Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-03-05
CHAPTER XVII


Happily circumstances favored her Sc
clusion. The light of the sun was so
painful to the poor girl that we kept the
blinds closely drawn down all day, never
leaving the house before evening. and
then she showed no wish to stray from
my side. To her the garden at the back
OF the cottage was a wide world, enclos-
ed with high thick hedges it was beau
tjful world, too, full of surprising treas
ures and lovely wonders. Every flower
vas a miracle. and the commonest herb
a source of delight. l never knew how
much there was to admire in so small a
space until she showed me. We have sat
for hours watching a spider make its
web; we have followed an ant step by
step down the long path to his retreat
IN pot on the top of a dahlia stick, sym
pathiZing with him when he went wrong
and had to find his way back, congratu-
lating him on meeting a friend who clear
ly put him up TO short cut, condoling
with him when he got upon tiresome
ground, and found himself compassed
about with a forest of chckweed-all
with a growing interest in his career that
only ended when we felt sure he was
safe home at last. When we had watch
ed the stars come out until the heavens
were full and the night we'll advanced. |
took her away over the downs and show
ed her the sleeping villages, and the dis
tant town of Towerbridge, where the
gas lamps she took for fallen
stars; but she was always glad to return
70 her beloved garden. Everything in
the world was marvellous, she said. but
there was nothing more beautiful or won
drous than the endless discoveries she
made there. Mere largeness, which had
never produced pleasant impression on
hel mind, ceased to excite establishment:
;he larger animals-horses and kline
were not more surprising to her than
night moths and tiny insects whose beau
ty escaped the sight of impatient observ-
ers Her view of nature at first appear
go 10 me distorted, but l came to see
that in every instance her judgment was
truer than mine, and that my views were
warped frequently by the influence OF
early teaching and conventional ideas;
through her | learned to rever-
ence God in small things as well as great
The nights were mild and fine, ard we
spent them chiefly in the open air; for
Psyche was 10th to go indoors, even when
the sun had risen and dimmed the world
to her eyes. After seeing the stars go
out" one by one, and the clouds take On
the opal tints of morning; after marking
the first twitter of the swallows in the
caves, and the lowing of the cows when
she had watched the flower petals unclose
and display their hidden beauties, and
the first ray reflected in rainbow colors
by the dewdrops hanging on leaf and Cos
samer, she would still linger with closed
eyes TO feel the suns warmth on her up
turned face and outstretched hands.
She slept through the day in her dark
ened room, and this gave me opportunity
to 60 over to Towerbridge, where l was
not known. and get the things we needed
food and clothing, and the like.
bought couple of pretty dresses for
Psyche, a square of lace for her head,
Shetland shawl, and some shoes with
bright steel buckles, and these things gave
her great delight, for she was quite hui
man, and loved as well as any other pref
ty girl to look nice" | felt tolerably
secure in leaving her alone at these times.
Except the Chase, there was no house
nearer than the inland village of Ec-
clesham.
Thus a week passed without my taking
any steps to discover Psyche's friends.
or seeking an interview with Miss Dun
can, seeing that l must first habituate
Psyche TO the new life before introducing
any change; but at the end of that time,
moved, l fear, rather by the jealous fear
that Miss Duncan might be married to
the husband her father had chosen than
BY a disinterested consideration of
Psyche's welfare. sent an advertisement
TO be inserted in the second column of
the Times. 1t ran thus:
'FOUND-A girl, thought to be be-
tween IS and 10 years of age. who dis
appeared about July IA, 1877. Apply for
further information. by letter. to The
Finder, Postofice. Toweroridge"
Three days after posting this adver-
tisement l walked over to Towerbridge
and asked at the postoffice if there were
any letters for The Finder" The post
master handed me one. 1t was from a
firm of solicitors in Lincoln's
Inn asking me on behalf of a client.
whose name was not given. to supply
them with the information referred to in
my advertisement.
Although the name Of the firm was a
sufficient guarantee of their good faith.
felt Ii necessary TO be guarded in my
reply, lest their client might be the very
man who had paid old Peter to do away
with Psyche. OF all persons In the world.
he would be most anxious TO get her into
his hands. After some consideration re-
piled as follows:
The girl in question. presumably I'M
der the influence Of narcotic. was in
closed In a chest. and the chest was given
by an unknown man TO notorious scoun-
drel living in Bonport 10 be taken out at
night into the open sea and thrown over
board. The chest was opened and the
child. showing signs of life. was carried
10 shore. and there has since been kept
in confinement by the rascal employed TO
sink the chest. She was discovered and
removed 10 a place of safety by me. l
cannot leave this neighborhood. but il
you make an appointment TO meet me in
Towerbridge any day between IL and 4. l
will be happy to answer further cues
lions upon this subject"
expected reply TO my letter the
next day, but none came; another day
passed without any letter being slipped
under the door. and then concluding that
the postman had not thought ii worth
while 10 deliver 1t, believing the house TO
be empty. resolved TO 90 over to Tower
bridge and make inquiries the following
afternoon il nothing came in the interval.
l waited anti three-the latest hour
at which the second mail was delivered
at the Chase. and then assured that
Psyche slept l locked the doors and
started for Towerbridge. About fo1r
reached the rsstofice. The packet OF
returned lette.s was examined. and noue
being found Addressed 70 me. / tsls-