard ne
which plunged him into the deepest ankle
David had not passed the night there, /