The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-29
ing her in possession, he Ieaped On to- a

y
tube!' said she. "Why did not remem-
Der that before?"
Mrs. Davenport drew up her long, yel-
low, satin train, laid her fan and hand
kerehief On the doorstep, and as fast az
high heels and satin slippers would allow,
went down her own steps and up those OF
her neighbor, who lived at No. az.
"He is a doctor accustomed to be
awakened at all ho,Irsp said she.
She rang and heard asleepy voice come
down, "What do you want?'
"Help! Help!" said she.
"What help! who! what numberT
said the doctor. ..s
"S9; great troubled immediatew said
Mrs. Davenport.
The doctor seemed to be hours in com,
ing down. She was nearly in despair
again, but at length he opened the door
in his overcoat and hat.
''Oh! DoctorI Doctor! let me imp said
the lady, now quite hysterical. "Your
house is warm; do let me in" .
The doctor was of course astonished to
see his fashionable neighbor, but hospit-
able and helpful.
"Will you 60 up and knock at the par
ty wall in your front room, doctor, and
try to wake Mr.. Davenport" said Mrs.
Davenport, now in tears ''
eyes, madam, if you say so. But had
you not better spend the night here
quietly"
"What, next door to No. 39l Oh, no!
couldn't, must go home. Please, doc
tor,if it will not disturb Mrs. Mentgom-
cry, do 60 up and make dreadful noise
at the head of Mr.. Davenport's bed; it
leans up against your parlor, for he al
ways hears your piano"
The doctor obeyed and knocked loudly
ON the wall. ....... .I
Mr.. Davenport heard distant thunder
in his dreams, turned over, with his deaf
ear up and slept again.
After q half hours fruitless knocking,
Mrs. Davenport consented to allow the
sleepy doctor to retire to his well-earned
repose, whilst she declared that shewould
rest as well as she could in an easy chair
down in his consulting room.
81, 80 and Al were at peace atlast, and
Mrs Davenport, wrapped in her cloak,
and in warm room, in the house Of a
neighbor and friend, grew composed, and
finally laughed at her adventure. 1t
would be a good joke next morning, but
as for Orlando, her colored waiter, there
WAS look out for him, of the blackestl
Then poor Mr.. Davenport, how alarmed
he would bel but she would watch and
see the servants begin to open the house,
and steal in before he walked up.
So saying she fell sound asleep in her
chair.
At length, Mr.. Davenport, like all
heavy sleepers, woke up suddenly and
He did not know why, but it
seemed to him like he had had a dis
turbed night. As he lay, trying to collect
MS faculties, he heard the clock strike
four.
:'How quiet Coralie isp' said Mr.. Da-
'tired after her ball suppose"
Mr.. Davenport listened to hear,
through the opened door and curtained
recess, the quiet breathing of his wife in
,he next room.
She was strangely still, and Mr.. Da-
arose softly and crept in to see
what could be the matter.
Heavens" said he, nobody in that
oed! Coralie not home at four o'clock"
Mr.. Davenport paused moment.
Could the horses have run away! Could
the coachman have been drunk? That
mad happened before. Could his poor
wife have been thrown, dragged-n0 the
idea was too horrible.
Could she have been locked outl
Mr.. Davenport felt the cold perspi-
ration start on his brow. He rang every
bell in the house. He proceeded to dress
He danced in his agony and
agitation. -...,
Then, as his sleepy servants began to
appear, and one after the other dis
claimed any knowledge Of their mistress,
he descended to the front door.
There lay Mrs. Davenport's fan, hand
kerchief and gloves!
Then Mr.. Davenport tore his hair. She
had been there, to her own home; she had
failed to gain admittance; she had been
carried of, or she committed
suicide.
Mr.. Davenport lost his head.
"She may have gone to her sisters or
TO some hotel" suggested her maid
"What at three in the morning, you
wretched sleepy head"' said Mr.. Daven-
port, wildly. To discharge Orlando, to
70 for the police, to rouse the world,
these were Mr.. Davenport's first ideas.
He rang up every signal officer in town.
The whole machinery of the public serv-
ice was set to work to find the missing
lady. c.'
Mr.. Davenport went after his coach
man, who, though fully testifying to the
TACT that he had been very drunk, could
swear that he left the lady at her own
Ioor, at about half-past two in the morn
ng.
To take carriage, to drive to Mrs.
Davenport's sisters, to all the nearest
hotels, these were the duties which the
wretched man took upon himself.
In the meantime Mrs. Davenport slept
,weetly in the doctors arm chair until