Oroville Union High School - Nugget Yearbook (Oroville, CA)

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depth of her forest and mountains to make their abode there for the sake of finding out her secret. An occasional faint train, however, gave evidence that she had ever found those with a heart stout enough or with an overflowing desire for gain, to endure the vast loneliness of her wild passes. liven these, at times, felt almost as if they must give it all up and leave for, try as they might, they could not shut out of their minds, or out of their very souls, the overpowering consciousness ol their loneliness and insignificance, when compared with the surrounding wonders of nature. The same day that Alan Bentwick disappeared. George Vance, a prospector was out in search ol game. He had lately come to this wild lonely place because his wife’s health demanded a higher altitude. Even now she was too ill to permit him to go a day’s Journey to the mining camp for supplies. While traveling the gloomy forest, his thoughts were a'most as dark as the paths he trod. He could not keep his mind from dwelling on the misfortunes of the last few days. It was hard —Me t ree-year-old child. Alan had taken ill and died two days previous.—died while his wife was In such a critical condition thai to tell her might be to hasten. If not direcily cause her death and he would be left in this great lonesome plaie alone -far from friends—home—old ties— with none but his dead and his God to call his own. This last thought made him wince and he lifted a silent prayer that he might be made strong to bear any trial which might come. A slight movement in the underbrush attracted his attention and upon going closer he saw a gleam of white through the leaves. Breaking through the entangled branches, the sight that met his eyes caused his heart to -13 stop leating. There upon the ground lay his child as if asleep! Or was it a dream? But, no, it was reality—some wild beast must have dug his child from the little grave the father had dug with such pains. As if troubled by its dreams the child moved in its sleep and cried “Papa . The words fell sweetly upon the father's ears though he felt more strongly than ever it must be a dream from which he would soon waken. The baby face was cruelly scratched and tom by the briers and his cheeks stained with lately shed tears—no, the child was no his, but so wonderfully like his that only a parent could tell the difference. Where could the child belong? He knew of no near cabin or village from which the little one might have wandered. Could it be that some one could have been so heartless as not to want it and had left it here to die? The thought made him sick at heart, and lifting the child tenderly from the ground h carried it home to take the place, as nearly : .s possible, of the one who was gone forever. The child awoke as he entered the doorway and cried. Mama,—mama!” Mrs. Vance, aroused by the baby's cry. opened her eyes and looked around, as one In a dream. Alan” she called, and (Jeorge carried the little one across the room and laid it in the rude bed beside her. Alan clasped her around the neck with his little arms and fell asleep, murmering. Mama. I fought I was losted. but here you Is.” Mrs. Vance steadily improved and was soon as well and strong as ever. She noticed a great change in ner boy but

