Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-06-25

peaceable and were believed quite in
capable Of bolder crime than petty
dishonesty. Besides, what motive
could tempt them to steal a child
whose discovery in their hands would
be most certainly severely punished,
while even his undiscovered possession
could not avail them in any way?
1t was not long before soldier wai
sent, after whispered conversation
to climb down the bluff at the further
end OF the parade ground, toward
which the mothers in the garrison
had been glapcing shudderingly evel
!. since the news of Trottie's disappear.
!. ance. In terribly short time the
soldier returned, the tears filling hii
kindly Irish eyes, and in his hand
Trottie's little fez, which he found
half way down the bluff. just where d
rock oserhung the swift Yellowstone
A great silence fell upon the fort
which had been so full OF excitement
and the voices which had spoken oil
hope and courage to Mabel were hush.
ed when Tom Hsriot, sinking down
beside his wife's chair, laid his head
on her knees and sobbed.
1t was Mabel who spoke, almost al
once, in u strange, strained voice tina,
yet was instinct with energy, and
something which, If it was not hope
yet was resolved that it would not be
despair.
Tom, darling, do not give him up.
Our boy never went near the bluff
He promised me again this morning
that he would not, and he would nc
more break a promise than you would,
Tom. That Indian woman has him.
Find her-ind her quickly, dear; |
cannot wait much longer"
More to sooth her than from any
hope Of finding her belief true, Tom,
with another officer and . few sol.
diers, rode to the little Indian camp,
about a mile from the fort, only to
find that nothing was left Of it but
some burned out fires Something Of
his wlfe's strong conviction seemed to
pass into Tom Heriot's heart at the
sight of that suddenly deserted camp.
I've must make up several parties
and search for them," he said briefly
to the officer with him as they rode
back TO the fort; but there was the
light Of new hope in his eye.
There is this much Of resemblance
to family in such . small and isola-
ted community as the garrison at
Fort Fletcher, that, however much
they may quarrel among themselves
in prosperity, the touch OF great
sorrow on one Of its members effaces
all asperities for the time in the re-
membrancs Of how close and entire is
their mutual dependence on each other,
From the Colonel down to the latest
arrived recruit there was no heart in
the regiment that did not feel pang
at the, thought of the blue fearless eyes
and straight baby-fgure which, whe-
ther carried away in the swift rush Of
the Yellowstone or across the prairie
to some Indian hiding place, they had
little hope of seeing again. There
were more volunteers than were need
ed for the searching parties as soon as
Tom asked for them, and with the
last one to set out Tom went himself
after y sharp struggle between his
restless desire to be doing something
toward finding his boy and his sense
that he was leaving Mabel to bear the
heaviest burden of suspense alone. 1t
vas she who sent him away in the end.
"Go, Tom" she murmured, clinging
TO him with trembling fingers and
looking at him with pitsous, entreat-
ing ewes. "You have been always so
good and patient, perhaps God will
let you find him. | have been bad
wife, bad mother. Hush! ! must
say it before you go. | have been
wicked ana repining. though | had
you both safe, my precious ones; God
has punished me. Say you forgive
me-just once, Tom-and He may tor-
give me, too, for your sake and let me
have my boy again
Holding her close to his loyal heart
which indeed bad never doubted her
psrfection-he assured her that new
er wife or mother had been more per-
feet, uttering the forgiveness Tor
which she pleaded so passionately in
such tender words as made it sound
more like blessing than pardon.
Before midnight they were all gone,
and Mabel was left to wear through
the hours Of waiting in the rooms
where all Trottie's life had been spent,
and where every chair and table grew
precious to her in that long watching,
because they seemed to assure her,
with the dumb force Of every day as
sociation with him, that it was impos-
sibls he could really be gone forever.
All that night and the next day she
lived through her suspense as women
live through such agonies,-sometimes
on her knees, sometimes pacing up
and down, answering when she was
spoken to, eating aud drinking when
she was told to do SO by the friends
who took it in turn not to leave her a.
lone. But whatever she did, her
whole heart, her whole soul, was one
wild pra, er; /; such prayer as most OF
US make in our bitterest needs, and
whose passionate rebellion against
what may be His will the God who
made human love 90 strong must
sarely forgive, even if He does not
heed it.
1t was nearly sunset on the follow.
ing day when Mabel arose suddenly
from her knees. "Lsten !" she said
sharply.
There were hurried steps coming q.
cross the parade ground, and it fash.
ed through her heart that no one hur
ries to tell bad news. The door was
pushed open by soldier, for once toe