Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-07-24

the center of whose terrible track had
been a number of miles to the south of
them, and whose chief for, : seemed to
have been spent on a little prairie vii
lage about thirty miles distant
Its where Cousin Annie lives.
said the bows.
Cousin Annie had lived with them as
sister, and even Harry could remem-
Der when she had left them to go to q
snug little home of her own in Rose
Vile
Father had enough to do to look aft
er fences. but early the next morsing
Bob and Jack set out in the spring
wagon to drive over and see how Cous-
in Annie had Jared in the storm. They
had not gone many miles before its
traces lay thick about a> they drove.
and Rob 5 anxiety grew 10 grave ar
as he saw more and more of It's fearful
effect
The bridge is gone" cr.el Jack as
they approached stream which they
must cross
Rob saw it with dismay. In ordinary
summer weather they could have ford
ed but the stream was 50 swollen BY
the rain which had accompanied the
storm that this was ROW impossible.
and, much discouraged. they turned to
take long round which would bring
them to another bridge.
As they entered the real storm track,
their way became very difficult Fall
en- trees Were entangled in the brush
wood, and in many places the roadway
was partially filled with broken branch
es and the wreck of far off ruined homes
Turning from it to drive across the
plairic, they tried to pass through a bit
of timber, but found it almost imposSi-
Bile to go on.
I'VE can never get to Roseyillc!"
said Jack, in despair, land if we do
everything will be blown away"
We must 20 on" said Rob. '.Hark!
What was that
A loud waiing cry came to them. and
they held their breath to listen.
Il do believe it's a Wildcat said
Jack, turning pale. ''Old Jim says he's
seen wildcats in the timber.
Nonsense -listen!" Again the cry
came. and Rob got ont of the wagon
and made his way among the bushes in
the dire ton from which the sound
came. calling Is he went. Jack fol-
lowed at Il safe d stance, but hurried up
as he heard Rob say:
'.Oh, you poor little thing
He was pulling apart tangle of
bushes. under which, looking up at
them with wistful eyes and pitiful little
sobs, was a pretty boy two or three
years old.
In great excitement Rob IA sed him
in his arm, greatly touched at seeing
how the little fellow clung to him His
clothing was almost torn off. and he
seemed badly scratched and bru Sed.
brought here by the Storm said
Rob Whose can he be, and how can
we find his parents9''
They gave him something to eat.
pleased at seeing how eagerly he drank
some milk mother had put into bottle
for their lunc,l. And then he sank con
tentedly to sleep on Jacks arm. while
Rob tried his best to get free of the OBJ
structions which surrounded him; and
n last. as twilight was falling, male
his way to what was left of the pretty
village he had visited the previous sum
mCr
What a sad scene of deva>t ton it
was. Very few houses was left stand
ing, and a few OF tee people were
wandering aimlessly about.
I'VE must lind Cousin Annie, said
Rob. ''She can take care of this poor
little chap till we find his mother.
She's over there" said man,
pointing to a house, in answer to their
inquiries. but she's in dreadful
trouble"
No WONDER said Jack, '.when her
pr tty house + all blown away
YES, but she's lost her baby, too.
Dear me. Poor little Archie dead"
Bob felt quite overcome with the sor-
row all around him As he went over to
tinl his cousin Hold the boy, Jack,
VIII le 60 and speak 10 her
She was seated in shaded room.
Rob went and spoke gently to her.
"Oh, my dear boy! The hand of the
Lord is heavy upon us" She began
telling HIM how her husband was out
with others. searching for some who
had been lost.
Meantime Jack had come near the
window of the room. rather tired of
holding the restless little boy, who 1T
the sound of voices within had strug-
glel to get away from him. and at
length VITA loud cry of Mamma
mamma was toddling towards the
door Cousin Annie sprang from her
seat, and in a moment the poor little
Storm-waif was in her arms.
is he yo rrs?' cried Rob and Jack.
And loa didn't know him?" said
Cousin Annie, laughing and crying al
At once. ''Of course you didn the is
50 change since last summer.
II he two went home with the boys
the next day to stay until. some kind of
a house C 'ul be got ready for them.
As they passed the broken bridge Jack
said:
Cousin Anne, if that bridge hadn' t
been gore we shouldn't have gone
round where we found Archie. and he
might have been there yet
And Cousin Annie, hugging the dar
ling close, thought she had plenty to be
thankful for. althouS n all they had had
been swept away by the angry wind.
Sidney Dayre, IN 5. S. Gem.