Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-29
A LONELY WATCH.

by the side Of one of the wagon roads
that lie in the lonesome districts Of the
James rivera woman neither young
nor handsome, yet who attracted atten-
tion by her wild appearance and the
squalor of her attire, which was not the
outcome Of poverty so much as Of distress
and neglect. Alone, and unprotected by
anything save gaunt dog, she yet COM
manded the respect of all who saw her,
and the few travellers or mountaineers
who passed her involuntarily bowed, or
if they addressed her did so with the ut
most civility. Something in her dropping
figure and despairing attitude, as she sat
there, recalled that mythical daughter OF
Pluto on her desperate search, or that
heroine Of modern times-the Evangeline
of Acadia-when she said: Gabriel, o
my beloved" But neither traveller or
plodding mountaineer. thought of that
Only one man made bold to ask her what
she was doing there, and the night COM
ing on. Turning her sunken eyes that
CLEANED with the fires of insanity upon
him, she answered vaguely:
I'm a lookin' for the children"
"COme from Ovah thar" he inquired.
'Ga'as," she answered slowly, ''an'
j III gun iuI y ct MAIN sttu NO CHlluTeH
playin' aroundg'
Nat least no estrays. Be they lost
far away"
Yes, stranger, but me an Dook'n
find EN-. Come Dock" and she rose
and went wearily away.
"Luny," said the man looking after
her; ''luny, as l liy'. Wa'al folks as is
folks, allus cares for sich as her. and he
resumed his journey, going off with the
regular jog trot step, indigenous to the
native of that region.
At turn in the road he nearly ran
into a mana long, shambling creature
dressed in a mountaineer's suit of butter
nut jean, and swinging a rickety rife.
pint her t'Other way, stranger" said
the mountaineer. aint nowise inclined
TO be feed TO night. Reyenoo, hey, with
knowing look which the other man ig-
nored, as he inquired.
''Hev ye seen a woman goin' along
yeahabouts kind o. down in the mouth,
AN sick lookin', and yaller hound with
lop yeahs:"
''Jes parted with 'em, stranger; sh.
were a lookin' for the children. "D'ys
bl'Ong to the same party, an hev ys
found the young ones:'
The chlidren's all rite, it's her I'm
after; much Obleeged, mister, an good
day"
=. Mother luny," said the man as he
watched the tall retreating figure,
"Haint | seen that coon skin somewhat
Seems likely ez not" and he thought
fully resumed his twice interrupted
march.
The woman had walked on, and as il
grew dark, she was conscious of some
thing that she missed. Vaguely she
looked around.
Its the children" she said aloud,
there amt nothin' else gomez Lemme
see. Come yeah, Dookv'
Then she saw that the dog had disap-
peared, and after calling him for few
minutes, she walked on, but soon she
stopped, wavered, and fell in a heap BY
the wayside. She was aroused by a rain
of kisses. They fell on her closed eyes,
her feverish cheeks, and her weak and
wasted hands. She raised herself on her
elbow.
''Dook," she said family, ''ye didn't &C
for to leave me, did ye' thought ye haG
desarted mer'
Then she lifted her eyes from the affec.
tionate humble friend, and saw the man
leaning on his rifle.
"Hev We found the children, Rick"'
she cried, leaping to her feet. mo, ys
hain'tI i know it by yer looks"
Come home, Tilly," said the man
gently, I'VE told me when went on the
still hunt you'd stay an watch! Ye
amt been faithful ter what ye prom
ised."
'I was Iookin' fo' the children" she
said humbly. ~ thought ye'd be that
glad to see 'em yer wouldn't mind my
comm away. Be you mad with me,
Rick,'
'It wouldn't be no use, Tilly. Come
on home, an ter night I'll watch an ye
can sleep"
II must look for the children, Rick"
whats the use of lookin' any mo-,
They're home now"
BE they' Yer might have told me
that! I'll go back with you-if-I-
kin"
She staggered from weakness. The
man helped her along, tenderly enough,
but in a mechanical way. They walked
and talked like people in a dream
Ii was midnight when they reached the
lonely cabin on the side Of the mountain
that they called home. The sky was
studded with stars and a waning moon
had risen. A white fog, thin and yapory,
stole over the forests and the open
spaces, and gave a ghostly pallor to the
landscape. The cabin door stood open.
The woman was scarcely able to stand.
She rubbed her eyes hard and clung to
her husband.
"Hev | been dreamin''" she asked in
a whisper.
Yes" he answered gently, "dreamin
about the Children"-then in a tone Of
reproach-"You left them alone last
night, Tilly, when l wasn't here to
watch with them"
"I'm clean done out" she moaned.
Il forget sometimes an go lookin' for
'em. Rick, will you watch to night and
let me Sleep"
II calkerlated tew, he answered "Air
We hungry or thirsty, Tilly, There's
sonethin' ter eat an drink in the cup
board"
II amt hungry nor dry" she said in
weary voice.
I'm sleepy an kin rest, for las night
an the night afOre, / was a wanderin'
-wanderin', mind an body both"
She threw herself dressed on the miser
able bed The man looked at her. but it
was too dark TO discern her features, but
he saw that she was already asleep.
The dog stretched himself on the floor at
her side, and now and then licked the
pallid hand that hung nervelessly above
him. And it neither disturbed nor COM
forted her.
The man went outside and sat on
bowlder of rock with his rife on his
knees Behind him was the grim tower
ing mountain; before him was the cleared
space that belonged to the cabin. At a
little distance there was a small clearing
that looked as il it might have been in
tended for a flower garden-only there
were no flowers. There were ridges in