West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-11-09


was tired of popcorn and wished she
had some one TO play with. Then she
scratched little bit Of the frost away
from the window-pane and peepcd on,
of doors. and. ifit was dark. IL seemed
very cheery. and not bit what Abby
called pokerish. A red lantern was
flashing along the road. There was a
sound of distant sleigh bells, and the
wind was blowing mcrrily. A sudden
idea flashed into her mind She might
steal out of doors and run down to Aunt
Mary'S. and no one would know a thing
about IL. She would wait until grand
ma got asleep over her knitting i'm the
sitting-rOOm, and Abby got settled over
her apple-pccling in the kitchen. Then
II Abby missed her. she would think she
was I'm the sitting room with grandma,
and If grandma woke and found that
she was not I'm the sitting-roOm, why.
she would conclude at once that she
was in the kitchen with Abby. And IL
was not long before am opportunity ia
vorcd her to do as She had planned
1t was awfully cold out of doors. To be
sure, but Bessie ran very fast and
did not mind il much Sometimes the
wind almost took her breath away.
but what was that when one had such
delights before her? Then. when She
30, under the hill out of sight of the
lights on grandpa's house, and out of
sight of any house. she commenced to
feel a little frightened and to wish that
she was safe III home III she had ONLY
taken old Carlo with her, she would not
have felt so lonely. But still she trottcd
bravely ON and finally reached the little
lane which led to Aunt Mury's house
and past il through stretch of woods
| into another road. The lane was shell
| tered by great trees SO that il was not
so cold, and BcSsic's spirits rose again.
I Her hand was upon the latch of the
! garden-g gate, when. ON looking mp. she
/ bchcld a sight which fairly curdlcd her
I blood with horror. II was. i'm reality.
Tommy's Jack o Lantern which he had
| just finished and stuck upon the rate.
/ post. hoping TO startle his mother $
scrvant-girl when She came i'm from
milking. But TO Bessie, who had not
the most distant idea what II was. il
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 towarl
the woods rs fast rs her feet would
] y
would she have gone through that
gate which was guarded by the horrible
thing. Tut 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, and
the effort she made i'm running through
il was very cXhaustng for a little thing
IKE Bessie. IL was warmer i'm the
woods than out in the bleak highway.
but still il was bitterly cold; and il was
So dark in some places that she ran into
the trees
"Oh, what should She do Wouldn't
she get out of the woods soon and find
some house with good. kind people i'm
II. who would take her home To grand
MAJ she said to herself.
But it was whole mile through the
woods, and that is n good way for a
little girl to run ON wild winter :
night and Just before she reached the
end of il, she sank down quite eX-
/ haustcd in the snow She was horribly
( cold ut first, but this sensation soon
| passed away, a sense of drowsncss
/ stole over her, and she was soon quite
unconscious. Poor little Bessie
At home no one but old Carlo missed
her for n long time. He did not sec
her go out, for ne had been eatino his
supper i'm the woodshcd at the time.
but when. not very long after she had
gone, he scratched at the kitchen door
and Joe let him in, he looked i'm at the
sitting-room door and not finding her
there, he came back To the kitchen.
mcditated for n moment. and then sig-
nihcd his desire TO go out of doors.
Come here and lie down, Carlo: YOU
don't want 10 90 out tonight. II Won
do so, It won't he two minutes before
You ID want TO get back again, - rrmon-
strated Joe.
But Carlo persisted that he did want
. to 90, and that he wanted 10
90 at once, too, and finally Joe
/ dropped his work and opened the door
/ for him. If it had not been bolted.
+ Carlo could have opened it himself. for
he could lit a latch os we'll aS any one.
and, with a little patient effort. could
turn q knob with his great. clumsy
paw.
You won find any tramps 70 bark
at or any foxes to chase. to-niobf
Carlo. and it's rs cold rs Greenland
you foolish old dog - said he as Carlo
lcaPcd down the steps.
Carlo put his nose down TO the ground
and >nuled at some little tracks i'm the
snow then he gave q quick little bark.
and ran out into the road and down tbo
nh on a brisk irot. every now and thon
stopping % bit tO investigate the foot
prints. for the wind had drifted
the snow into them, and fhcy
were hard 20 follow. lie paused n
moment at the got. of Aunt Mary.
house. uttered q growl Of cont .mpt af
the Jack O. Lantern. aud then ran Wild
iv into The woods. and ON and on rutiI
hc reached Che spot whore poor fIIp
Bc- ir was Wing. Ile licked her cold
face. he barkcd wildly. he tore at her
clothns. tut DO wa, all in vain. ha could
not wake her. Then hc trcl fo dra,
her along by taxing fold of her dre..
in bis mouth But finally hc oa,a o.,
the attempt and running To- fho cdgo of
i1e woods which was only IfIo dis.
Ianr' oiI took 20 survey up and down
tH" main road. then Doe gave "a quick
joyful bark and ran hc1dlouy towar, "a
house few rods distant whor. 70 Hphf
was gi'mmarIug at thewinIuw F.arh.
iu- iho door Doe harkgd and how'cI ip
ins mos irWli. manner Is man soon
grurlI Do .uI f...I.r ...t