The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-02-07

hunting for that city girl"
"Is she lost-Miss Brayton :" gasped
Arthur.
"They say that she is"
@How did it happen? Tell me. quick ?"
~Why, you see, the ladies went out
horseback riding last night about sun
down and Miss Brayton's horse took
fright and ran into the woods with her
on its back. Mr. Bsntly and some men
followed her as quickly as possible, and
after awhile they came upon the horse
eating grass and she was nowhere to be
seen. They came back and organized a
hunt They've been out all night and
had not found her when last heard
FROM"
"oh, my poor Grace" groaned Arthur.
please tell me how can find the men
and 1" go and help them," he added, TO
the agent.
an go, too, in minute" the young
man responded, Fastening back to his
Office as the train moved away from the
station. AS they hurried away he hand
ed Arthur ball of twine.
"Put that in your pocket" he said;
"you may need it. When a fellow gets
out in the woods he's liable to lose his
bearings and not be able to tell the points
Of the compass or anything, so We gener-
ally take along some string to use for
guide whenever we go of the regular
beat"
Arthur took the twine mechanically
and they soon reached the edge of the
woods. Here they found Mrs. Bentley,
surrounded by group of sympathizing
women, crying and reproaehing herself
by turns for having allowed Grace to ride
that particular horse. PAusing only
moment to greet her, Arthur and the
agent hurried in the direction she told
him Mr.. Bently and the men had taken,
and in an hour or two came upon them
as they had paused for a pArley in
slightly open space.
denton, old boy, how did you hap
pen to Gomez" exclaimed Mr.. Bently,
springing forward to meet Arthur as he
saw him approach.
Il came on the morning train and in
quired for you, and the agent told me
what had happened"
swell, We are doing ali We can you
see."
Then, in few words, he detailed the
plan of the hunt, asking Arthur if he
had any suggestions to offer. The theory
the men were working on was that Grace
had either jumped or been thrown from
her horse unhurt and had then started to
return to the village, but, missing her
way, was still wandering in the forest.
II she had been hurt, they argued, she
would have been found near the horse or
along the path between him and the vii
lage. Arthur had no suggestions to
make, but was anxious TO be at work, 50
ne fell into the place assigned him, and
the whole party moved on, occasionally
hallooing or blowing horns and whistles
TO attract the attention OF the lost girl
should she be within sound Of their
voices and instruments. They moved
steadily on until noon. when they met
another party of men who had been
searching in another direction. \ halt
was called, and after consultation thought
that it was no use to push the hunt furth
er in this manner, as all were sure that
they must have overtaken the girl ere
this were she simply walking about.
Arthur lay on the grass with his hat
over his eyes and great cry going out Of
his heart.
"Oh, Grace Grace :" he cried mental
ly; "if there is such a thing as thought
communication do tell me where you
are, that | may come to you"
He had begun to think that she must
be dead, yet he could not rid himself Of
the impression that she was calling him.
Could it be that she vas calling him from
the other world
'If only knew" be thought, Il could
bear it better"
Presently he remembered that she had
often told him that in order to receive
message il was necessary that the mind
should be calm and passive state. With
a strong effort of the will he controlled
his feelings, and remained perfectly
quiet while he awaited the coming Of the
message. In the course Of a few mo-
ments the Sell-known shiver passed over
his nerves, followed by a glimpse ofan
open space in the woods, dark hole and
something lying at the bottom.
Like fash it came to him that Grace
might have fallen into some hole and
been hurt back near the clearing.
"Haye We passed any holes into which
she could fallen?7 he asked Of Bentley,
starting up suddenly.
q haven't noticed any" was the an
swer. "Yet we haven't looked partieu-
larIy, as We were so sure she would be
found wandering AROUND"
Let's 90 back and look over the ground
you went over last night" said Arthur,
springing to his feet, with fresh hope in
his face.
The men were nothing 10th to 90 iu
the direction Of home, 50 they were soon
in readiness to start, Arthur walked be-
side Bentley in silence for awhile, look
ing carefully for every appearance Of
hole. At last he stopped still.
'Pm going to try an experiment Bent
ley" he said, taking some twine from
his pocket and fastening il to tree as he
spoke. Il wish you wouldn't question
me, but you and few men wait here
until I'm half an hour ahead of you then
follow me slowly"
"All right" said BentIy, 50 completely
discouraged that he would have followed
anything Arthur suggested, If only to be
relieved from the oppressive responsible
ity ofleading hopeless hunt.
Arthur plunged into the forest letting
the ball Of twine in his hand unwind as
he went
When he had gone far enough away
from the rest to be unseen by them and
their voices unheard by him, he paused
leaned against tree and closed his eyes
while he waited TO see if any more i'm