The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-05-28
MISSING FROM HOME.

1t was a dark misty night. Twelve
o'clock had just sounded over the great
city. The river Tapped ceaselessly
against the dark matted earth, strewed
with chips of wood from the timber
yards on its margin.
Here and there, a street or so from
the river, might have been seen q stray
policeman. Save for his nomadic pres
ence. no human soul was within sight
or sound.
Stay! Out on the dark dull waters a
slight intermittent sound, as of oars,
began slowly and gradually to become
| distinct.
Nearer and nearer, more and more
audible grew the sound, until the long
shadowy form of boat drew into the
gloomy curve of the bank.
Then out from the shelter of pile of
wood came two figures, bearing in
their arms something muffied, yet
| bearing a slight resemblance in shape
| to the human form.
This freight was swiftly and silently
| transferred to the occupant of the boat,
and the two men who had borne it sep
arated and passed quickly and furtively
| through different streets towards the
centre OF the city.
Away into the gloom of the shadowy
night and the sullen waters shot the
row-bOat.
For two hours this small craft made
its way up the river, the one oarsman
plying steadily On until he reached a
| wooded section Of country, several
| miles above the city.
| In the midst of these woods stood a
small hut, sufficiently removed from
the river to be obscured from view
among the sturdy brush, and the natu-
raj undulations Of the land. Into this
rude dwelling the boatman bore the
muffled burden which had been left
with him.
An odd-looking figure appeared at
the open doorway, and a disagreeable
| visage encountered his own-an old
woman's. wizened and greedy-eyed.
..You are late" she curtly observed.
81 am tired. =
DOUBTLESS; so am l." was the re-
| ioinder 1T was a long pull"
Before the blazing fire in the rough
! fireplace stood a palatable repast. To
this the stranger set himself. and with
a healthy appetite, soon demolished the
food set before him.
The old hag, seeming to understand
what was expected of her, began TO re-
move the wrapping from the rigid form
which he had hastily placed upon a
pile of blankets lying in corner of the
hovel.
The face thus revealed was that of a
! Young and handsome Girl.
The stranger rose from the table and
advanced to the old woman's side.
! ''She will doubtless come out of this
condition by day-dawn. Meantime, |
must be off She cannot escape. Damon
will keep guard. In order to keep the
! peace, when you see indications of re-
turning consciousness, make her drink
this mixture. 1t viii quiet her again,
and save trouble; you understands"
The ugly old hag nodded, as though
she understood, indeed and the young
man (tor his face and form We're youth
] full, though Q hardened expression had
settled upon his countenance) hastily
| LETT the miserable abode, and after a
furtive glance around, again entered
the boat, and rowed back to spot in
| the vicinity Of one of the town ferries,
where, choosing an obscure place, he
landed, and made his way back into the
heart of the city.
Within a handsome residence in the
| metropolis, at the hour when the mys-
! terious boatman started upon his night
excursion up the river, scene of great
apprehension and excitement pre-
| vailed.
Instead of the atmosphere of repose
which usually pervaded the household
! at this hour, the servants We're up and
! stirring, the rooms were still alight,
and the mistress Of the house paced
back and forth within her rooms, listen
! inc for the sound of the dOor-bell.
At last it came, and young man in
! travelling array sprang up the stairs,
! two at a time. to his mothers room.
Didn't think Of your waiting up for
me, mother. 1t is very late. "
''Oh, Percy. | thought you would
never comet cried the mother, sinking
| down upon a couch near; something
/ terrible has occurred. and | knew not
what to do until could see you. We
! nette-you know how wilful she was
! has run away. / fear with Young man,
who it seems, has been surreptItiously
meeting her. | sent for Estelle, the
companion she has recently associated
! with at Madame GeTard's. and / drew
| from her the fact that they were in the
! habit of meeting and walking part OF
| the way home with some young fellows
to whom they never received proper
| introduction, and | wrenched from Es-
telle the name of the one who has been
| devoting himself to Venette.
Percy Holmes had sunk back into a
seat, white with fear at the news his
mother had impaired.
/ A year previous to this time he had
| been left trustee for Nenette, young
! heireSS and distant relative. Unable,
/ on account of his own business, which
/ called him frequently away from town.
to be much with the young girl, she
had been practically under the guar
dianship of his mother.
The girl. who was only sixteen, had
been attending fashionable private
school during his absence. Unsophis-
ticated. and yet wilful. for she had
been an only child and almost spoiled,
! Mrs Holmes had suffered from the re-
| spons bility thus thrown upon her.
Venett's home hitherto had been in
country, and being all unversed in the
wavs of the world. she was too easily
influenced by every new presence not
TO be care to the gentle and easily