The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1893-07-11

right direction, and hope began to
rise through her despair. She knew
her way well enough on fine day.
She had spent many an hour there
at her uncle's side while he was cut
ting down the long grass and bracken
as litter for the farm.
Suddenly her foot tripped in a lit.
tie ant hill. She tried to recover her.
self, but failed, and in another mo-
ment she was on her knees on the
damp grass. She was frightened at
the suddenness of the fall, and when
she got up she began to run.
"Uncle Reubenr she cried, "Un
Gle Reubenp but no answer came
Still the girl kept on. Indeed il
would have been impossible for hel
to go back then if she had wanted to-
Her mind was full of fear that hel
aunt would never trust her again
that the neighbors would not let hel
post their letters.
At this thought she began to cry
in wild, hysterical way, but she
went on running, sobbing as she
went and calling out brokenly:
"Uncle, uncle, Oh, dear Uncle
Ruby, where are you2"
Thus running, suddenly her feet
lost their hold for the second time
She stepped off somewhere; she
went down-she did not know
how far. She thought she was
dreaming she was falling out of her
swing. She seemed to go on falling
and falling and falling, and it was
very pleasant. ~.#.
At the farmhouse Mother Kimbc
had seen the fog rolling over the
brow, but she had not felt uneasy
until the time when she knew that
Rhoda ought to have returned
Rhoda never fingered on an errand
Mrs. Kimbo put on her bonnet and
went and stood at the door to listen
to Jocks bark. He always barked
when he came near home.
Noon passed, and yet no Rhoda
came. John had come back from the
station. II always said I thought
she better hadn't CO." he said by way
of consolation, and then relapsed into
his usual silence.
She's lost in the fog" said Mrs.
Kinbo slowly. you rouse all the
neighbors. We must scour the towns
III go with ye. I'll find her fore ]
go to bed tonight or"-and the poor
woman broke off. "Oh, I might
have known-I might have known =
she cried, half beside herself with
fear. "l'n find her before ever &C
to sleep again"
Mother, mother, do be calm y
said John. "Of course We'll find
her."
II be calm" said Mrs. Kimbo with
lump that she could not keep from
her throat. She turned and walked
into the house. She put on her boots
and pinned quaint, many colored
shawl over her head. Then she
placed bottle of milk in her pocket
While this was going on John had
had run down to the village to cal
all the neighbors who would come
And it wanted quite small army, as
they all knew we'll enough, to scou1
those downs in a fog like that. The
neighbors gladly came to help. There
was not one of them who did not love
Rhoda.
Within half an hour a line of men,
women and boys might have been
seen creeping steathily over the brow
of the hills.
They had hardly begun their search
when they heard a dog barking, and
in the fog at their feet appeared
Jock, wet and draggled, but piteous,
ly eager.
They followed him as fast as their
legs would carry them until he
stopped at deep ditch that had been
cut to drain the rainwater. There
the girl lay very white and still, with
her head against a stone. Great
drops of blood were standing like
dew upon her forehead, and her
clean starched linen gown was sod.
den with the mist.
They carried her tenderly home on
a hurdle and called for the doctor at
once. The wound on the head was
only a confusion, and that was not
severe. He looked long and earnest.
ly at the white face. She opened her
eyes, looking at the doctor in way
that made his heart bound. AS he
turned away he said softly, II dare
not tell you what I hope"
The next day Rhoda was sitting up,
languid, but improving. Her vague
look was gone. Jock lay with his
head in her lap the whole time. Ev-
cry one tried to spoil him. He took
it all as his due. He had behaved
nobly, and his shaggy breast swelled
at the thought. He was conceited
dog, was Jock.
Each day Rhoda's face grew bright
er. Mother Kimbo prayed trembling
ly in her room.
Strength returned slowly to the
girl, but it did return. The second