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

81 war homs lest aforo that. Left
right afterwards"
All the next day the search was kept
up, and without success At night the
men were exhausted aud had to rest.
But the second day the search was re-
ncwcd with moro vigor than ever
The two fathers kept together through
kind of sympathetic understanding.
They were widely separated from the
other Scarchcrs when they came upon the
tracks made 10y little feet.
A moment later they found larger foot.
prints and those of a dog close 10 them.
The men looked at each other with tears
of JOY running down their faces and
neither was ashamed Of his weakness.
They dashed forward over the soft. moist
ground OF the little hollow they were i'm.
not losing sight of single track sud.
denly Peter stopped with smothcrcd
cry of alarm
"Oh, Lord oh, Lord Look at thatr'
he groancd, pointing 20 the ground.
where the tracks of another animal
mingled with those oi the dog 'Do We
know what them i,l Thcm's the foot.
prints OF mountain lion"
1t was true. There WA, mo- mistalin,s
the nature of those later tracks.
"lou and me know what them marks
mean for both ov ms, said Peter. putting
his hand on Mr. Fromcr's shoulder.
"Thcr hain't no hurry now, fur were
too late So afurc we 20 on TO look fur
our ohildrcn's bones ! want YOU TO apol-
crgisc to my Rilly. Right Lcrc, Right
now! Yer thought i'm yer heart as she'd
led yer little fcllcr of | knew She
didn't. she'd give her life tryiu' To save
him fur We. How do | know? Cause
that's natural to Rilly fur one thing
Mother thing, them little tracks was
made aforc the bigger ones nd the dogs
Mother thing, the baby was alone when
Bin Brown seen him, nd Riily was alone
when he seen her nd told her bout it.
An more'n all That, while | was ont %
the cabin after Bin Brown seen her she
was there nd carried of grub enough to
last her nd the baby-if she found him
alivc-till she coulu git him hum. An
now, Jake Fromcr, if YOU don't apolcr.
gisc fur that insult yc thought iii kill
We"
Without speaking Mr. Fromer looked
into the other mans eyes and held ont
his hand. The look and the gesture
meant more than the words hc could not
control himself TO speak, and the apology
was made and accepted The two clnspcd
hands, and then went forward in fear
and trembling
Presently they stopped, having almost
stumbled over the dead body OF mount
ain lion. At the same moment "a faint,
weak whine Of recognition sounded close
by. and then there was happy but very
feeble cry of welcome, and the two
fathers knclt beside their living children.
~ knowed yc'd find MS, dad I" said
| lIilly. "My legs broke, nd we had to
wait. He broke it, pointing to the
dead beast, 'but nc nd Ranter KEEP him
of the kid, nd Ranter killed him. The
baby's all right. Didn't lind him till last
night. And wasn't he hungry"
With great rejoicing the lost children
and poor, torn Rantcr as well-were
carried TO the Fromcr cabin As Mrs.
Fromcr was layishing her tenderness and
gratitude upon Rilly, Pete Pcltcr came
and stood beside her with n triumph in
| his face that was good TO see
81 kuowcd we'd find them two kids
together, lac said "Au knowcd yc'd
I change yer pint Of view bout my gal. "
/ -Fai0dciDhio T0acs