Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-05-12
NNII.
MISS STELLA ACCO3IPLIsHEs HER
JOURNEY.

and enjoyed the serenity Of the morn
ing with its soft sunshine, its gentle
bTeeZes, its caressing zephyrs, and the
ch!rrup and twitter OF happy birds.
Now she wondered why she had neg
lected to learn from Tom Coyne just
how long she had been away and what
had transpiTed among her friends in
the interim. Tom had spoken Of her
disappearance as a thing of long ago.
Sne grew anxious TO get home. She
was overwrOught with anxiety TO re-
turn. She looked forward to the two
or three hours that must eIapse before
her rescue with depression; it would
be so long; so long. II was horrible
to be there alonel The birds made her
more lonesome; so did the breeze by
Lhe way in which ii set the bushes 10
trembling! Everything made her lone
~ How dreadful it was to be there
with not a living fellow creature with
in call,
Then she thought OF the dead with
in! Now she could recall as one re-
calls a dream, how he had taken care
of her. She remembered how she had
depended upon him; how faithful he
was. She recalled his constancy, his
care. his kindness of heart his gentle
| ness. the sweetness of disposition that
made the uncouth old man 4 tender,
tireless and watchful nurse. She
thought of him with affection and wept
again.
There was no violence to her grief;
she was too weak for violent emotion,
| She was only lonely and worn out;
worn out physically and mentally. Yet
this calm morning administered q
balm. the balm of nature, which
brought quiet and rest strangely con-
tradicting her sorrows; and in some
incomprehensible way it sent thrill
| of peace and content and gladness
through her soul.
She was annoyed by her inability to
make a satisfactory guess at the time
of day She was unable to measure
the growth of time; she could not tally
| the treadng minutes as they passed.
Sometimes she imagined that Tom
Coyne had been gone long enough tc
| have made the round trip many times;
then she would invent causes OF de-
Law and grow fearful that they would
postpone her rescue until the next
day. Again she would convince her
| self that Tom had not yet had time
to reach Minersvale.
Confidently, hopefully, doubtfully
despairingly by turns, she watched fol
| the coming of her friends. She always
looked III the direction taken by Tom
Coyne who had gone as the bee flies
| regardless of roads with their wind.
ings and turnings and deviations.
While Miss Stella kept watch down
the hill toward her right, the party she
watched for approached from the road
which lay quite in the other direction
| She did not think of their coming
from thence until Bell Morton rushed
upon her like a whirlwind of affec-
| ton.
"Oh, Stella, Stella, Stella. Dear!'
"BelI!'
That was all that was said. They
| clung TO each other and wept in tAei1
| gladness, Miss Morton lowering and
aalbierjgs 2yas s,. hsI drtsna tjke m4hs,
while Miss Stella clung to her in salts.
fed silence, supremely content in heI
| presence.
Miss Morton and the astonished
driyer-who had not been informed ci
| the object OF their driye-assisted Miss
Stella TO the carriage, which could nos
be brought quite up to the hut, and
| they Immediately started for home.
On the way they met the dead Wa
gon' and the coroner and his jury go
ing after the body of the Prophet, foI
Tom had thoughtfuily told the official
| that he had found the dead Prophet
while hunting rabbits. not limiting al
his more startling discovery The
| coroner took his jury out to view the
| scene, intending to hear Toms testi.
mony on their return to town.
During the ride homeward Miss Stel
Ia related her strange story as far as
she knew the details. From Miss Nor.
ton she learned of the long search by
the people and the longer search by
he adjutant; of the despair Of her
friends; of their vain surmises: or the
rumors of her discovery all over the
country; of Captain Zeniths trip tc
New York; of the confessions of Mollie
and Miss Letson; finally of the death OF
hope and OF the reluctant abandon.
nent of the search.
Where is the adjutant now?"
"At Camp Cook, just below Scran-
.on."
Tell the driver to go to the tele-
graph office"
For what?"
q want to telegraph to the adju-
;ant."
Her wish was oAeyed and at the tel
sgraph Office Tom ran in and procured
L telegraph blank upon which Miss
Stella wrote:
Il want to see you," and after ad-
dressing it, signed 1t simply Stella"
and Tom took ii in, paying for its
transmission with money from Miss
Morton's purse Miss Morton wanted
20 send long message but Miss Stel-
a insisted that explanations could
await meeting.
When they were near the Zenith
residence Miss Morton stopped the
carriage and got out, saying:
Wait here until l return; l will go
before and announce your coming; dc
not be impatient; do not get excited
when you see the folks at home; re-
member, control yourself and take
care, dear, for you are weak"
Having delivered her cautionary ad-
nonition she walked to Miss Stella's
home. Captain Zenith was sitting by
an open window with a newspaper in
his hand. Walking as if it was her
purpose to so beyond, Miss Morton,
after passing the gate step or two,
said:
Good morning Captain Zenith! How
are you IO-udy ! w ell, L nope!
Good morning Bell! Yes, pretty
well thank you. VIII you come in?"
Have you any news from Stellar"
"Ah, no, and dear child, we never
shall have news of her"
Oh it won't do to give up; we must
always hope for news of her; doubtless
she will come home all right some
day"
Bell, Bell Girl! You have heard
from her Have you not heard from
her?'
Il really believe that have heard
from her; and if have she is all right
and quite safe
My daughter! My dear daughterI
Where is my poor child, Bell? For
Gods sake don't torture me? Don't
keep me waiting? Where is she? Tell
me?"
He had come out through the open
window and now stood by her side,
with his hand laid appealingly on her
shoulder
Il will tell you where she is and will I
take you to her when you are suffi-
ciently calm to approach her without
excitement. She has been very sick
and must not be agitated"
Il will not excite her; l will restrain
myself; take me to herr"
Not yet; the family, too, must be 4
Drapavad NVbarp g Carrie