Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-09


 Quiet -eigned again at the Sign Of the Bat," and dawn had begun it's wait ing race with the night, when man left the tavern, and alone, on foot, set out for the little church on the road to St. Louis. Fog lay thick in the underbrush, and where low-hung branches formed an arch above the travellers head, the leaves would fillip a tiny shower in his eyes. Every spiders web was a loom, with warp of light, and wool of pearl; each blade of grass sword, so wet, it seemed it would rust before the sun could dry 1t. It was not far to the church, and soon Winslow came in sight of the plain wooden front with its spire-the boast of St. Charles. For the point was of iron. and the use of this metal-so precious to the pio- neer-he regarded as an overwhelming proof of piety. Thefog and mist of night were now retreating. before the dawn, which had sealed the parapet of hori- zon, planting there broad banners of violet and gold.
 No soul was in sight. Winslow walked about carefully noting the signs of presence left by the party of the night before. They had evidently dismounted and dallied long, for at every fence post was the print of i'm patient hoofs, and in the wood fresh scars made by the teeth of the rest less ponies. In all directions leading to the forest, the ground and under brush showed traces of vigorous search, until, finally, prints of many hoofs led away to the north.
 To the forest, then, they had gone; to the river his course lay. He took out the little diagram of bark-the line was direct from church to river. Here, at this double cross, Owatoga had said the boat would be waiting-what boat, and could he find it? He plunged into the woods with a sudden excitement born of the actual test. If he could find the boat-if one were waiting then, indeed, he might rely upon the clew. Otherwise-and his heart sank leaden at the thought. If no boat were there, he might, to be sure, get an- other, but would not one wrong start prove all the plan false?
 Rapidly thought plowed through sus- pense in his brain, even as his feet pressed with eager haste the brush and bracken of the riverside. Owa- toga had given no hint of his direc- tion-was it up or down the stream?
 Down. he would have had to row against the current, and past the vil- lage, with more show of detention. Winslow thought it more likely that he had taken that course, was ever the Indians and against the wave, 0wa- toga's giant strength would have less chance of being overtaken. The pos sibility of observation was small it had been a Sabbath day, and in the heat of noon, when all would avoid the river.
 All this owatoga had doubtless con- thought Winslow, as he tramped the waters edge up and down, peering into every clump and shade. His steps had led him well to the east, when, suddenly, halfway between the water and a ferny coppiee. he spied small and dark lying on the sand. Mechanically he went to exam inc 1t. and his heart beat like forge as he recognized the black bag-the silk triae she had worn at church the previous day. He stood still for a overcome by the feelings of relief and tenderness reused fin him by this inanimsts thing-this bit of silk that had dsaEled from her waist.
 He raised it from the damp, sandy bed as though ii were sacred. fondling it with reverent care. Then. with the touch of lt, rushed over him. too. a sense of It's practical yaluei Here was rrOof Of her presence on this spot. then Owztoga had brought her here be Sas on the right track al lasti
 Folding the bag, he was about to stow i, m his pocket, when from 1t dropped a yellow envelope: he stopped to regain it-it was hss own In her this note. which causing his presence in the forest on that fatal night. had caused all the tangle of dis trust ard suffering and apprehension -ali the vretched coil The sight of the yellow paper filled him with dis gust. and to find the reminder of that night in something of hers-to see 1t n this dainty pocket which should hold ,nIy delicate. clean and beautiful shivsred. hurt in all his liner feelinEs q.
 Replacing the letter. he put the bag n his knspsack. with e little sigh. hen ss if throwing aside sentiment 'or practical things. he Iooked care iuIly about She had been hereof hat there wss proof; but Ovatoga had asnttousd two bosts-rhsre could the ,thsr ee1
 Ills gaze fsIl upon a sonsthIng which ookei Hke two ends of boards Joined ossther ia a vsy that prOrs1 mans landiuork The boat, He made . lash into tAs coppics. and from fl ,ugled s light canoe For one moment Ie stood szrveyins it. in thankful. silent -estz<y: the, hs pszhss Il iron shore nd uss o1t O1 ths broad breast of the fisOuri
 Tor .. idle zozest tze bat svs.s