The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-18

feafy and truly don't know VIVA
I'd do with you
He looked at me with a halfcomi
cal, halfpuzzled expression on hi
dark face, and at that moment h
reminded me SO wildly OF q pictur,
had seen of the wolf in Red Riding
Hood, that, losing allcontrol of my
self, gave a short gasping cry, ane
rushed to the safe shelter OF tn,
nursery.
| did not see Uncle Richard for sew
eral days, nor did he take muct
trouble to seek the young niece left
to his care.
| When / family questioned nursie
she told me he had gone away, anG
that news completely lifted load o
TERROR from my mind.
Once, tired of my forced seclusion
/ went downstairs, eager to find @
picture book in the sombre library
The door stood hi,lfopen, and as ]
paused without, the sound of voices
broke upon my garments deep
voices, one of which instantly rec.
ognized as Uncle Richards.
Yes, she will be better out of the
way. Your idea is good, and can be
easily acted upon" he was saying.
"My dear sir, it is the only thing
to be done," the strange voice replied
softly. II will take her, and leave
her there, and you will not be
troubled by her."
Here the voice was lowered, and
try as l could, was unable to catch
the end of that sentence.
But l had hea I'd enough.
A strange cold numbness overpow-
cred me for moment, soon succeed
ed by a burning sense of indignant
wrath.
He, the wicked uncle, was even
worse than had pictured-he lost
no time in bringing my short life to
some fearful end.
turned away with sudden wild
desire to escape my doom, hurried
across the dim corridor to door ]
knew led to the garden.
1t was not locked, and easily open
ell; before l had half realized the
madness of my conduct, l was flying
down the silent street-hurrying as
if pursued by countless bad spirits.
l don't quite remember how it
happened, but as | crossed one of
the muddy roads l heard a loud
noise as of many horses tearing be-
hind me.
A harsh voice shouted "Stop!"
someone clutched my arm in q
tight grasp, then hard blow fell on
my head, and all was darkness.
When / awoke to consciousness
again, l found myself lying in a soft
white bed; a lady with the sweetest
face Thad ever seen was bending over
me, and as struggled weakly to a
sitting posture, she gently clasped
her arms about me.
"My poor little darling! What
made you run like that? Had | not
been passing at that moment, Heav-
en- knows what might not have hap
pened!"
She looked so mpathetic, so low
ing, that Icould not help resting my
head against her, and sobbing out a
disconnected tale of my woes. Her
lips quivered a little as Tended and she
bent to press a tender clinging kiss
upon my brow.
"Poor Uncle Richard! And did you
really think he wished to kill your"
she asked softly. "You have been
lett too lonely, too long in the care
of ignorant servants; no wonder he
desired to send you to me-"
'To YOU" l gasped, not quite I'M
derstanding even yet. "To your"
"Yes. You have been a very fool
ish little girl, and the cause of much
anxiety to one of the: best men that
ever breathed. Uncle Richard wanted
to make you happy, more like other
children, and had just decided to
send you to me, his cousin, when
you ran away. Had l not recognized
you by this description, he would
have been sadly distressed, not
knowing what had become OF you"
Glow long have ] been here?" l
asked, feeling terribly ashamed and
foolish.
"Three days"
"Where is Uncle Richard? Can 1
see him?" Whispered humbly, and
with q smile and a kiss, my nurse
left me.
The next moment however I was
clasped close in the arms of my
wicked uncle.
"My own little Nell! You will love
me now" lie said, and his voice
sounded no longer gruff, orperhaps
l had imagined it before. and Sob
bed half gladly as | kissed his
bronzed bearded cheek.
"Yes; l will love you always-you
and this kind lady," | murmured,
holding out an impulsive hand to
her.
Uncle Richard smiled very tender
ly. and looked from my fearful face
to her pretty one.
"That is Aunt Grace, darling, she
is to be my wife soon, and then we
can both take care of you"
l felt very glad when l heard that,
and happiness made me quickly bet
TER; so quickly indeed did the time
pass, that l could hardly believe a
whole month had gone before Uncle
Richard took me home to Betty
again-not home alone, for sweet
Aunt Grace was with us, and it was
O very different child who leaped into
old nursie's arms to the one who had
run away four short weeks ago.
"He is good, and love himP I
whispered exultingly in her ear. 81
don't believe a bit in stories about
wicked uncles; they are not true"
But nursie only smiled and wept.
and said was a dear, foolish little
lamb.