Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09

nct appic-poeung IN the kitcneu. 1ucH
II Abby missed her, she would think she
was In the sitting-room with grandma,
and II grandma woke and found that
she was not In the sitting-room, why,
she would conclude at once that she
was in the kitchen with Abby. And 1t
was not long before an opportunity IA
vored her to do as she had planned.
Ii was awfully cold out Of doors, to be
sure, but Bessie ran very fast and
| did not mind it much. Sometimes the
wind almost took her breath away,
but what was that when one had such
delights before her? Then, when she
got under the hill out of sight OF the
lights on grandpa's house, and out oil
sight OF any house, she commenced to
feel little frightened and to wish that
she was safe at home. If she had only
taken old Carlo with her, she would not
have felt so lonely. But still she trotted
bravely on and finally reached the little
lane which led TO Aunt Mary's house
and past IL through a stretch OF woods
into another road. The lane was shell
tered by great trees. so that 1t was not
so cold, and Bessie's spirits rose again.
Her hand was upon the latch of the
garden-gate. when. on looking up. she
beheld n sight which fairly curdled her
blood with horror. 1t was, in reality.
Tommy's Jack o. Lantern which he had
just finished and stuck upon the gate
post, hoping 10 startle his mothers
servant-girl when she came in from
milking. But TO Bessie, who had not
the most distant idea what IL was. it
seemed like the head of some frightful,
grinning monster, whose mouth was al
ready open TO swallow naughty children.
She uttered one loud, agonizing scream.
dropped the latch, and ran on toward
the woods as fast as her feet would
carry her. Not for the world
would she have gene through that
gate which was guarded by the horrible
thing. But the people in the house did
not hear her scream, for the wind was
doing the same thing, and she went on
and on. never needing where she went,
caring nothing for the darkness of the
woods, conscious Of nothing but the
dreadful fear that the monster was fol-
lowing her. She dared not look behind
her; she had not strength even to cry.
In some PLACES the snow was deep, aud
the effort she made in running through-
IT was very exhausting for little thing
like Bessie. IL was warmer in the
woods than out in the bleak highway,
but still it was bitterly cold; and il was
so dark in some places that she ran into
the trees
"Oh, what should she dol Wouldn't
she get out of the woods soon and find
some house with good. kind people in
IL, who would take her home to grand
map she said TO herself
But IL was n whole mile through the
woods, and that is a good way for n
little girl to run on a wild winters
night; and just before she reached the
end of it, she sank down quite ex-
hausted in the snow. She was horribly
cold at first, but this sensation soon
passed away, n sense of drowsiness
stole over her, and she was soon quite
unconscious. Poor little Bessie!
AT home no one but old Carlo missed
her for long time. He did not see
her 60 out, for he had been eating his
supper in the woodshed ut the time:
but when, not very long after she had
gone, he scratched at the kitchen door
and Joe let him in, he looked in at the
sitting-room door. and not finding her
there, he came back to the kitchen,
meditated for moment, and then sig
nified his desire to 60 out of doors.
''Come here and lie down. Carlo; YOU
don't want to go out tonight. If YOU
do so, 1t won't be two minutes before
you'll want to get back again." remon-
strated Joe.
But Carlo persisted that he did want
TO 60, and that he wanted to
GO at once, too. and finally Joe
dropped his work and opened the door
for him. IL it had not been bolted.
Carlo could have opened it himself, for
he could lift latch rs well as any one.
and, with little patient effort. could
turn n knob with his great, clumsy
paw.
"You won't find any tramps TO bark
at, or any foxes to chase, tonight,
Carlo, and it's rs cold as Greenland,
you foolish old dog" said he as Carlo
leaped down the steps.
Carlo put his nose down to the ground
and snutied ut some little tracks in the
snow, then he gave a quick little bark,
and ran out into the road and down the
hill on brisk trot,. every now and then
stopping bit to investigate the foot
prints, for the wind had drifted
the snow into them, and they
were hard to follow He paused n
moment ut the gate of Aunt Mary's
house, uttered growl of contempt at
the Jack o. Lantern, and then ran Wild
ly into the woods, and on and on until
he reached the spot where poor little
Bessie was lying. He licked her cold
face, he barked wildly, he tore at her
clothes, but il was all in vain, he could
not wake her. Then he tried to drag
her along by taking a fold of her dress
in his mouth. But finally he gave up
the attempt, and running to the edge of
the woods, which was only little dis
lance OF, took n survey up and down
the main road, then he gave a quick.
joyful bark, and ran headlong toward a
house few rods distant. where light
was glimmering at the window. Reach
ing the door he barked and howled in
the most frantic manner. A man soon
opened IL, and looked ont in surprise.
"Why, bless me-" said he. nj this
ant Squire Trafton's Carlo. He knows
me, have worked at the 'Sduire's so
much. But what can he wantp Cold.
old fellow? Want to come in and warm
yourself?n
Carlo seized his coat In his teeth and
tried to drag him out-of-doors.
Something must have happened"
said the man. "Carlo knows more than
boy. any day. and he'd never act so
for nothing. P'r'aps the old Squire or
some of the family have met with an
accident--a team has broke down or
something. I'm going out to see."
And hastily donning his hat and over
coat, he followed Carlo, who after fawn-
ing upon him to show his gratitude, ran
ahead. every now and then looking be-
hind him TO see if he were coming, and
going back to pull his coat a little, as a
hint that he had better hasten his foot
steps. They soon reached the woods
road and the little, dark bundle living
there. that was Bessie. The man, Mr..
Spencer was his name, lifted her in his
arms and ran home with all his might,
| i =