West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-03-20

iV"ShS. lntu ne SoitCueu ms tone, re
membering it was woman he spoke to
"lo'rc wrong bout Rilly." he con
tluucd. she amt the wust child. she's
tho best child, the lovin est, ycnerouSeSt.
bravest, best child that's goiu'. It's her
way that makes yo think different. an
ways depends on p'ints an view. Rilly
am So bad, bcin' rough, as some is bcin'
smooth. Et her mother wus ivin'-
wall, she showed what she'd ave done
when she gave her that purity name.
Amarillo. she'd ave made her the pur-
ue>t behaved child ON the mountain. But
no other woman don't botheri"
Mr.. Pcltcr made an awkward bow an 4
walked of toward his cabin, and Mrs
Fromcr went into the house to think il
over, leaving little Jerry outside She
was very glad that ne had so soon for
gotten Billy's invitation and his own dis
appointment.
No child on the mouutaiu-or of the
mountain, for that mattcr-was quite so
good as little Jerry Fromcr. His father
believed 1t and his mother knew il. lie
made no trouble at all, hut amused him
self in all sorts of pretty little ways, leav-
ing his busy mother free toattcnd to the
great amount Of work which every
housckccpcr-cvcn in mountain cabin
IN Califonia-always finds TO do.
Almost always the weather permitted
him TO play ont Of doors, so that he was
far happier rs well as far healthier. than
If he were smut up in the house And as
hc never thought of running away, this
was all very satisfactory to the mother.
Sometimes she did not have TO look after
him from noon until supper time
This afternoon was one Of those fortu-
nate times. An through The long. pleas
ant time OF sunshine tho careful house
wife was left undisturbcd To work and
think. She thought most Of her own
child, Of course, but she thought good
deal about Pete Peters child also. Per.
haps people were little too hard on
Rilly, after all. Perhaps il the neigh
bor women would only take little more
friendly interest in her She would not be
such rude little rufiian. Really she
never knew Of the child doing anything
actually wicked But she was such a
rowdy.
At length She noticed that the sun
shine had grown dim. Evening was
coming and Jcrry'S father would soon be
home, and she must bring the little fcI-
low IN and make him neat, as she always
did for the fathers home coming.
She went to the door, but Jerry was
not where she had left him. She looked
quickly about, but her child was no.
where in sight. She called no answer
came. In panic she ran all about the
house and up ana down the road, calling
rs she went; neither sight nor sound of
her child could she gain. Little Jerry
was lost
"That girl That dreadful girlm Mrs.
Fromcr moancd, az she realized that her
baby was gone. 'But, then would
have heard her If she had come about. -
Desperate and hcartbrokcn she con
tinued her iruitlcss search, growing
more and more excited with every
minute. When Mr.. Fromcr came home
hc found his wife so nearly frantic that
he could hardly learn from her what had
happened.
1t was terrible thing when he did
learn and realize IT. There was no know
ing how long the child had been gone,
but with darkness coming swiftly on he
would have time before ne could be
found 10 get hopclcssly lost in the forest
that was not so very far away. Hcmight
be wandering there even now and il wa,
no safe place for a little child to wan
der. To say nothing OF the dangers OF
starvation or exhaustion, wild beasts were
not unknown there. More than once or
twice mountain lions had been seen or
heard not very far from the little scat
tered settlement
Very quickly Mr. Fromcr satisfied him
self that his child was indeed gone, and
hc was about starting away 10 summon
tho neighbors 10 help him iu the search.
when Pete Pcltcr appeared. There was
trouble in his face aud anxiety in his
voice
WAS Rilly here agin after left YER
hc asked Of Mr. Fromcr
ono"
"Shc amt to hum. ana ! aiu't been
able fur TO find her, an I'm oucasy bout
her, it must be lowed
''Ilayc you lost your child, tooW Mr..
FrOmer exclaimed in astouishmcnt. 81
was just coming 10 ask you 70 help find
ours He's gone, God knows whcrcr'
lIc stopped speaking with that break
in his voice which 10 is always so hard 90
listen 20. Even iu bis own grief and
trouble Peter Pcltcr felt keen sympathy
with this other bcreavcd man. and wa,
about 10 say so, but an exclamation from
Mrs Fromcr checked him
"Thai girl" jerry mother criol out
And 70 was easy 10 know from hcr tone
what She was thinking or
Her husband laid h. hand on her
shoulder and stopped her from saying
moro. Mr. Pcltcr heard the words and
noted The movement, but hc only said
"j'll help SO to hunt fu yer child.
tIu hum. fur mine latcr Or mrlbrweI
and 'cm together ! reckon. that most
likci,'
AIlught long these two mcu. with
the help OF 900 Che other men boz thc sc,
Element. searched tbc forest with torchc.
foe their lost children and found no
trace OF either of them One little bi'
of information was given by man who
came Co join the searching party
lu the afternoon. while ON shoulder
OF the mountain near the settlement. D.,
bad stopped 20 look down at the house.