The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-04-09

roughly. Then he softened his tone, re-
membering it was a woman he spoke to.
"Ye're wrong bout Rilly," he con-
tinued. ''She amt the wust child. She's
the best child, the lovin'est generousest,
bravest, best child that's goin'. It's her
way that makes yo think different, an
ways depends on p'ints an view. Rilly
amt so bad, bein' rough, as some is bein'
smooth. Eff her mother wus livin'-
wall, she showed what she'd ave done
when she gave her that purity name,
Amarillo. She'd ave made her the pur-
test behaved child on the mountain. But
no other woman don't botherl"
Mr.. Pelter made an awkward bow an d
walked off toward his cabin, and Mrs.
Fromer went into the house to think it
over, leaving little Jerry outside. She
was very glad that he had so soon for
gotten Billy's invitation and his own dis
appointment.
No child on the mountain-or off the
mountain, for that matter-was quite so
good as little Jerry Fromer. His father
believed it and his mother knew it. He
made no trouble at all, but amused him
self in all sorts of pretty little ways, leav-
ing his busy mother free to attend to the
great amount of work which every
housekeeper-even in mountain cabin
in California-always finds to do
Almost always the weather permitted
him to play out of doors, so that ne was
far happier, as we'll as far healthier, than
if he were shut up in the house. And as
he 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. All through the long, pleas
ant time of sunshine the careful house
wife was left undisturbed 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 a little too hard on
Rilly, after all. Perhaps if the neigh
Dor women would only take little more
| friendly interest in her she would not be
such a rude little ruffian. 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 Jerry's father would soon be
home, and she must bring the little fel-
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 a panic she ran all about til,
house and up and down the road, calling
as she went; neither sight nor sound OF
her child could she gain. Little Jerry
was lost
"That girl! That dreadful girl" Mrs
Fromer moaned, as she realized that he
baby was gone. ''But, then | would
have heard her If she had come about.
Desperate and heartbroken she con
tinued her truitless search, growing
more and more excited with every
minute. When Mr.. Fromer came homt
he found his wife so nearly frantic tina
he could hardly learn from her what had
happened.
1t was terrible thing when he die
learn and realize it. There was no know
ing how long the child had been gone
but with darkness coming swiftly on hC
would have time before he could bC
found to get hopeessly lost in the fores
that was not so very far away. He might
be wandering there even now; and it wa
no safe place for little child to wan,
der. To say nothing of the dangers o.
starvation or exhaustion, wild beasts were
not unknown there. More than once ol
twice mountain lions had been seen OF
heard not very far from the little scat,
tered settlement.
Very quickly Mr.. Fromer satisfied him.
self that his child was indeed gone, and
he was about starting away to summon
the neighbors to help him in the search,
when Pete Pelter appeared. There was
trouble in his face and anxiety in his
voice.
''Was Rilly here ag'in after left YEP
he asked of Mrs. Fromer.
"No."
"She amt to hum, an amt been
able fur to find her, an I'm oneasy bout
her, it must be lowed"
"Have you lost your child, too2" Mr.
Fromer exclaimed in astonishment. 90
was just coming to ask you to help find
ours. He's gone, God knows whereof
He stopped speaking with that break
in his voice which it is always so hard to
listen to. Even in his own grief and
trouble Peter Pelter felt keen sympathy
with this other bereaved man, and was
about to say so, but an exclamation from
Mrs. Fromer checked him.
"That girl" Jerrys mother cried out.
And it was easy to know from her tone
what she was thinking of.
Her husband laid his hand on her
shoulder and stopped her from saying
more. Mr.. Pelter heard the words and
noted the movement, but he only said:
'T'll help ye to hunt fur yer child.
kin hunt fur mine later. Or mebbe well
find 'em together. reckon, that's most
hkelv."
All night long these two men, with
the help of all the other men in the set,
tlement, searched the forest with torche,
for their lost children and found nc
trace of either of them. One little BIT
of information was given by man who
came to join the searching party.
In the afternoon, while ON a shoulder