River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-20


little shop in the house he had been di-
rected to, and the keeper thereof said
that she had bought it of Ann Golden;
"But havn't seen her since she said
"only there's bit of card with her
number ON it--that is, if can find it,
After search she did ind it, and the
captain, thanking her hurried away, but
another disappointment awaited him.
Mrs. Golden had not lived in this
second place for years. She had moved
into Clumber row, but what number DO
one could remember.
AT Clumber row. whittier the captain
drove in cab, woman owned to having
had her for ledger.
s'She had child staying with her,
too she said. Little Ned she called
him, but to tell the truth, she drank so
that turned her out. couldn't abide
such doings., She went to Fossil Lane
No. 81
To Fossil Lane the captain went 1t
was filthy place. and there was drunk
en- woman at No. 8 who was not Ann
Golden, and who threw piece of wood
at him for asking for that lady. And
now every clue was lost, ana the captain,
nearly beside himself with anxiety, APP
piled TO the authorities for help; and at
ter many days of great unhappiness he
heard of Ann Golden who lived in quar-
ter of London so low and dangerous that
all decent people Stunned it
mo wonder" the captain thought, IF
she lived there, that she should have had
his remittances sent to the post-office, and
lett him TO believe that his child was still
in the decent home to which she had at
first taken him."
Almost i'll with excitement, the poor
captain drove, with POLICEMAN as pro-
tector, into the maze of hideous lanes
and courts that led to Ann Golden's
dwelling, and, following his conductor,
dropped into filthy cellar, where, amid
the horrible leakage of drain pipes and
almost in utter darkness, sat an old WON
an with a bottle beside her, who started
up when the captain and his guard enter
ed, and cried: .What now2 What's the
police here for9 Is the boywanted
again9"
And, altered as she was with years and
drink, the captain knew his wife's old
nurse, Ann Golden. He gave cry of
rage, and darted toward her.
MY boy9n he cried.
And she screamed, ats the captain ~
as my boy liying2n he asked.
"Yes," said the woman, shaking all
over, "he's alive and WE'LL"
GLOW dare you keep him here9" cried
the captain.
"How can help being poor9" whined
the woman. Il couldn't give up the bit
far h Ol6 L.. IfY1,ty
i'll, Don't be hard on me-
Good heavens" cried the captain.
Ny Ellen's baby in place like this y
He dropped his head on his hands
then he lifted it and clasped them.
"I'll have him away from here now p
he gasped. It's over, and he's young
and will forget it. Where is he9 Have
you lied? Is he dead?"
No, no." said the old woman. "Hell
be here soon. / hear him now. That's
him. He'll be here in minute. Don't
kill poor body, captain don't"
II could do it." cried the captain.
=" Listenl There is some one coming.
My child! My childn'
The door open softy, head peeped in
low down, then drew back
come in,n piped the old woman.
The perlice arn't arter you--leastways
for no harm. Captain that's him-your
boy Ned"
And as the captain stood with out
stretched arms there crept in at the door
who? what? the The deformed and
dirty creature who had picked his pocket
whom he had fed for the sake of his
beautiful dream child-the wretched waif
forgotten utterly in the last few days of
anxiety.
1That's him." croaked the old crone
again, "That's your boy--that's Ned
The captain gave cry; he sank down
on an old box close at hand, and hid his
face and wept The sobs shook him ter
ribly; they almost shook the crazy build
ing. They frightened the old woman
and set the policeman to rubbing his eyes
with his cuffs. The boy stood and stared
Tor moment, and then vanished.
And what was the wretched father
thinking2 So many thoughts that there
are no words for them, but first of all
this horrible one-that vile little object,
that wretched child Of the streets, was
the darling for whom he had searched so
long.
''Better / had n,ver found him. moan
ed the captain, cor found HIM dead!"
And just then little hand crept over
his knee. The thrill of hair was against
his hand, and piping voice said meekly
"Please, I'm clean now. I've washed my
self"
The captains swollen eyes Enclosed.
They turned upon the child,
Some queer knowledge of his fathers
feelings had crept into his mind, and he
had tied to clean his face. A round
white spot appeared amidst the CRIME,
and ont of it shown two beautiful blue
eyes that looked wis.fully up into the
captains.
All of sudden, flood of such pitiful
tenderness as he had never felt before
swept over Captain Penryn's heart. All
the grief and shame and wounded pr d
left it, to come back no more.
"Eilen's eyes," he sobbed; Ellen's
boyl'' and took his son to his heart.
For his sake" he said, softly, as though
he stood by the grave of the beautiful
child he had just buried-"for his sake
and Ellen'sln
And then he led the child away with
him.
The notwithstanding.