The Iola register., 1882-10-06
tCopuri0hted.l
VIOLA
BY MRS. X. d. EDISON,
CHAPTER w.


CHAPTER ".
The hours slipped away, and it was
noon, and. though search had been
made in every direction by the police,
as well as by Mr.. Anderson and Brad
lee, who could not stay in the house
and wait. though they could do little
good, strangers as they were, still not
the slightest trace of the missing girl
could be found. The landlord of the
hotel, MIR. Gordon, had thought at first
there was no cause for serious alarm,
as the child might have run into the
street, thinking to meet her adopted
father, and getting bewildered, had
been unable TO find her way back to the
house. But as the hours slipped away,
and systematic search of every street
in the city was made, and nothing was
heard of her. he came to the conclusion
that she had got down to the wharf in
her wanderings, and, in some way,
fallen into the water and got drowned.
1t was not very probable that child
like that had been abducted in a city
where scores of children swarmed in
the streets unmolested every hour in
the day. A founding, too, like this,
coming from an Eastern country town
so far away. perfectly unknown to a
single soul in the city-why. it was the
height of absurdity to fancy she had
been abducted, and so he told the half
distracted Andersons. though his hy-
pothesis was not particularly comfort
ing. and poor Myra Anderson only
grew whittier and more scare-looking
when he broached it.
"Viola is accustomed to the water,
and l hardly think she would venture
where there was DANGER" Mr. Ander-
son said, thoughtfully; " still it is not
impossible but she might have attempted
crossing the plank to the steamer, and
fallen off, someway."
but some one would have seen her,
it's likely" interposed Ralph, land
rescued her. don't believe she went
near the water everything is always
laid to the water!"
''You like it, l reckon, my lad,"
Gordon said, smiling at his earnestness.
You should plow the sea, instead of
the prairie.''
81 intend to some day, SIR" was the
quick reply. sudden glow lighting his
face.
Through all the grief and alarm of the
present, a wild fear for the future struck
sudden deathly chill to Mrs. Ander-
sons heart. 1t would kill her to have
Ralph 60 to sea! But he would forget
and outgrow this love for the sea when
he was once fairly away from it, she
comforted herself by saying.
"Perhaps we had better go down to
the Shore" Mr.. Anderson said, 'though
have little idea that it will be of any
avail"
At that moment Ned Bradlee opened
the door and looked in.
Amy news?" asked Anderson, anx-
iously.
'.Wall, no, not ra' ally" he replied,
slowly. s'One of them fresh-water
sailor chaps says he see a girl run down
the wharf to the side of the Caspian
that's the name of the boat we come in
quite early this mornin'. But he
didn't notice whether she went back, or
not, and in fact he didn't seem to
notice much of anything, and I don't
b'lieve he could tell whether she was
two year old or twenty-five. Idon't."
''But why didn't you 60 on board the
boat? May be she is there interposed
Ralph.
DidntI? Though knowed afore-
hand that bright little critter like her
wouldn't be likely TO stay there all
this time. Lord! wouldn't she make
'em walk back with her double-quickP"
but what did they say?' asked
Gordon.
80, they didn't know nothin', of
course! There wasn't anybody there
only four or five nigger gals, and of all
the stupid cattle ever see, they was
the beat. I'm afraid might ha' sworn
at them if I'd staid there two minutes
ionger-I couldn't say for certain.
didn't as. it was" he added, thought
fully.
Il think we had better 60 down
there MIR. Anderson said, putting on
his hat.
.'It won't do any good, Ben, but
however. don't blame you for wantin'
to CO." Bradlee replied. Poor little
Hummin' Bird!' and he turned sudden
ly and walked away to the window, and |
stood moment looking out into the
busy, hurrying street, but seeing abso-
lutely nothing-not even the great |
blocks OF buildings, or the blue Sky, or |
the soft spring sunshine.
Slowly and wearily the long afternoon
hours dragged on to Myra Anderson.
The first excitement of wonder and |
alarm had given place to dreadful sink
ing, dread and fear. People came and |
went, but she sat by the window, gaz-
ing steadily into the street, and starting
nervously at every sudden hustle or stir |
she saw, fancying it was some one COM
ing to bring home alittle limp, drenched
form, the bright color all washed out of
the dear little face and the soft lips that
had wakened her only that morning
with kisses. Only that morning! She
said it over drearily to herself, like one
talking in her sleep. Could it be that
su these long, dreadful hours were only