Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-05-17
ALEXANDRIA, PARISH OF RAPIDES. La.

81 cannot tell just what time she went
out" she said; II know she was in the gar
, den with the little ones, and came in lust
before tea. After they had had their supper
and 2one to bed saw her in the parlor
alone, and when | came into the room
again she was gone, and she has not re.
!, turned, and I-n
"Oh. then she went out before the rain,
did she ?"
Yes, Sir; some time before the rain. ,,
"Oh, then that explains it; she was
PROBABLY caught out by the rain, and took
shelter at some friends, and has been
persuaded to stay. There is nothing to
be alarmed at; you had better not wait up
another moment"
3" But don't like to shut her out, gen.
eral; L should not sleep wink"
Nonsense! nonsense !" l said $50
to bed, you silly woman; you will hear
her when she comes, of course, and can
come down and let her in" And so saw
ing, retired to my own room.
The next morning, at breakfast, / no
ticed that my landlady was looking pale
and troubled, and felt sure she had spent
a sleepless night.
"Well, Mrs. Honeywold," said, with
assumed cheerfulness, as she handed nv
coffee to me, show long did you have to
sit up? What time did she come in2"
"She did not come all night, general, !"
said my landlady, in troubled voice.
"She has not come home yet, and 1 am
very anxious about it."
'No need of that, trust" said, reas-
suringly; "she will come this morning,
no doubt"
81 don't know. wish l was sure of
| II dnyntf ,l.1<~ 81
| L don't understand it she never did so
before. How she could have staid out,
and left those two blessed little things ali
| highland she always seemed such a
tender, loving mother, tool don't under
stand it,
"Where are they now?' 1 asked. "Do
they seem to miss her much?'
"Bless your heart, no; can't say 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"
81 wish you would take it as easily as
they do" I said.
Il can't; l do not believe she will ever
come back"
"Never come back? never Why, what
do you mean? Do you think she has run
OFF,"
"No; not of her own accord. But /
think she has been spirited away. She
was too handsome to be out in the streets
alone in the evening. And Barbara has
been telling me such shocking things-of
murdeS and everything. Barbara says
she knows there are men in the city who
would not hesitate to carry her off 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 to her she has made you
fairly nervous. 1t is absurd. just think!
kidnapping and murder in quiet Christian
city like this! Why, the idea is too pre-
posterousT' Yet, as walked down the
street after breakfast, could not help my
thoughts reverting to the sad story of
those two young and beautiful married
women in New York, who, it was said,
left their happy homes, where they were
loving and beloved, and in full daylight
went out into the streets to shop or pay
visits, and never returned; no tidings
ever came from them, the most vigilant
search failed to discover them, and con-
lecture itself could form no clew to their
fate.
When returned at dinner-time found
matters still worse. She had not returned.
My poor landlady was almost in Mysteries,
though she tried hard to control herself;
and Barbara, who had no self-control,
was audible in her grief, and began to
turn were growing less and less.
"What is there can do, Mrs. Honey
wold?" said. "You may command my
services, if you will only tell me what you
think had better do"
"Oh, thank you, thank you, General
Anchester! l 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 woman says), and if you would
not think it too much trouble, just write
an advertisement for the papers, and offer
reward for me-"
"Of course / will, !" said, and set off.
l did not spare myself; visited all the
purlieus of the city; Iposted up notices
in various directions; l 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, 1 fancied, seemed
to take more interest than the rest. He
followed me down stairs, and indicated a
WISH IoI pTltdtc IHGcTVIcW, WltuOut Tile
knowledge Of his chief.
6 think, general" he began, confiden-
TALLY, "you said as how the party was
han'somel"
EYES," said, ''very handsome"
sand young, sir?-did you say young?
No offense, hoper'
"Yes," 1 said; "yet no, not very
young. do not know her age, but she
is the mother of twins"
"Ah'' said the policeman, speaking
slowly and deliberately; "I see. guess
it is an awkward fix, rather. But Pm
with you, general; I'll do what 1 can for
you, seeing as how you look like gentle
man as wouldn't hesitate to do the gener-
Gus thing" Here he paused, but he
looked at me so Significantly that 1 invol-
UNFAIRLY handed him small bank-note as
a retainer.
"Thank We, sir; thank your honor"
he said, as the ready hand closed over the
bribe. "That's handsome of you, gen.
eral, that is. and I'll 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 meang'
Ill