The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-09
RY w A.LEE AND HUGH WILSON.

ed:
"Oh, if such a misfortune shoult
happen to me, what should happen te
me, what should I do? Mine is ;
beautiful boy, unless am blinded by
a mothers love, and [ must guarc
him with jealous care. Georgia
Georgic!"
|. The little one had been seated in
the front door, and only moment
before she had heard his innocent
laugh. But he did not reply to the
call of his mother. and springing up,
she sought him where he had been
sitting. lie was not there. She was
not especially alarmed, for she sup
posed that he had only wandered a
short distance from tho door, although
he was not in sight. and walking to
tho first corner, she felt sure she
should find him. Still, he was no
where to be seen, and the mothers
heart began to beat wildly, the blood
to course like lightning through her
veins, and then for u moment She felt
q faintness creeping over her.
Up and down the streets she ran,
calling upon the name Of her child.
Her manner was wild in the extreme,
and the deadly pallor of her face gave
her an unearthly appearance. and
those who saw her had no doubt but
they were gazing upon q lnnatic.
But still, no little George could she
find: oh, was he lost to her fo:-
ever?
Her manner attracted the attcn-
ton Of an officer. and, Of course, the
first thing he thought of was arrest,
believing, as did all others, that the
moor woman YVES thoroughly insane,
and might do BARN to herself, and
perhaps to others. But in q few
broken words she explained the cause
Of her unsual excitement.
To give the mother consolation was
impossible; and yet the assurance that
the authorities would institute an in
stant and thorough search, brought
some relief; but it did not lesson the
efforts Of the mother.
But the night wore on, and from
very exhaustion she was compelled to
seek her desolate home. But she
could not rest. Up and down her
humble apartment she walked. cvor
and anon calling upon her boy but
no response came, save from the night
wind, which seemed to moan in SYM
pathy for the mother. Now she
would snatch up toy or little dress
and pressing it to her throbbing
breast and ftvcrcd lips, would burst
into tears; and they were blessed
drops, for they relieved the heart,
and kept it from breaking yet.
Morning came, and an officer stood
ut her door. She FASTENED to admit
him, and upon his f:.le sic sought to
find the word hope. written. But it
was not there. Indeed, he appeared
to be an ilI-omencd messenger, who
brought bad news, but struggled be-
tween the breaking Of the tidings.
and the secret which he held.
Il am calm m-vcry calm," said the
mother, in q voice scarce audible. Il
am prepared for the worst-tcll me
ull."
IL fear there is no hope"
mo hope! No hope!' and she re-
pcatcd the words slowly "Yes, there
is hope-in Heaven. Tell me, is my
child dcad?'
"Do you know this drcss?' and
the officer produced Il tiny garment.
She clutched it, and replied:
eyes. 1t is the one worn by
Georgia when he Disappeared"
"Then all is over"
"Over! Then tell me how!
Where is the body? Where did you
find this drcss?'
1T was found down by the
river"
"And the body where is that?"
"Only the dress was found"
"But he wore it. How came it
8 ri: ped from his p,rson?"
'.Aladame, it is evident your boy
wandered from his home to the
rivers side, and that he fell into the
water. You see the dress is badly
torn. In falling, it was caught upon
an iron spike, and his weight stripped
it from his person; for we found 1t
hanging there"
And You could not find the body?'
"No. At the time the accident
must have occurred, the tide was run
ming out strongly: and the corpse
may have foatcd miles down the
bay"
'Oh, find him for me-fnd Georgia
for mel and the poor mother could
say 10 more, for she fell faintins into
the arms of the officer, who gently
placed her upon q couch, and then
summoned assistance.
And the mother did cling to
hope.
Day after day she passed in wan
dcring up and down the fashionable
streets, pccring eagerly into every
carriage, examining the faces Of all
children of her boys age she saw
at play and gazing into almost every
dwelling window, and still believing
that her child was not drowned, but
had been stolen. Several times She
had been coGse,ucrably startled, half:
,uothered cries had escaped her, and
she had run with all her speed to
overtakc some vehicle where she had
Camilla tLn 1rl;mnsn of an infant form.