The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-10-29

empty caves. No answer came to their
repeated cries of "Tommy, " Tommy"
save the sullen dash of the waves on
the yellow sand.
eft was quite dark when Mrs. Writ
and Dick reached home, only to find
the others returned with no news of the
missing child. The kind-hearted. out
landish observation-disclosures, Swedes,
French and Germans had gathered at
the house with dogs and lanterns to aid
in the search.
We will leave them while they are
preparing for anight hunt in the woods,
and follow the fortunes of the little
wanderer.
Children, insane people. and a few
other folks, only look at one side of
question. and Tom, when he slipped
into the house and ran to his little
room on the first floor, thought of moth
ing but getting away where he should
''bother nobody" Having vague
idea that people always carried bum
die or something when they ran away,
he tied up his little best suit and q few
toys in handkerchief, not forgetting
few slices of bread and some matches
from the pantry near by. No. one was
looking as he ran through the orchard,
across the road and out into the open
meadow. He felt safe when he reached
the wooded sand-knobs, for he had
thought of those little caves BY the
lake, not so far from home but that he
could 60 there once in q while to see
the twins and all the rest. Orchids,
asters and bright orange or pink as
clepias tempted him from the path,
and. gathering flowers and watching
birds, squirrels and rabbits, he forgot
for the time that he had any other OBJ
ject than to amuse himself with the
risky pranks of his beloved wild ami
mails. He was getting weary, so, he
climbed high hill to see if he were not
very near the lake. Reaching the top.
he could see nothing but still higher
knobs around him. He sat down to
rest, and felt cool breeze on his hot
face, and that was the last he knew
until he felt some one touching his
shoulder and heard the words: s:Wake
up little fellow-you'n be as wet as
drowned rat in twinkling." A big
drop of rain fell in his face as he opened
his eyes and saw q tall, bent man with
sunken eyes and bearded face standing
over him.
"Oh. Ben. is't you-rm going to the
lake. It isn't far now, l guessP''
The man laughed. "Too far for you
tonight, / reckon. Come along, my
shantv is down here in the hollow"
Tom followed him, for he had no fear
of the rough looking man, having seen
him occasionally at the farm after milk
and eggs. Tom opened his heart and
told him about his trials at home and
his plan to live all hy himself where he
could ''bother nobody"
Ibid you have big brothers. Ben.
who used to come down on you and tell |
you everything you'd did that was
wrong, to make you feel bad. and was
you always doing something you didn't
mean to, and so you just come off to live |
by yourself all a1one"'
A wild. panied look came into Ben's
face, but he took the boys hand gently,
for he felt strange kinship with the |
grieved little heart, saying hoarsely:
Il have no brothers-no nothing-I
hate everybody, and no one cares for
me. There, come in out of the rain"
In the cabin Tom was at firstso awed !
by the tempest with its vivid lightning
and heavy thunder claps that he scarce
" noticed the desolate. smoke-begrimed
room, but seated on q stool at Ben's !
uninviting supper-table, orrough stand,
q sense of loneliness crept over him.
Bright, happy faces had always made q
part of his evening meal. and thinking
Of them he could not eat.
Is it SO awful nice, Ben, to live all
alone?" and looking up into Ben's hag-
gard face the child choked with tears.
"Nice enough for me, little boy. You
wouldn't like it-you'd want your
and Ben chuckled. "There'u
be precious time at the farm when it
comes dark and one of the chickens is
missing.'
90! what q bad boy am to frighten
mother SO. o! I must 60 right home.
1t isn't far, is it?'' and Tom, seeing the
other side of the question, was wild with
grief over his wickedness.
cts good four miles, and you could
never find the way; wait and well
,ee," and Ben cleared away the sup
per. apparently needless or the child's
,obs of woe.
At the farm the lanterns were light
I'd, and several parties were just start
ing out in various directions, when a
strange voice was heard at the front
1oOr, where Lame Betsey had sat look
ng into the deepening darkness as if
ler eyes were magnets that must draw
he child home.
"Can I see Mr.. Wirt?'' were the
words heard through the open doors.
Lame Betsey was not called TO an
'wer Ben's request. for it was his wild
orm that stood at the door, before the
whole family had gathered there.