The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-23

whose life was spent among the hills and
lakes of southern Michigan, was called TO
mind Of an unusually romantic and mex
plicable experience closely allied to me
remarkable poem above referred TO. For
many years it had been the custom in the
Pontiac High school for the senior class
10 decorate the college chapel. take
charge Of all the ceremonies, and act as
Ushers at the annual junior class exhibit
ton usually held in the month Of April
II turn the junior class reciprocated by
doing the same for the seniors in thei-
graduating commencement exercises, al
ways held the last Friday in the month o.
June. The gradual ting class Of the year
1857 was thus taken care Of by the COM
mittee appointed by the superintendent OF
pubic instruction out Of the succeeding
class Of 1883. The mysterious and Omin-
Gus section Of the country known as the
'Tamsrack Swamp" in the south end CT
Oakland county was a favOrite camping
ground for the several classes in search
Of decorating boughs Of evergreen, swamp
pine, frs and hemlock boughs, with which
the halls Of the chapel were, year in and
year out. decorated. Besides these, there
were two species Of the orchid family.
the most beautiful and attractive being
the Lady slipper" the only one Of two
species Of orchids known north Of the tor
rid zone. On the afternoon Of June y.
ISSS, the writer, accompanied by wagon
load of juniors, attempted 10 enter the
dense growth Of this dismal swamp. The
sun snone' bright enough when the gay
party entered the usual path out Of the
right OF way Of the Pontiac and Northern
railway, but in al hour darkness had set
tied down with a heavy sable weight Of
gloom. Howard Kellogg. A. B. Stanton
and c. z. Biselow were in advance Of the
party, who were headed by a big mastin
dog, who each step over the boys and sink
holes OF the swamp smiled res-lessly and
whined and howled with evident distrusI
The gay party Of students paid no at
tention until suddenly the Instinct OF the
big dog was brought to bear and ne sb-
ruptly stopped and refused 20 90 farther.
Whirling several times in a circle, he
crouched low on his launches and set up
a terrible howl and barking, pointing al
the while toward a far-oT spot among the
dsnsely covered boughs and overlanging
branches. The party stopped in awe and
tremuious fear. as the shadows were now
close 10 the g-ound and the night already
oveChsuging n the swamp. Following d
supposed blind lead, the party watched
the actions OF the dog and in Z few yards
IL me open among q deadtau OF trees and
uprooted logs found there, to their horror
and wonder, lying safely and in apparent
ease, the eis5orste,y draPed form Of a
pretty and s,ylishly sttired baby girl
Close beside the CHILD was a vicke--work
basket. filed with eaca5 .es and child ap-
pareL No other trace was evident OF who
brought il 70 such an Isolated and far
away spot and neither could l. he deter
mined how in the world she came there.
Niles ard miles from any living hsbita-
zion. she lay so5hi1g ard crying IL child
ls1 fear % The massive, som5re trees
around her, ard the lcEub-ious surround
i1gs- TIE s1xu--aat draPery OF 11e has
ket- the fine texture O: III ba5y-s cloth
ins, Indicated q wealthy and influential
Qsreatage. Bu1 Why should she BE LEFT 80
alone in the midst % hungry wolves.
proving Wild cats aa6 o5ae- forest row
ing beasts q prey7 No one c-Giz gel ard
no one would attempt 20 explain 8ut a.
The party q young college students aP-
preached the mysterious spot thsy were
sG6dEed - The subduiug strains q a
nursery d.tty whose burden vas 'NoT
lay " Down u S,eep.' With ,ez--stsi--
Cd Ease and red, swollen eye-ids. ,1e LIKE
sweet si-3ie child vas T,ai1-.ve.y and SOL
emmy 1o-a1ag Out that time ao-o-e5
prayer. Wasch some oious nurse OF pe--
AaEs 3 considerations though irresponsible
mother Rad t4-sAs her from motives O
amidst the TAI pines and asmiocks many
miles away trom Any LIVING Ez5.rz-tor.