Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-28

becoming foot-weary and little
scared. But she could not turn bach
now She could not miss her party
if she kept on the straight road. But
lit was difficult to know just which
was the straight road, since there
were other roads leading of at shor,
distances. Kitty chose the largest
and busiest road as the main one.
The sun must have marked the
noon hour when Kitty entered deep
woods, following the road which was
now becoming very dim. She was toe
much frightened to feel tired, or cry
She must. she simply must find VIII
and Harry. Oh! how she wished she
had not attempted to overtake them
And her dear mamma! She had not
known that the boys were on their
way at the very minute that her little
girl had asked to bear them company
1 Had she deceived her dear mamma?
Kitty stood perfectly still for Few
minutes. Then she began TO cry SOFT
lily to herself. Oh. what was to be.
| come of her? Would some wild beast
devour her? She shuddered and
crouched behind some great rocks
which lay piled beneath some trees.
She had no idea what to do She
feared to 20 any farther. And she
feared to remain where she was.
At last, after a very long time
during which Kitty had prayed and
prayed for help, she heard strange
noise She looked about her. think.
| ing that her time must have come
to die. It surely was a wild beast
or some other forest monster. Kitty
could see nothing but the trunks OF
trees coming from heaps Of dried
leaves and twigs and rocks to rise
into towering tops Of wild.spreadlng
branches. But that noise! Yes, 1t
was like the stirring Of leaves! An
animal was approaching to eat her
alive!
Kitty closed her tear-wet eyes, her
heart futtering wildly. "Oh, Lord.
save me-" she walled beneath her
breath. "Tve been wicked little
girl to come off this way-without
my mamma knowing ! came alone.
But. dear Lord, protect me-
"Hello-Hello!" It was boys
voice ringing through the woods. 1t
was Immediately answered by three
or more ''hellos'' from distance.
Then the first voice called out: Here's
bushels of nuts Come south OF the
spring I've found
But the voice stopped at this point,
for the owner Of 1t had come pushing
through the bushes to the very spot
where Kitty was kneeling. Their eyes
met, and both gave a cry of surprise:
"Oh, Will" It was Kitty who cried
1t. And in another instant she was
holding to her brothers. arm, crying
out her JOY at having been found.
And Will, as if thunderstruck, stood
looking at his little sister. rubbing
his eyes and saying: Am l asleep?
How on top the earth did you get
here, Kiddie?"
II ran all the way, brother" said
Kitty between smiles and tears.
thought you were a bear to eat me
up. But I prayed and was"
"Say, sis, stop that crying. and
laughing and tell me how you got
here. Be calm now, Wee One" he
added, patting his sisters unused
flaxen curls.
Then Kitty told her story and Will
declared he had never heard OF any
thing so remarkable. Why, he
said, cit was just a mere chance that
brought us together, Riddle. You see,
on leaving the mill, we crossed the
bridge. but did not go over the main
road. for Jim said we'd find better
picking down the river a piece So
we turned into the dim road which
led to the left directly we had crossed
the bridge. And it led us round deep
bend in the river, we were hidden
among the trees which bordered our
road. And after we reached the woods
we decided to push north to the hill
side. suggested this move, for ia
been here before and found dead
loads Of nuts. But say, Wee One,
won't mamma sit up and wonder
when we tell her all this? Gee! you
had a narrow escape from being lost
in the woods over night, for mother
and father would have supposed you
to be with us till we returned and told
them to the contrary. Gee! 1t was
luck brought us together.
And within few minutes Kitty was
in the midst of surprised and ques-
tioning band Mrs. Bates taking her
into her warm, molherly arms and
kissing her. Never so away like this
again. dear child" she said.
II never WILL" promised Kitty,
bursting into tears. But she was not
weeping because of sadness, but OF
Joy at being found
"And now 1 must get into the
wagon, for mamma said l should not
go about in the weeds and broken
wigs. Where is the wagon? And
kitty looked about her.
'Ill take her to the wagon and
stay with her TOO" smiled Mrs. Bates.
and when you want us you will find
us there enjoy III; some Of the fresh
nuts you have gathered. And while
we are waiting for the gatherers, 4
shall tell Kitty a fairy story, all about
the little creatures who live in the
deep forest
And from that moment Kitty en-
joyed the outing; and soon the wagon
was filled, after which they had fine
picnic lunch, spread in the wagon,
for Kitty would not get out Of it. Il
must mind mamma" she declared,
her great baby eyes full Of serious.