Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-12-31

80
loose in blizzard"
Ben deposited his sleeping charge
on the farthest edge of the bunk away
from him, then lay awake half the
night, expecting her to wake and cry;
for he believed tina. all children spent
half Of every night crying. and he was
greatly surprised to find that she did
not wake until long past the next
morning
A terrific blizzard was raging, and
1t was a week before the storm abated;
and still another week before Ben
could make his way back to the Roll
way with the child. By that time he
had fallen so deeply in love with her,
that he would have resisted her own
parents If they had appeared and
claimed her.
| The weeks went by and spring
came; still no one claimed the child.
The New Town Gazette had published
columns and editorials concerning
her mysterious appearance, confidently
asserting that she had been wilfully
abandoned by a wretch called Belle
Her picture was also reproduced in
large size, and for weeks many visit
ors came to see 'Ben's kid" as they
called her. At first he was MORALLY
jealous, fearing that she would fancy
some one, but her sole love was for
Papa Ben, and no one else.
| 1t was a great sorrow to him that he
could not take her on his trip to the
Camps and back, once a month, but all
his leisure time he spent with her, be-
lieving her to be the handsomest and
smartest child in the whole world.
New years again; bright clear day
with excellent sleighing. Ben, driving
rapidly along stopped out OF curiosity
at the deserted schoolhouse and looked
in. A woman, dressed in heavy cloth
ing, with white, wild face, came to
the door. AS much astonished as If
he had seen the child there, Ben drew
back, but she came forward.
Have you seen herr" she asked
Seen who?"
why my baby, my little girl l
left her at o'clock. She wasn't
awake then and Tom was here, so I
went out for walk. 1t was warm
then, but now it's cold very cold!"
and she turned towards the stove.
Ben hesitated. He was afraid she
had come for Rhena, his Rhena, his
heart sank at the thought, but he real
lied that she was little queer, and he
replied evasively:-
81 did see little girl around here,
but it was year ago"
mo, no, not a year ago. just an hour
ago, when IL was warm What has
made 1t grow cold, and where is she
and Tom?"
Was her name Rhena, and
Eyes, yes, my little Rhena, my
pI city baby, and she loves cousin Belle
so. You take me to herr" and with n
bound she was on the seat beside him.
So this was Belle. this wild, haggard
woman. but instead of hatred Ben sud
denly felt sympathy for her. But he
must know more before telling her
about the child.
And how did you come here with
her? Perhaps I've seen her. then per-
haps | haven't. You think and tell
me all about it, and then I'll help you
find her."
The wild look died out of her eyes
and she spoke calmly. Her father
was my cousin, Richard Colby, and
he looked so like you, only blue eyes.
Yes, your eyes are blue too. The
child has black eyes like her mothers,
but she always said that they were
blue like his"
Ben remembered that Rhena had
always declared that her midnight
CRIBS were blue like his, but he said
nothing.
Her mother died when she was
father was traveller for dentists, and
! hired us boarded at a hotel Just a
few weeks ago, relative left him
some money, $4,000, but poor Dick
died of fever, leaving Rhena to me,
and loved her so, Then Tom wrote
TO me to come to him. He was always
bad. but as he was my brother l went
and took Rhena- He met us at night,
and said that the sheriff was after him
for stealing. so he got an express
wagon. and put the child in it. and for
two nights we walked all night until
we got here yesterday. And now
can't find Rhena, nor her big doll nor
Tom. 1t was warm then. but now it's
cold There was no snow last night
when we came and can't find her
tracks anywhere"
Ben was greatly puzzled ne did
not know what to believe of her story,
but with promises of taking her to
Rhena. he aaieted her and drove on
TO the Camp.
Two strangers, who had just ar
rived at the Camps, hurried to his
slei,. h and before he could speak had
secured his passenger in spite of her
screams aud struggles Then he
learne' tn she had escaped S few