Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-01-17

that she would 60 and feed the fowls,
that were stalking around the door 10 Q
very disseminated sort Of way.
/ So she put on her little red hood ana
| worsted jacket, tugged to pull on net
rubbers, and trudged out with SONS
cracked corn in tin pan, as sne nau
seen Aunt Hepsy do.
| Sophy read on and on, until it became
SO dark that she could hardly distinguish
one word from another. Then all OF .
sudden she discovered, from the chill IN
the air, that the logs had nearly Durneu
out, and, from the unusual silence, lnas
Sissy was gone.
came.
She ran to the door and looked out,
but nothing could be seen save Httie
feot-tracks in the snow, which followed
along the outlines made by the siedge.
..She cant have gone after mother,
thought Sophy, with sudden thrill OF
terror--..out into those solitary woods.
and with the painters proving tnere'
toot''
Sophy was a brave little lass, although
she was apt to be careless and neglect
full at times, SO she caught up the ham,
mer-the first weapon of attack or de-
tense which she could seize upon--fung
on her hat and shawl, and started on
run to follow the small footprints, call
ING sissy! Sissy!' as she went.
After little the tiny marks left the
tracks of the sledge, and started on
into the woods. in all sorts OF odd, zig
gag directions, q nd with sinking heart
Sophy followed them. until at last they
stopped at the foot of monster pine
tree, which lowered far up into the sky
stopped in curious confusion, as II
the snow had been tramped down-and
there, mingled with the oblong shape
of the little rubbers, were huge. heavy
prints, like those of q large dogs feet.
Sophy's head seemed to swim; she
grew very pale
1.-The painter! The painter!' That
was all that she could think of. Surely
he could not have torn the child in
pieces and left no more traces than that!
Or perhaps he had dragged her away,
shrieking, helpless.
And with this horrible vision dancing
before her imagination, Sophy set out
on run over the snowy path, still fol-
lowing the tracks of the animal.
elf he has eaten Sissy, he may eat
me, too" said she, despairingly. II
never shall dare to look mother in the
face again.
AS She ran breatblessly along, sob
bing. faint and half-frozen, far-off
scream struck upon her ear. She stood
still to listen.
1t was not the roar of a wild beast,
nor the shrek of victim; but it was
the sound of laughter and merry voices,
and she could distinctly hear Sissy's
Shrill tones SAVING:
Wont you take me around by the
bee-tree, John? Do. Please do.
never saw a bee-tree"
'tIt's too late now, chick" Cousin
John voice answered. And through
an opening in the trees, Sophy came in
view of Cousin Johns tall, stalwart fig
ure stalking along, while beside him
trotted Bruno, the huge Newfoundland
dog. who always went into the woods
with his master and returned when he
did, with Sissy triumphantly riding on
his back!
For honest old Bruno was the Great
ure with paws whom Sissy had met
and whom, after her usual romping
fashion, she had ridden back to meet
Cousin John.
Can you imagine how Sophy Rugged
and kissed Sissy? Can you imagine
what weight was lifted off her mind?
Between tears and laughter she told them
what she had feared.
Sissy laughed at the idea, but John
shook his head and told her she must
never venture out of sight of the house
aga: n by herself.
1t ANT safe," said he. 1.-THE wild
beasts are venturesome when the snow
lies deep, and we can't afford to lose our
little Sissy''
They all proceeded happily home
ward, and if the panther was anywhere
about those woods he did not get
chance to devour either of the Fay chill
dren that evening.
And Sophy secretly determined never.
never to relax her care of dear little
Sissy again. Lacy Randall Comfort.
IN Golden Days.