noon
she sobbed ; `` only me ; but father 's looking for them and , oh ! mother , Bouncer is dead ! '' The next day brought no better tidings . At noon the men returned from their search , jaded and dispirited . After the first explanations were over , Mr. Hedden called one of the party aside and whispered , huskily -- `` Give her this , Dennis -- I ca n't ; and tell her it was the only trace we could find . '' The mother 's quick eye caught sight of the object before her husband had fairly drawn it from beneath his hunting-jacket . `` It 's Kitty 's hood , '' she cried , stretching forth her hand as she fell senseless to the floor .