The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-10

Inow felt that I must spend the nighson
the mountain and mako the best Of n I
found . heap Of dry leaves q the ghsstly
birch and broke aquantity Of bong . from tho
swaying hemlock to make me . bed, but BE-
fore lying down I went backt to my old stand
and looked for my ghost. It was Of no use,
it would never be any thing but . stupid
tree again.
nestled into the soft leaves, drew tho
bouRhs over me, and, though l Wa chilled
with the night air, soon fell asleep.
When I woke sgain I could 500 the wan
ing moon through the opening. Ishau never
forget how beautiful it looked sailing
through the dark violet sky. I Wa op-
pressed with . sense Of loneliness and b.
numbed with cold, but felt no fear. No
thought Of panther. ghosto or serpent crossed
my mind. Idrev the leaves and branches
closer round me and fell asleep, murmur-
ing: II laid M down and slept;I walked;
for the Lord sustained mo"
That text hung over the head of my
mothers bed. I cried . little 1t hrst, think
ing of her lying warn and comfortable, with
nevsr . thought that I was shiv6ring alone
on the mountain.
When I woke again It was quite day, but
the sky was thickly overcast with cioudA
I sprang up with some Of my old defiant
manner, but the birch tree near had . sub
DUNG effect on me. Twas forced to admit
that Jane Plumley had bssn afraid, had
grovelled in the most object terror, terror
OF nothing, too. l wss accustomed, when
school-mates refused TO join some mad
cap scheme OF mime, to taunt them: 70. You
arc afraid you'll get scartw / had been
afraid l should - frightened, modifying -
the thought was.
When / looked around. I concluded that /
had wandered quite over tho crest Of the
mountain and was far down tho eastern
slope. Ny wissst course seemed TO b 70 20
down to the clearing and ascertain ny loca-
ton. A few minutes walk brought me in
sight Of tho road with several houses; tho
river and low land seemed hidden behind .
little ridge. Twas familiar with tho aspect
Of the eastern slope, but I looked in vain for
. single familiar object. I recalled each
farm in regular succession, but none OF them
corrosponded with what I ssw bofore mo.
somewhat surprised, I decided TO g to
the nearest house and sock Information.
Tn not obliged to ask them who lives
there. but l can ask the nearest way to Ny.
P~lr.nley's."
With this thought started toward q little
brown house whose chimney, crowned with
Q curling smoke, announced that the occu-
pants were up. Presently I saw . man with
basket; he went to one corner Of the gar
den and began to throw something into q
little sly there. Apparently he wa feeding
some baby pigs. was within -four or ave
yards Of him when, with Q great start, I
recognized him Is Mr.. Howard, our neigh
bort rubbed my eyes vigorously. for tho
scales were dropping from them by tho
dozen.
I was at the very door OF the house which
l knew better than any other except my
" home. Within twenty-five rods VA
the scnool-nouse, q Playground q cairn
rock, tho balm OF 9ilead tree. 80 nrn na0
l been IN my oei'ef that l was on sne east
side that l had looked for . half hour on .
landscape which was a familiar - thu feat
OF my mothers face, ana . not
known IT.
Fortunately, my footsteps on the sward
were quite noiseless and had . little time
to recover myself before l was seen. When
Mr.. Howard turned he called, cheerily:
Good morning, Jane; You arc out early"
A sob came with my reply.
"Why. what's the matterl Any your folks
Stck!" I did net answer. Then. noticing
my trail through the dewy grass ho asked:
''Whero'd you come 'FRONT.'"
'Onn the mountain" (sob). "heen there
all night" (sob)f I'm most froze."
my senses! Poor child, no wonder. Hero,
come into b house" l hung back . little.
fer his kindly words had increased my sobs
to . genuine boo-hoo.
'Come. there's . good DIRE. Why In the
world didnt John Plumley raise the neigh
bors and hunt you up"
thought l was 1t MI: Story'a" linen
/ explained why l was not missed.
'Here. wife! wife" he called. - he
opened the door, there's Jane flumley; sho
lay ON Skitchawang last night and IN be
hanged II don't bIieve she WA AFRAID she
should get scarf fur once. want you,
janet"