West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-07-04
DOWN IN THE GRASS.
BY WILL LIsESnrr

All night long the low summer wind
had famed the dewy grass, and stolen
with subdued murmur around the rude
board structure that nestled in the hiuh
grass on broad stretch of level prairie
and now a great luminous star which had
risen from the prairie sea, and from blue
waste of sky, shed its white rays down on
the world beneath.
As it rose higher in the heavens, its
feeble ray stole in at the open window of
the settlers cabin and touched the tangled
cloud of sunny hair that clustered about
the head of little girl of ten years-the
only child Of Amos Lee, the settler.
The fickering light of small llero-
sene lamp shed its feeble rays around the
room, revealing a rude bed at one end of
che apartment, on which lay the form of
man, his face flushed with fever. his
eyes wandering vacantly about the room.
Papa" said the child, bending over
the sick man, ''you must have medicine
and doctor-what must dol What
can do22"
She clasped her little hands appeal
lngly and tear trickled down her white
troubled face. "Waterl water!" cried
the sick man, gazing blankly about him.
The child hurried to the other end of
the room, and fetching some water in a
tin cup, held it to the sick mans Inns.
He drank the water eagerly, and sank
back on his pillow, where he lay quiet for
some time. Then he opened his eyes and
murmured:
"We must go way from hyar-they air
talkin' NV hangin' me II stay-and
mebby-mebby-we'd better be moyin'
for they'll COME again. Hits hard ter
natter leave our own home-but-bu but"
His mutterings grew indistinct, aud he
again closed hiseyes.
"Oh, papa my dear papaw cried the
child, "No one is going to hurt you-I
am here with you--shall go for doc
tori Oh, papa what must dor" and
she buried her face in the bed clothes and
wept bitterly.
( The father made no reply, save some
1ncoherent mutterings.
Presently the little girl arose and wiped
the tears from her eyes, a look of deter
mination on heryoung facc She then
took a little straw hat from peg on the
wall and placed it ON her head. She arr
preached her father, and bending over
him, kissed his hot, feverish cheek.
Papa, she murmured, her face close
to his, 81 am going for doctor-be good
and lie still till come back. I'll run all
the way"
She then turned and went out into the
night, and ran swiftly down the dim
prairie road, her little bare feet falling
nolselessly upon the damp, dewy ground.
The nearest village, Neutral City, Law
hve miles away, across a stretch Of wild.
unsettled prairie. Here the only doctor
IN that part Of the country resided. and
toward this place the little girl hurried.
She knew the road, having passed over It
before IN the wagon with her father.
1T IS not long till daylight" she
thought, as she hurried forward, ,glaucing
about her, as If expecting to see some
wild animal spring upon her from the
surrounding darkness. Onward, along
the dim path, that lay across the great
stretch of prairie she fled, while the bio
white star rose higher and higher in the
heavens; and the dewy breath Of night.
laden with the perfume Of sleeping flow
ers, swaycd the long grasses and rocked
the tops of the sumachs TO and fro. as IL
stirred their slender leaves into
tremulous murmur
The barking Of n coyote came from
afar across the prairie. and sent a cold
chill OF fear through the child's heart
she increased her pace, running swiftly
along the narrow path, her breath coming
last and hard, the long wet grass swirling
about her little bare feet.
Every bush or shadow was construed
into ferocious animal; and the sudden
rroaking Of frog filed her with name
less terror.
Presently the road grew dim and indis-
tinct-she had travelled for miles-hog
far she could not tell; but she was GROW
ing tired and weak, and her steps came
slow and laborious
''Oh, it's so for-so far" she cried
her heart beating fast. ooh, papa,
papa"
She uttered low scream Of terror and
half turned from the path; bat it was
only a night bird that flew within a foot
Of her, with ''whish" Of rapid wings
and disappeared in the darkness.
The great star rose higher and HIGHER
in the purple sky; o faint, ashy LIGHT stole
up the eastern horizon. and the sound of
waking birds came from the patches of
sumachs. Still the heroic child hurried I
ON as fast as her wcaricd and aching
limbs could carry her, her face pale with /
pain and fatigue, her feet and ankles /.
bleeding from coming in contact with
saw -briars' that ovcrhung the path
She had struggled wearily to the ton 4
Of little bin, when suddenly dark mass /
Of moving forms broke on her vision