Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-03-14

marked by clouds Of sand that helped
the darkness mcrcifully to hide the chill
dreu
They're gone" cried Janet; but
hardly were the words uttered when
there came another louder trampling, the
click Of arms against saddles, and more
horses-hundreds OF them it seemed to
Janet-apd then, bringing JOY to her
heart, au American voice calling: For
ward" as the cavslrymcn pressed on af-
ter the Indians.
The danger having passed the tired
child fell asleep with Rose in her arms.
When she woke ii was bright sunlight.
Her dazcd eyes saw Nance feeding near
| ly, Rose running toward her, andau oldish
man, with a gray beard and bronzed
face, looking at her kindly. BY his side
was the lean wolf Rosy had called dog.
II knew it was tame one" cried
Janet.
lin course you did" smiled the old
man Me au' my gal, Ann Reed, fell
out twenty odd year ago cause owned
/ tame bar. She went ter Bostiug,
3
lowy.'
Janet, very widc-cycd, told him about
! Miss Reed VINO was one Of their wagon
patty. Gaining courage, she also gave
I her own history and Roses as far as she
+ knew.
! oval, You be powerful talker'
! cried the old man. Now come eat, an
then we'll ketch up with the caravan,
Say, though, sis, would YOU say, lowin'
fur age an my whiskers, Ann Reed amt
no bcttcrIookin' then me!'
You're both nice for old folks" said
Janet, politely.
He led them to dugout in the hills,
where they found plenty to eat, and then
they set out for the wagons, Janet with
Rose ON Nance, the wolf following the
old man S bronco.
The row last night, sis, he said,
twas Uncle Sans sOjers artcr lnjuns,
same as has been hangin' round yer train.
Wonder how them serious ways of Ann
Reeds wocld a took with Injuns?'
At night they reached the camping
place of the wagons, where there wRs
great rejoicing-Chasc, especially, COM
ing often to stroke Janet's curls, and nut
ter; "Ef you aint a borncd hero, never
knowcd one The stuff of a pioneer"
Jaucl's only sadness was that ono little
grave where the youngest pike lay;
the child mad died the night before.
How many nameless graves, some pathetic,
tiny ones there used to be on that great
pathway to tho West,
When Janet, with Rose in her arms,
climbed into her wagon, the hermit ap-
preached and said, mysteriously: ats
the same Ann Reed, sis, an she's there
a.pcttin that wolf like he were poodle
dog. Amt set agin 'em no more"
Two miles from Denver they met
horseman so pale and anxious they knew
who he was even before he called
hoarsely;
"Is my baby with your
AYE, she be, )" answered Chase, "but
we'd met yc with blank fuces an sorrer-
ful hearts but for Janet here"
Then nc told the story, and the father
got down from his horse to kiss her first
before his own child
"I'm well on, Joe" he said, brokcnly.
n can do we'll for her, and you say she
has no one, will have two daughters
instead of one"
"You aint a Maverick no more, Janet, ="
cried Joe, something shining in his honest
eyes, "au' there amt one of us but will
Did ye God-spced Et ever u lone little
, child was worth fathers love an care,
you be, an the blessin' of all us that
knowod ye goes with ye."
Aud as she, with Rose and her father,
parted from tn" companions of the long
wagon journey, thcy followed her with
loving fearful eyes, that little Maverick
who had found happy home. Touthr
, Companion.