El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-09

you very carefully after this. for. oh,
do feel sorry about that perfumey'
That evening Kenneth went to the
pasture with his grandpa when milking
time had arrived. and for the first time
in Ills life he enjoyed the privilege of
drinking warm milk from the pail.
ut so vewy dood"' be said, drawing
long breath of satisfaction. Me like
it, boofulr'
| This experience seemed to make an
| impression on Kenneth that was not to
! be forgotten and that was destined to
cause n big cloud of anxiety to hang
over the farmhouse.
| 1t was the second day of the arrival
of John. Eva and their baby. and Ray
had been kept so busy by the little fell
lows curiosity and careless activity
that she was as nearly worn out as she
had ever been in her life. Not a breath
Of air was stirring. and it seemed as II
the sun were sending most pitiless rays
to that strip of Kansas prairie.
Eva and her mother were visiting to-
gether in the cool north room, but mas
ter Kenneth refused to stay there. He
sought a place of greater excitement,
In the back yard, where there were
drowsy chickens to chase, and Ray
must sit on the sunny back porch,
where she could keep him in view. The
sun made her eyes ache, and reading
became anything but n pleasure. She
could not follow the baby about, and
the moments dragged slowly. She
closed her eyes for a second to rest
them-only for a secondI She was
startled by her sisters voice close be
hind her.
Ray, where is; Kenneth 2"
"He is here" she answered cheerful
ly, then looked about in bewilderment.
Here, of course. but where? He was
not ten feet away when she closed her
eyes moment ago; he was not in
sight now, Kenneth! Kenneth. dearr'
she called. Come here, baby" But
there was no response. Where had he
gone? How long had she slept?
HE is not in the dairy" said his
grandma, who had been there looking
for him. land neither is the milk pail.
1 believe he decided to find the COW
and have another drink of milk from
the pail"
The women looked at each other, the
half smile which came at this sugges-
ton speedily freezing into an express
sion of horror, for how could the baby
know which way to turn to go to the
pasture? And straight before him lay
the half dry slough. with it's acres of
tall grass through which horse could
walk unseen. and where a child had
once been lost for so long that it was
nearly dead of starvation when found.
The great dinner horn sounded a
warning to the men in the fields. and
they came hurrying home. 1t had long
been understood that one toot meant
dinner. two meant man to see you on
business and three trouble; come quick
ly! Three toots had been sounded.
The men made their best speed. but
Ray, on the back of her pony. was al
ready riding round and round and back
and forth through the tall marsh grass
that covered the slough. calling the
baby's name at nearly every step.
The house was searched from top to
bottom and every building on the place
subjected to the most careful scrutiny.
but not a glimpse of little Kenneth
greeted the eyes of the five frightened
people who sought him.
Where was Kenneth? Only out in
the popcorn field. close beside the
house. busily engaged in filling the
milk pail with dirt. scooped up with the
butter ladle! By the time grandpa and
grandma finished their search of the
premises and started to join Ray the
pail was full OF dirt, and Kenneth
wanted to carry it to the house. but he
couldn't lift it. Neither could he over
turn it, SO as to have the fun of filling
1t again. So he decided to leave 1t
where it was and get Auntie Ray to
help carry it. He went to the house,
but no one was there. He called for
mamma and grandma and auntie. but
there was no response. Then. being a
very good natured little boy. who did
not believe in making a fuss over tri-
daS he sought the folded comforter