The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
I'm what train ?" gasped Fred.
NThe e 90 The usual train -

claimed his mother "Don't take on So
Fred. OF course, the gentleman-not
finding you-took her homes
"And that was through train" said
Fred. "And who can guess to which OF
the hundred stations she has been car.
ried: 1t will kill Ally"
ALLY must not Hnow," said his father
with white, chastity face. 1--WE will
move Heaven and earth to find her. OF
course, we shall succeed. Never fear"
And with these hopeful words, thougl1
somewhat belied by his white face, the
old gentleman hustled around to get his
OvercOat.
ooh! mother!' cried Fred, despair
inly, eff | don't find my baby, think ]
can never forgive father. How could he
give her to a strangers"
My son." said the mother, earnestly
"dont let such a thought possess yoIl
mind. Your father loves that child as
well as you do. He was sure he saw YOU
and it was your usual train, you know.
tie could not get on, for 1t did not stop
and he knew Alice would be much dis.
appointed if she did not come"
She had written to have you keep her
till Christmas Eve," groaned the father
" She is prepaeing tree for her. Oh!
how will she bear the dreadful ncws?'
THAT is fortunate,' said his mother,
hopefully. "No doubt we shall find her
but the few hours of anxiety would be
dreadful to Alice. Be sure you don't tell
her, if you should not find her before
night
Well, the two distracted gentlemen
went down town. They visited railroad
offices, police stations, newspaper offices.
They questioned every body; inserted adj
vertlsements in every city paper, except
the one which went to Fred's house every
morning. They telegraphed the railroad
stations and the conductor of that train.
He remembered the incident; but in his
hurry had forgotten the gentleman's name
and address. Night came, and no news
and Fred took the usual train for home
in a state of mind that can better be
imagined than described. The hardest
thing was to hide his horrible secret from
Alice.
Happily, however, she was so busy with
her Christmas preparations that she was
not so observing as usual; though she did
notice his absent manner, and readily ac-
cepted the excuse of annoying business.
All the evening he held a paper before
his face, though he saw not a word in it :;
while his wife dressed doll for Baby,
fitting the delicate material and tying the
bright ribbons with fingers that had
worked all day on wonderful surprise
for him. Softly she hummed low baby.
song at her work, every note of which re-
called the baby ways of the lost one ard
gave a new pang to the heart of the
father.
Morning renewed the search. The
police were at work. The telegraph was
employed: Railroad employees were
questioned, business was utterly neglected,
and the close of the day found both father
and grandfather more silent, more hope
less than the night before.
Another long, tedious evening passed
away at the cottage. Another newspaper
covered Fred's face, while he revolved
plans OF search, and went over and over
i'll his mind every possible scheme he
could invent; while the ignorant young
mother chatted of her plans-talking low
ingly OF Baby and her delight, till he
feared he should lose his reason.
Thus the time went on-the DAYS in
frantic, untiring search: the nights in
sleepless agony-till the day before Christ
mas.
"Now, Fred" Alice said in the morn
ing, abe sure and bring Maudie tonight.
The tree is all ready, and III have it
lighted up. when you arrive"
mo, don't!' he cried, suddenly.
Why-why?' she asked, looking up
in surprise at his distressed face. "How
you act, Fred
IL mean,' he went on, h,,rriedly.
" perhaps you better wait till we are in
the house. The-the-train may be de.
layed, and the-the candles MAY burn
out"
ooh! yes" said Alice. "That was
thoughtful of you. III wait till l hear
you at the gate, and you be as long as pos
sible in the hall. Take Oft Maudie's
things, and by that time I'll have it all
lighted. Good-by.' And she put up her
face for kiss. Fred gave it with pang,
for he thought how the face would look
when he saw it next, and started off.
BY noon every last touch was given to
the tree; and Mrs. Benson, feeling tired,
went out for a walk in the bracing winter
air. After calling on one or two friends,
she found herself near the residence of
Mrs. Buford, who had lived there but
short time.
There! I've been intending to call on
Mrs. Buford,'' she thought; land | be-
lleve I'll do so now. I'd like to see the
stray child they say Mr.. Buford found so
strangely in the cars. How l pity the
mother, whoever she may be; though l
suppose it must be that she abandoned it,"
She rang the bell and was admitted,
The parlor door was open, Mrs. Buford
was sitting at the table with some light
work, and there on the floor, with kitten
in her arms, sat her own Maud.
Like an inspiration the whole thing
flashed over her. Freds strange conduct
and silence about Baby. which she had
noticed before; the child found in the
cars-she understood it all in an instant,
ana all the agony of losing and all the
joy of finding her rushed through her
heart in a moment.
" Why! why!' she gasped, "it's my
own baby'' and, with vague instinct
that her ownership might be disputed,
she snatched the child from the floor and
turned and fled.
The amazed Mrs. Buford thought she
was crazy, and called eagerly after her;
but no human being could overtake the
Heet steps of this thoroughly alarmed
mother. Drawing her own cloak around
The child as she ran, she hastily fled to her
own home, sprang in, and bolted every door
IS though she were pursued; then, drop
ping breathless into chair, she burst into
wild tears, hugging Maudie and covering
her wondering face with kisses.
The servant-girl came in, and for a
short time there was wild scene in that
quiet house. The mothers exhausting
tears were followed by nervous fainting
and Mysteries, and it was hours before
calmness was restored to the household.
Meantime Mrs. Buford, who had fol-
Owed her home, to see what had became
If Maudie, told her side of the story, and
he whole thing was understood.
Fred Benson walked up from the train
hat night in desperate state Of mind.
Many times on the way home had he
hought of jumping from the train, to end
lis own misery and avoid seeing that of
lis wife. Ali day he had tried to picture
1er horror and grief: and tried to fashion
he story he had to tell her, so that she
should not be SO hopeless as he was. Many
lines had the picture presented itself Of
he happy young mother lighting up her
Christmas tree, only to witness her own
agony.
Long he fingered on his wav IN from,