Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-22
CHAPTER I.

WIS Au IOOO, uuOuL IuluWlutcC,
when Brier Dale was a narrow
clearing, and the horizon we'll up
In the sky and to anywhere n
days journey. Down by the shore Of
the pond there Theron Allen built his
house. Today, under thickets of tansy,
one may see the rotting logs, and there
are hollyhocks and catnip in the old
garden. He was from NIlddlebury,
they say, and came west-he and his
wife-ln 1929. From the top of the hill
above Aliens of a clear day one could
look far across the treetops over dis
tant settlements that were us blue
patches in the green canopy of the for
est, over hill and dale to the sm,.......
chasm Of the st. Lawrence, thirty miles
north. The Aliens had not child.
They settled with no thought of school
or neighbor. They brought COW with
them and a big collie whose back had
been Scared by lynx. He was good
company and a brave hunter, this dog,
and one day-it was February, four
years after their coming, and the snow
lay deep-he left the dale and not even
track behind him. Far and wide they
went searching, but saw no sign of
him. Near month later, one night
past IL o'clock, they heard his bark in
the distance. Allen rose and lit can
die and opened the door. They could
hear him palmer, and now. mingled
with his barking, faint tinkle of bells.
1t had begun to thaw, and q cold
rain was drumming on roof aud win
dow.
Hes crossing the pond" said Allen
as he listened. He's dragging some
heavy thing over the ice."
Soon he leaped In at the door, the lit
tie red sleigh bouncing after him. The
dog was in shafts and harness. Over
the sleigh was tiny cover of sail
cloth shaped like that Of prairie
schooner. Bouncing over the doorstep
had walked its traveller, and there was
loud voice of complaint In the little
cavern of sailcloth. Peering in, they
saw only the long fur of gray wolf.
Beneath it very small boy lay strug
Cling with straps that held him down.
Allen loosed them and took him out
of the sleigh, a ragged but handsome
youngster with red cheeks and blue
eyes and light, curly hair. He was
near four years of age then, but big
and strong as any boy of five. He
stood rubbing his eyes minute, and
the dog came over and licked his face,
showing fondness acquired they knew
pot where. Mrs. Allen took the boy in
her lap and petted him. but he was
afraid-like Wild fawn that has Just
been captured-and broke away and
took refuge under the bed. A long
time she sat by her bedside with the
candle, showing him trinkets and try
ing to coax him out He ceased to cry
when she held before him big, shiny
locket of silver, and soon his little hand
came out to grasp it. Presently she
began to reach his confidence with sug-
ar. There was moment Of silence,
then strange words came out of his
hiding place. "Anah jouhan" was all
they could make of them, and they re-
membered always that odd combina-
ton Of sounds. They gave him food,
which he ate with eager haste, then a
moment of silence and an imperative
call for more in some strange tongue.
When at last he came out of his hiding
place he fed from the woman. This
time he sought refuge between the
knees of Allen, where soon his fear
gave way to curiosity. and he began to
feel her face and gown. By and by he
fell asleep.
They searched the sleigh and shook
out the robe and blanket, finding only
a pair Of warm bricks.
A Frenchman worked for the Aliens
that winter, and the name, Trpve. was
Of his invention.
And so came Sidney Trove. bis mind
in strange letters, travelling out of the
land of mystery in winter night to
Prier Dale.