Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-09-18
4 CHILD'S FAITH.


OnlyI idle curiosity moved them. 70
hOne expected friends Or letters, as few
fame in those early days The stag
anally swung into sight, and stOpp q
squarely in front of the Kings House
A woman stepped down, and tahl
Cirl or perhaps 5 years was banded Il
her From beneath the soft wrap
pings a pale. ielicately featured face
was visible to the lounginR miners
and a pair of great blue eyes looked
Wistfully from one bearded face u
another.
Il don't see papa" she said, lcok
Ing round for a second time.
NO, dear, but We will find him
by-and by" replied the mother, as
she carried her tenderly into the
rough hotel.
Can anyone tell me where my
husband is: l am Mira Williams
viii you please tell him am here?'
the inquired, turning to the men
who had gathered at the door.
"Yes'm," said one "pu 20 and
tell him." and he Immediately hur.
ried down to the wash where . mum.
ber Of miners were working.
Say, boys, here's 1ne muddle.
Just as that Williams goes an steals
horses and gifts ready to swing fer 1t,
here comes along his wife and baby
askin' fer him. Who's golD' to tell
her?-I sin't"
The miners stopped working and
gathered close around the speaker.
..he's a little mite of Q woman,
and the baby girl is sick or something,
for she looks mighty ptnched like"
'Th' amt but one thing to do, as
/ can see," said Dan Howard. stick
ing his spade deep In the sand and
resting his bands on the top 'Jest
you 60 back and tell her he has gone
to another camp and we'll send man
after him. Look out that none OF
the boys get to talking about the
hanRin' where she can hear them
And the rest of us will Jump into the
saddle and take run over there to
Spring Ledge and bring him home.
It'Il take lively work II We get there
IN time"
The messenger returned to the
hotel and delivered the word, and
ten minutes later a dozen miners,
heavily armed. dashed away with
their horses on the run for Spring
Ledge.
What strikes my gizzard, Is her
havin' a sick baby along with her. l
can stand anything but that A
woman can get along here some way
or other. But we can manage things
all right; II We once lay bands ON
Williams there'I be no hangin'."
Dick Williams had been popular
among his fellow-miners In the little
camp, and every man In the party
stood ready to fight, II necessary. 1t
was not spoken Of. yet each one knew
that If Williams was rescued it would
mean business, and they were all pre-.
pared.
The horses ~ere getting we'll tired.
and were urged forward by impatient
hands, until faint spiral OF smoke
showed they were nearing the Ledge.
The men leaned closer in their sad
dies. and strained their eyes in an
effort to catch the first signs of com.
motion in the camp. They did not
slacken pace as they dashed up the
rocky trail until they were in tho
midst OF the heterogeneous collection
OF domiciles which dignifled the
mountain spur into the name Of
SpIing Ledge.
They asked no questions, for at a
glance they compretended that their
ride was OF no avail. There was a
small knot Of men yet lingering un-
der a stunted pine tree. A dark form
dangled in the shadowa They we're
too late
1t was an easy thing to obtain per.
mission To take down the body. aS IL
saved the expense Of burial by the
Spring Ledge people. So. after rest
ing their horses. they carried 1t back
with them to Bison. making q cir
,uirols route around the hotel, and
iari.g The body on the bed IN one Of
tac ,la7.ies.
\ cc.Su tatiOn was held. and not q
rlaU could be found who would break
The naws % the widow. Dan How
s-i VS. 50, ected, but he shook his
ts72 '-'cNgiy. mo, boys, 1 amt
~ ccCi II n KIN to wimmin folks
i 7 csI = ID I'll tell her. aud II
= can. l s~y Ge left camp. and no.
Ugly $50 were ne went"
H+-e- -yi~E into the cabin, and
zr~.l-. 0-rg out the dead man to
lock q, comfortable as possible. the
r,UE1 e. C made a careful toilet,
and weoJ Ur TO the hote'. He found
Ms Williams sitting ty the window,
Cu.df-g ne little one In her arms
Did YOU find my papa" Ques-
toned the child, briahtenIng up and
holding out white little hand to-
wards the miner.
Howard went over and took the
Dutstretched hand in his own rough
palm.
NO baby. didn't find your papa. -"
nc said, feeling Ill at ease - the
Widows eager glance rested on his
face. Addressing himself to Mrs.
Williams, he continued: "YOu ace,
n.a' am, when the man got to Spring
Ledge he found Mr.. Williams had
just left, and nobody knew where he
lad gone"
He was telling the truth. but IL
was rather a twisted sort Of affair.
Il felt SO sure of finding Mr. viii
Jams here, or l shouldn't have start
ed. Eta has not been we'll since
iaat winter, and l thought that
bringing her to the mountains might
break up her cough. He surely Jeff
some word here before he went to
Spring Ledge, did he not? l cannot
quite understand what should have
taken him to that place. Do you
think he will return soon?" asked
Mrs Williams, looking up with heI
eyes fiiled with tears of disappoint
ment
u couldn't say. ma'am. He might
and he might not These prospectin
trips last long while sometimes
There came to his mind the quiet Ol
the shanty, with the dead man lyinG