Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-02-13

was little mite OF thing run by little
while ago in white tire an wondered
who she was. I'd just come out here
with this old coat of Mr.. Briggss to
mend. / didn't want to get any dirt
around in the sittin' ROOM | guess twas
her fast enough.
"Which~way was she goin,?' asked
Levy, eagerly.
''Oh, she was goin' down the road
She couldn't have gone back, cause I've
been sittin' here every minute, an
should have seen her. | amt been in
the house but once to get a spool of
thread, and then l want gone long
! 'nough for mouse to get past. You
keep right on an you'll fud her,
Uncle Davy was ont of the yard before
the last words we're out of Mrs. Briggs's
mouth. He hurried up the road, look
ing more hopefully for that little white
tire--it seemed to him that he must see
it. Many time had he pursued his
little niece Caroline when she had run
away, and had always found her easily.
Caroline, although she had venture
some spirit, never ran very far. But to-
night it began to seem as if she had
| Her Uncle Davy reached the Smith house
and went to the door to inquire. But
the door was locked and all the curtains
were drawn; the Smiths were evidently
all away.
Davy kept on to the Wheelock house;
that was quarter of mile farther;
there was still no sign of that little white
tire. He ran through the weedy yard
to the door and knocked. Nobody
answered, although he could see quite
distinctly the motion of rocking chair
beyond the kitchen window, and knew
there WAS somebody at home
He knocked again louder; nobody
came. He could still see the tall back
OF the rocking chair sway. Finally he
went boldly to the window and pounded
on it; startled face turned toward him
from the calico back of the rocking
chair; then somebody went across tue
floor, and the door was opened. "Who
is it," asked gentle, drawing voice.
Mrs. Wheelock was very tall aud pale,
with pale sweeps of hair over her ears,
and a mildly bewildered, specialized face.
"Tt's Davy Whitman" replied Davy.
"Have you seen Car'hne2'
"'What?" Mrs. Wheelock was not
deaf, but she was as SLOW of comprehen-
sion as heavy sleeper.
"My sister Sarah's little girl has run
{ Hova I-o,t cooy, bar rro lN, haze
mo, dun know as have, repeated
Mrs. Wheelock, slowly, while her look
of bewilderment deepened. 81 amt been
settin' to the window sense dinner.
When did" But Davy was gone,
and she stood staring after him. She
stood there quite while before she went
back to her rocking chair. The Vhee-
lock house was the last in that direction
for mile. Davy walked on about half
a mile, then he stopped before narrow
lane that led over through the fields to
the woods. 'Sl'm 'lraid she went into
the woods. ''Tm goin up the lane"
said. 'I'm 'fraid she went into the
woods"
The dusk was increasing fast; how
ever, the full moon was rising, and it
would be still light enough to see the
white tire long way ahead. Davy
trudged on. lie emerged from the lane
into cart path through the woods. 1t
was darker there. He ,lIed all the
time at short intervals: "Car'line2
Car'linel Here's Uncle Davyl Car'line"
But there was no sound in response
Davy's voice grew husky as he went on;
it seemed to him he was walking miles,
but he did not know how many. 1t was
now quite dark except for the moon, but
that lighted the open spaces quite
brightly. He had had plan of taking a
circuit through the woods and coming
out in point further down on the road
He knew there was path, but somehow
he had missed it, and did not come out,
although he was constantly expecting to.
At last he sat down on a rock in an
open space to rest a minute. give Just
got to, he said to himself. His legs
trembled under him and he was painting
for breath.
In few minutes he called again:
"Car'line, Car'line, Caalinel Here's
Uncle Davy! Where he you, Clr'ine2"
but he could scarcely speak. Davy was
a slender boy, and, besides, he was worn
by anxiety for Caroline, of whom he
was very fond, and agitated, too, by a
secret remorse.
He put his head down On his knees
and groane1. He had completely for
gotten the party, even the BACKED shoes,
the best clothes, the bergamot hair oil.
~ amt never goin' home without her,
anyhow" he said, but his voice was lit
tie more than whisper. The sharp
notes of the autumn insects ran together
in his ears. Uncle Davy had not found
Caroline, but he was so worn out that he
fell asleep.
1t was lorg time after that when
cold nose and sharp bark awakened
him. 1t was Towser, who for once had
tracked folks instead of woodchucks.
Dayy sat up straight and everything
came back to him. He heard noises and
saw lights moving through the trees.
They're after Car'line,' he thought
with a pang, "they amt found her
yet"
Davy staggered to his feet, there was
a crash through the underbrush, aud his
father took him by the arm. 'Here he
ISL he shouted, and there was glad
shout in response. Then Sarah's hus-
band and Mr.. Briggs came up.
Amt you found her yet4" painted
Davy half sobblng.
"Found who?' cried he, father shak-
ing him.
Gar line"
"Car'lnc" she was found all right.
She want lost She didn't run far.
She went back to the house whilst her
mother was gone, an Sarah found her
eatin' grape jelly when she got buck
She'd eat whole tumbler. but guess It
won't hurt her any. It's you we're
huutin' for. It's II o'clock at night.
What did you come in here for9"
81 was huntin for Car'line." Davy
was so tired and bewildered now that he
was crying like a baby, although he was
twelve years old His father grasped his
little cold hand fast and pulled him
alone. "Well, there's no use standin
talkin'," said he. You'd better get