The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1892-02-11


When he reached the Briggs house
there was still no sign of Caroline. He
went around to the side door and found
II open and Mrs. Briggs sitting there
mending coat. She was large woman
and seemed to quite dill up the doorway.
"Have you seen anything Of Car liner
asked Davy, standing before her.
"Car'line," repeated Mrs. Briggs.
"Ycs, Car'line, Sarah's little girl.
She's run away, and I'm tryin' to find
her."
"When did she got"
"1 don't know--a little while ago."
"Well, Declare" said Mrs. Briggs.
al dun know but did see her. There
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.. Briggs's to
mend. | didn't want to get any dirt
around in the sittin' room. guess twas
her fast enough.
(which way was she goin'l" asked
Davy, 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 spool OF
thread, aud then want gone long
'nough for mouse to get past. You
keep right on an you'll find her"
Uncle Davy was out of the yard before
the last words were out OF Mrs. Brigpss
mouth. lie hurried up the road, look.
ing more hopefully for that little white
tirc--it seemed to him that he must sec
it. Many time had he pursued his
little niece Caroline when she had run
away, aud had always found her easily.
Caroline, although she had venture.
some spirit, never ran very far. But to-
night it began to seem as il she had.
Her Uncle Davy reached the Smith house
aud 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 Il quarter of mile farther;
there was still no sign Of that little white
tire. He ran through the wccdy yard
to the door and knocked. Nobody
answered, although he could see quite
distinctly the motion Of rocking chair
beyond the kitchen window, aud knew
there was somebody at home.
lie knocked again louder; nobody
came. He could still see the tall back
Of the rocking. chair sway. Finally he
went boldly to the window aud pounded
on it.; a startled face turned toward him
from the calico back OF the rocking
chair, then somebody went across the
floor, and the door was opened. "Who
is itl" asked a gentle, drawing voice.
Mrs. Wheelock was very tall and pale,
with pale sweeps of hair over her ears,
and mildly bcwildered, specialized face.
"lt's Davy Whitman" replied Davy.
"IIave you seen Car'hnel'
T!aa4y ~ Nhis.'WWteSiocz not
deaf, but she was as slow of comprehen-
sion as a heavy sleeper.
"My sister Sarah's little girl has run
away. Have you seen her go by heref"
"No, dun know as have" repeated
Mrs. WheeloclS, slowly, while her look
OF bewilderment deepened. Iaint 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 Whee-
lock house was the last in that direction
for mile. Davy walked on about half
Il mile, then he stopped before a narrow
/ lane that led over through the fields to
the woods, "Im 'fraid she went into
the woods. "I'm goin up the lane, "
! he said. "l'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 II long way ahead. Davy
trudged on. lie emerged from the lane
into Il cart path through the woods. 1t
was darker there. He called all the
time at short intervals: "Car'line2
Car'linc Here's Uncle Davyl ar'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 a point further down on the road.
He knew there was path, but somehow
he had missed it, aud did not come out.
although he was constantly expecting to.
At last he sat down on "A rock in an
open space to rest minute. "Pve just
got to-" ne said to himself. His legs
trembed under him aud he was painting
for breath.
In few minutes he called again
"Car'line, Car'liue, Caalinel Here's
Uncle Davyl Where be you, Car'line ?"
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 groaued. He had completely for