Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-07
hat I don't know what to make of it.


and she always seemed such tender.
loving mother tool don't understand it,"
Where are they now?' Iaskcd. do
they seem to miss her much?'
''Bless your heart, no. | can { say that
they do; they are too young. They are
down in the kitchen with Barbara, and
just as merry as grigs. Such little things
have no feeling
"I wish you would take it As easily rs
they do said
Il can't do not believe she will ever
come back"
Never come back ? never, Why.
what do you mean Do you think she
has rpn OFF,
No: not of her own accord. Bat |
think she has been spirited away. She
was too handsome to be ont in the streets
alone in the evening. And Barbara has
been telling me such shocking things-oi
murder and everything. Barbara says
she knows there are men in the city who
would not hesitate to carry her oil and
kill her. She says she knows there are"
Good gracious! Barbara must have
choice circle of acquaintance, certainly.
1t is all nonsense. Barbara is goose.
and You shouldn't listen 10 her; she has
made You fairly nervous. Ii is absurd
Just think. kidnapping and murder in
quiet Christian city like this, Why, the
idea Is too preposterous Yet, as
walked down the street after Breakfast,
1 could not help nv thoughts rexerting to
the sad story of those two Young and beau
tifni women in NeW York, who. ii YVES
said, left their happy homes, where they
were loving and beloved, and In full day
light went oai into the streets 10 shop or
pay visits. and never returned: no tjdingS
ever came from them. The most vigiiant
search failed to discover them. and con-
lecture itself could form no ciew 70 their
faie.
When returned 81 dinner time found
matters still worse She had not returned.
My poor landlady was almost in mysteries,
though she tried hard 10 control herself;
and RariA.ra, who had no sell-eontrol, was
audible IA her grief, and began 10 feel
myself That the chances of her safe return
were growing less and less
What is there / can d.. Mrs. Honey
woid?n said. You may command
my services. If you viii, only tell me what
you think had better do"
''Oh, thank you. thank you. General
Auchester. I have been all round the
neighborhood myself this morning: but
If yOu would be willing to see the police
men, and go to the city hall and speak to
the town crier (for such folks never mind
what a woman says), and if you would
not think it too much trouble, just write
an advertisement for the papers, and offer
a reward, for me-"
''Of course WILL" | said, and | set oft.
l did not spare myself; l visited all the
purlieus of the city; posted up notices
in various directions; | wrote advertise
ments to appear in several of the local
papers. doubling the reward Mrs. Honey
void had named; / interviewed the city,
crier, and was interviewed by the police
men. One of the latter, | fancied, seemed
to take more interest than the rest. He
followed me down stairs, and indicated 4
wish for a private interview, without the
knowledge of his chief.
Il think, general" he began, coniiden-
tally, "you said as how the party was
han'some!"
EYES," said. Every handsome.
''And young, Sir did you say young?
No offense, hopeP'
YES" said; "yet no, not very young.
l do not know her age, but she is the
mother of twins"
"Ah!" said the policeman, speaking
slowly and deliberately; II see. guess
it is an awkward fix, rather. But Pm with
you, general; I'll do what can for you,
seeing as how you look like a gentleman
as wouldn't hesitate to do the generous
thing" Here he paused, but he looked at
me so significantly that | involuntarly
handed him a small bank-note as re-
tainer.
THANK we, Sir: thank your honor" he
said. as the ready hand closed over the |
bride. That's handsome of you, general, |
that is, and III do my best for you; that's
so. But still. at the same time, | must say
it looks kind of blue
''Blue how do you mean Pr
swell, 1 mean just this. II she is any
where's round about here, and is % X as !
we say, in course she II come back to them
young ones of hcrn; and-if she don't Q'll
do my very bounden best for you; in course
wil)-but | doubt if she ever turns up in
this beat again. I've knowed something
of such things in my time, and guess if
she turns up at all, you'll find she has gone
TO distant market. But I'll do my best"
Aud so, sad, weary and discouraged, /!
returned home at night, only to learn there
were no tidings of the missing one.
give Her up now, saiu my weeping
landlady; II shall never see her again.
She is lost forever; and those two poor
pretty little creatures"
By-the-way," | said, II wanted to
speak to you about them. If She does not
return, what do you purpose to do with
themP"
Keep Them" said the generous and
iaipulsive little woman.
Il wanted to say, if she does not return
i will. If you like, relieve you of one of
them. My sister, who lives with me, and
keeps my house, is very kind. tender
hearted woman. There are no children in
the house, and she would, am SIRE, be
very kind to the poor little thing. What
do you say"
mo. no !" sobbed the poor woman; 81
can not part them. am poor woman,
it is true, but not too poor to give them a
home; and while have Il bit and II sup
for myself they shall have one too. Their
poor mother left them here, and il she
ever does return she shall find them here.
And If she never returns, then
= And she never did return, and no tidings
Of her fate ever reached US. If she was
anficed away by artful Establishments, or
Kidnapped by cruel '..olence, we knew not.