Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-03-05
CHAPTER XVI.

DRAINING THE CUP OF SORROW.
Winter-one of the hardest, bitterest
| winters known to the memory of man
has bound the semi-arctic region Of
Lake Superior in its frozen grasp.
Snow lies to an unheard of depth. AMI
mails perish miserably in the woods,
while human beings scarcely less
wretched groan under the fierce rigors
of this northern cline, the rich only
being in position to hibernate with
comfort. During the long, light night
the howl of wolves is heard, driven to
the doors of their natural enemy, man,
by the pangs of hunger.
Black care shrouds in gloom the once
happy home of the prospector, who sits
in his snug parlor, haggard and wan,
gazing dejectedly at the portrait of his
darling lost boy. On the wall hangs
big-printed poster, which reads:
ZONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD.
Lost. a boy five years OF age. Has light
curling hair, blue eyes and the scar OF burn
under his left arm below the elbow. Wore
when missing a black cloth knickerbocker
suit, straw hat with dark-blue ribbon. blue
grey stockings and low shoes Linen marked
". ". Answers to the name Of Willie. Adj
dress j. Wilders, Oretown, or Richard Sutton,
superintendent of police. Marquette, Mich
''Oh, Millie, Mile, is there a God
that such things can be?" groans the
unhappy man. ''My Willie, my boy
whom loved dearer than life, perhaps
now in want and suffering, perhaps "
ing dead in some lonely spot without
even grave to cover him."
''Hush, dear" Mile says softly.
''The Lord hath given, and the Lord
hath taken away. Can you not say
with me: Blessed be the name of the
Lord?'"
Il cannot, wife. If God gave me that
child to love, why torture my soul by
taking him from me?"
"Have courage, Jack. I do not
know why, but 1 have a strange pre-
sentiment that we will see him again"
But Wilders was not to be comforted.
Presently he looked up despondently
and said:
sis Susan Green Gomez"
''She's in the kitchen, dear; shall /
call her?"
'Aye, do"
Now Susan was the weak-eyed
maiden who had given such damaging
testimony against Frank Grey at that
star-chamber trial in the high school.
She had furthermore gained the noto-
riety of being the luckless individual
who had charge of Willie, when the
poor child was lost. Again and again
she had been summoned into Jack
Wnders' presence for cross-examina-
ton, and on the present occasion was
full of FESTIVE determination to put an
end TO the annoyance.
''Now," said the prospector, ''ten me
once more. Susan, how you came to
take the child from its nurse"
''Oh dear!" Miss Green whimpered,
''I'm sure I've told you all know one
hundred times at least Well, if you
must have it over again, this is how it
was:'
eyes, go on, Susan"
ST met Alma Miggs out for walk
with the boy in the North woods.
Susan she says, Willie wants to go
round to the cave. I'm lame,' says she,
and can't take him. Says I: Let the
little precious come with me- Says
she: I will Sowe went. Willie ran,
shouting and laughing. 1 saw him
turn the corner of the road and never
set eyes on him again. He was gone
just as though he'd vanished"
Ibid you hear no cry?"
81 never heard nothing"
''Think a moment, girl" the prospec-
tor said, sternly. WAS there no
cracking of the bushes: 10 sosnd Of
wild animals or of MANI"
''Nary a sound.
ssAnd you searched everywhere"
ssWish may die If didn't, Mr.. Wild.
ers. I ran up and down screaming
Willie for hours and hours. I'm sure
tore my dress all to shreds. an as for
my shoes, they was that sodden you
wouldn't have picked 'ern up if you'd
seen them a-lying in the street,
We will leave poor Susan to the ten
der mercies of the prospector's cross
questions ana take peep at the Whit.
ford house and its inmates.
1ro BE coHz1NUIDl