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especially Mr. Bent wick, who believed that this night would deprive him of his two dearest earthly treasures, his wife «ad his boy. All night long he sat tense and silent, suffering untold anguish and scarcely daring even to pray that his loved ones might be returned to him safely. It was with great relief that the watchers saw the first sign ot day and long before the sun rose they had resumed their labor of love. The storm had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only devastation on the mountain and in the valley as a silent witness of its reign of terror. Fallen trees and wind-blown branches impeded the progress of the eager searchers and the rain effectually blotted out any chance trace of either lost one. About ten oclock, a cry was heard on the mountain side and the listeners heard the words. “Found, Found, Found!” echoed and re-echoed through the forest and valley below. All rushed to the spot. Joyful, yet fearful. Mr. Bentwick was in the lead with white, anxious face. Which is it?” he managed to gasp, “my wife, my darling.” and could utter no word further. Mrs. Bentwick lay. face down upon the rain-beaten earth with a belt which Alan had worn, clasped to her breast. Tenderly she wras carried home and all was done for her comfort that loving, willing hands could accomplish, while the fruitless search for “little Alan” was continued until the fall of night again. For weeks Mrs. Bentwick lay in a stupor, knowing no one and caring for nothing. During this time she spoke no word except when siezed by a delirious fever, under the spell -12 of which she would call up all the memories of her past life and of her child in a manner that would wring the very hearts of those who listened. Invariably she would rave about the night spent in the forest and start up as if seeing something before her. “Alan, Alan, at last mother's found her precious boy!” For a time it seemed as If she crooned a lullaby to a hurt or frightened child but would break off with a scream that would freeze the blood of all who heard. Help, Help. O, I can't see him die. Save him, save him. (), what shall I do? He’s gone!” she would cry and faint away. Slowly physical strength returned, hut her reason seemed gone forever. To Mr. Hentwick, it seemed more than he could bear to lose his wife and child at the same blow, and, as many another has done, he blamed his Maker. From a kind, good-natured man he changed to a sullen, morose, creature with no word of cheer for any one. and had no faith, either In human ity or in the Divine Powers. Not far from the peaceful, happy scenes of the quiet val ley. but on the bleak side of the friendly, sheltering range, nature alters her benign countenance and show's her wildest, grandest, most austere aspect, but even here, she is beautiful, although in such a magnificent way that she inspires awe. rather than love in all who beheld her, and a vague unrest for things not known. Here she displays her magnificent forests, wild cataracts and shaggy cliffs with their overhanging boulders, now and then giving a faint elusive suggestion of the rich treasures which she had hidden so carefully in her boson , as if to induce those who happened to pierce into the

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attributed it to the natural development of a normal child. Later when Mrs. Vance felt that she was strong enough to bear the truth he told her of the death of her little son and the finding aDd substitution of this one so like theirs, O! tieorge” she exclaimed, think how the poor mother must have suffered,” and she wept, not only for the loss of her own, although Alan had completely taken its place in her heart. All efforts to find trace of the child's parents were useless so they kept and loved this small boy. One day in early autumn Mr. and Mrs. Vance were sitting on the steps of their cabin watching Alan, who was playing nearby. “See mama, now I’m a hunter going out to Rhoot big black bears and elefants. and potamusas”—but soon tiring of the hunt he said Say. mama, play I’m dust your little boy and I’m losted and you can’t find me.” Mrs. Vance shuddered, No. Alan, mama don’t like that game, she doesn’t want to lose you even in play.” Howdy,” said a rough miner who had come up. unobserved by either Mr. Vance or his wife, Reckon you could put me up for the night? You see stranger, as how I've lost my way and its getting pretty nigh onto night—there’s no moon tonight neither.’ Mr. Vance replied that they would be glad to accommodate him and invited him in. where Mrs. Vance set before him a pimple evening meal. That was sure good.” said he, as he disposed of the last mouthful, don’t know when I’ve been so hungry—lost my path this morning crossing a stream and then I lost my way —came over from Ferndale this morning. Ever been there?” “Never even heard of it before,” replied Mr. Vance, whe-e is it?” ’Jlist the other side of the mountain. Mighty fine place. The 'd had some prefty tough luck there, that is the postmaster, sort of an old grouch, but it's not much wonder. Lost his child about three months ago.” “Why, did it die?” said Mr. and Mrs. Vance at the same time, for the same thought had come to both. Nope, worse'n that—it wandered off into the forest and they never knew what became of it on account of that his wife went insane and now he's- why what’s wrong,” as he suddenly noticed the expression on the faces of his listeners. Did you ever know the child?” asked Mr. Vance. “Nope, I never seed it but I remember something was said about golden curls and blue eyes—it must have been about the age of your boy there.” What's the man's name?” lieotwick. Harry Bentwick—happen to know him?” No.” said Mr. Vance, but 1 think I know something that concerns him very closely. I found this child on the mountain side and as I could find no trace of its parents kept it in place of my own little one who died.” Well I’ll be blowed; If this isn’t a queer w’orld! Who'd a thought it? 1 guess I kin spare the time if you need a guide. Oolr to start tomorrow'?” All preparations were made that night for an early start. Mr. and Mrs. Vance, although it hurt them terribly to give Alan up. yet were glad for the sake of those whom they had so long deprived of their dearest treasure. 14