Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-28

DdCh duu Wdio VII AuoihihB hau tuo
price of the cattle. you see, sir in my
breast pocket; and robberies, aye, and
also, were not quite unknown
things on the prairie. But I had my
brace of sure pistols with me, and de-
cided to press onward.
The night came on as dark as pitch,
and part of the way my road would be
pitch dark beside. But on that score |
had no fear; I knew the road well,
every inch of it though I could not
ride as fast rs I should have done in
the light. was about six miles from
home, suppose, and I know the time
must be close upon midnight, when the
storm which had been brewing broke.
The thunder reared, the rain fell in
torrents the best l could do was to
press onward in it.
All at once, as rode on, Cry startled
me; faint, wailing sound, like cry
of child. Refining up, sat still and
listened. Had been mistaken? No,
there it was again. But in what direc-
ton could not tell. couldn't see a
thing it was, as I have said, as dark as
pitch. Getting off my horse, I felt
about, but could find nothing. And
while was seeking the cry came again !;
the faint moan of child in pain. Then
I began to wonder. I amGnot super
stitious; but I asked myself how it was
possible that child could be out on
the prairie at suoh an hour and in such
a night. No; real child it could not
| be.
Upon this came another thought
one less welcome; was it trap to
hinder me on my way and ensnare me?
There might be midnight robbers who
would easily hear of my almost certain
ride home that night, and Of the money
I should have about me. don't think,
sir, I am more timid than other people !;
not so much SO, perhaps, as some; but
confess the idea made me uneasy. My
best plan was to ride ON as fast as !
could, and get out of the mystery into
safe quarters. just here was about the
darkest bit of road in all the route,
Mounting my horse, I was about to
urge him on, when the cry came again
) It did sound like child's; the plain
tive vail Of child nearly exhausted.
s "God guide mer' I said. undecided
Q what to do. And as sat another mo
/ ment listening, once more heard tn
!. cry, fainter and more faint. tbreV
e myself off my horse, with on exclama
b tion.
"Be it ghost, or be it robber, Anthem
g Hunt is not one to abandon child
IL die without trying to save it."
ID But how was I to save it : how fir
D. it? The more I searched about, Il
10 less could my hands light on anythi1
save the sloppy earth. The voice hi
Or quite ceased now, so had no gut
Us from that. While stood trying
ID peer into the darkness, all my ears ale
or a food of sheet lightning suddenly
at lumined the plain. AT little distanc
be just beyond kind of ridge or gent
ia hill, I caught glimpse of somethi
ne white. It was dark again in momel
r. but made my way with unerring
OF stinct. Sure enough, there lay pc
re little child. Whether boy or girl
er could not tell. 1t seemed to be TIN
H. parts insensible now, as I took it I
dripping with wet, from the slop
90, earth.
III "My poor thing" said, as hush
to me. "We'll go and find MANN
ITO You are all safe now"
l" And in answer, the child just put I
WI its feeble hand, moaned once, 6
N nestled close to me.
With the child hushed to my bre'
NY 1 rode on. It's perfect silence 81
showed me that it slept. And, 81
ow thanked God that he had let me save
sou and thought how gratified some p
ice mother would be But was full
' . wonder, for all that, wondering W
Ivy extraordinary fate had taken any yo'
'us child to that solitary spot.
IL Getting in sight of home, 1 saw
the windows alight. Deborah had d
ui- it for me, I thought--to guide me he
e's in safety through the darkness
on, presently knew that something N
NY be the matter, for the very few nei
ON, bors we had were collected there.
nv. -, heart stood still with fear. I thou
'n of some calamity to one or other OF
- children. had saved little one +
perishing; but what might not
> =, happened to my own?
' nn' Hardly daring to lift the latch, "
mug my poor tired horse stood still and I
eye outside, I went slowly in, the chill
my arms covered over with the fla
Inc NV long coat. NV wife was wee