Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-10-01

".JANNIE."
ny GEORGE .. SOuTHwiCk.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Little Jamie was lost.

Down through the valley they
carried the cry, over tho snow-drifted
hills toward Munster, into the bleak
ravines of Quakerton where the fox
finds refuge from the pitiless winter
and the scarce kindlier hunters prowl-
ings, aud where the waters sullenly
roar on under the tons of overhang-
ing ice. Jamie was lost-little Jamie
the lime-burner's son, the JOY of the
little world of Macklin, enshrined in
many hearts.
The wise ones were gathering in the
village forums of consultation-the
hotel office, with it's great sheet-iron
stove ablaze with good cheer, the post
Office grocery, with its convenient seats
of counsel on cracker barrels and soap
boxes-but the usual banter and chat
ter of the hour was forgotten. A soul
stirring alarm possessed all, a touching
fear, and q resolution to act and with
instant promptness. Somewhere
through the wildness that walled them
in with ice-crowned battlements on
every side, little Jamie had wandered
away, none knew whittier. The night
was coming on--the dread, bleak night
pf q n0rthela. --xipter. wooplass~ aud
starless, with grim black spaces be-
tween swallowing up human atoms
like snowhakes. Never . seemed
task 80 hopeless az when score of
strong souls, generated by the heart
broken father, plunged into the great
drifts toward Esperence, calling, call
ing, the shrill shrieks reverberating
through the painless valleys, answer
ing each other with demon echoes
through tho low chorus OF the winter
wind, each time the cry more despair
ing, more expi essive of q losing hope,
For, who within the reach of that
rumor Of tragedy but suffered AZ for
the loss of his dearly own? Poor old
Williston Marlowe What would be-
come of him now How had his
many hardships been crowned by one
annihilating blow A little tinge of
rebellion against the decree of Provi-
dence sprang up in many bosom, and
it was but human. Why was the old
ime-burner scourged beyond his due?
For many years in their midst
this strong soul had labored faithfully,
aud had made himself home worthy
of her whom he loved and took to his
heart to become the mother of this her
only child Then one summers night
the flames from forest conhagration
rained upon it baptism of fire, and
within an hour that home Of peace lay
a ruin. Soon came the little child like
q benediction Of heaven through the
sorrowing night, but the JOY seemed
too great. The patient mother lin
gered day, and then went out on
that long journey whence her little son
had come like glad tidings from afar.
And now little Jamie was lost.
Now.and then on that blind search the
father paused in the difficult way so
that his small army of followers,
armed with slaves and lanterns, UNI
hinching under the winters scourg-
ing, might catch up with him. They
found the old man raving, with hope
all but dead in his heart, remorse eat
ing at his soul like a poison. Yes,
remorse. Boys" he would plead and
plead again, 1--WE must find him-we
must find little Jamie tonight. For,
if we don't--if we don't, by the God
of our fathers / swear that 1 shall
never 60 back to Macklin--never !
never / shall lay down the cross
here and never look upon the face of
heaven again" And when strong,
comforting hands were laid upon his
great shoulders and tender encourage
meuts came brokenly, he would chat
ter on vaguely: You see, it was all
Pinto, little Jannie's shepherd dog.
The playful little beast had scratched
him with his teeth--just on the
dimpled fingers; but the sight Of blood
angered me. vowed to kill the brute,
and little Jamie mast have under
stood my meaning, for within an hour
they were gone-both of them
don't know whither--probably toward