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Show Page 169 in the lead. Walter had been chosen to go along, and Margaret and I watched as the glow of the burning pine knots that lighted the way melted into the forest. They came back without Rose. "She was gone when we got there," Walter explained. "Edward said she packed a bundle and fled into the forest soon after Twig left. Poor Edward. He knew not why she did so. He told us Rose kept saying she'd be found out, that we'd come for her." "Whatever did she mean?" Edward had asked. "When we told him," Walter continued, "he sat like a man benumbed. We will search the woods tomorrow," he finished. For three days the search went on. No trace of Rose was found. Tongues wagged in the settlement for weeks wondering what had become of her. Perhaps she was taken by a wild animal Perhaps she became mired in a swamp and drowned. Perhaps she was scalped by strange Indians. Whatever dread thing had happened, we all felt it was a fitting punishment. It would be a long while ere we came to know Rose's true fate. ******************** |