Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-20
FIRST PRIZE

iGI ) QdTluS llOASC'
She soon came to two roads, and as she
stood quietly gazing at the ground un-
decided which road to take she caught
sight of a small brown cap and pick
ing it up she found that it was
Donald's.
Blanche gave a little scream as a
suspicion came into her mind, Gould
it be true?"
Yes it could" she sobbed as she
looked back at the house, which was
cut off from view by the tall mountains
and trees and which was fully mile
distant from her.
Blanche leaped on her horse and be-
gan to gallop down the road, which she
supposed was the one her brother had
just travelled over.
After going six miles Blanche came
upon "a gypsy camp, and her face
turned white as she murmured to her
self:
MY suspicious are true"
There were two tents, and Blanche
walked quietly to the larger one, and
pulling aside the flap the moonlight fell
full in a tear-stained face.
Blanche leaned over, and tapping
him on the shoulder said softly:
Come"
Carrying him to the horse she set
him on, and then climbed on herself.
Quickfire stamped as Blanche got in
the saddle, and one of the men in the
tent jumped up and shot at flying lot
of dust a few yards distant.
Blanche arrived home and placed
Donald in his mothers arms. Just be-
fore she tainted she heard Donald say:
IT was going for a little ride, and
when 1 got to the cross roads some
men came up behind me and pulled me
off Pinto. I guess he has come home
by now"
When Blanche awoke they were all
bending over her, and she was con-
scious of a broken arm, which was
bandaged neatly.
"Oh, you are a little heroine" her
stepmother broke out
'And, oh, darling, call me mother
after this" MADELINE EVANS.
Venice, Cal.
Poor Blanche was determined to
find her brother before dark. She de-
cided at once to borrow neighbors
horse, with which she was familiar,
and go in search of little Donald. The
horse was loaned willingly, and she
was soon on his back, bounding over
the fields and shouting:
"Donaldi Donald! Where are you?"
Meanwhile little Donald, broken
hearted to think that his sister would
soon leave him, had taken Pinto and
gone to his grandfather's to beg him
not to send Blanche away until he
was old enough to go with her. He
had often made this trip before and
knew the way quite well.
In an hour he reached the house and
his flushed face indicated that some
thing Unusual had happened.
"Oh grandpai" he cried, breath
Iessly, as he fell into his arms, "please
don't let dear sister go and leave me-"
The wise old grandfather took the
tired child and told him that it was
best she should go, and asked him II
his mother knew where he was.
Blanche had gone so fast that be
fore she realized it she, too, had
reached her grandfathers place, SO
she hurried in to ask his advice about
her lost brother.
oh, how glad she was to t1nd lttie
Donald safe and sound. Her grand
father took them home in his surrey
for it was o'clock and they were
very tired.
When they reached home the almost
frantic mother took Donald in her
arms and hugged and kissed him.
Then she took the dear girl who was
thirsting for mothers love IN her
lap and said:
my dear child, I do love you, and
you shall call me mother l never
understood before"
Blanche was very happy the next
morning as she bade her folks goodby
at the train; and, kissing Donald for
the twentieth time, she said:
"You shall go with sister next time. !"
HELEN KNECHT.
11O Washington street, Redlands,
Cal. r. H. S., grade g.
Blanche ran to the barn, for her
fathers horse and was gone. The VII
lage folk did all they could. Men with
lanterns searched the village and the
women tried to comfort Mrs. Gaynor:
She would say over and over again:
"If they don't find him, I'll de-"
At midnight all the village was
quiet and Donald had not been found!
Blanche had not returned and no one
missed her except her father.
Meanwhile Blanche went racing on
l.er fathers mare. following the ponys
tracks. She knew she was going the
right direction because she had found
Donald's cap, tie and top string. The
mountains were steep and Blanche