Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-27
NO. POP.
Gales ano Skettbes.
fRICKED AND TRACKED.
By Mary Nark.Lem0n.
Continued from yestcrday.l J

The boy then approached me, and. TAX
whisper as his piteous eyes filled with
tears:
Madame, the gentleman bade me say
to you for the love of Heaven. and for the
sake of your dead mother, bring the
money!" fH
showed him the little sack carried
under my cloak. and he was satisfied; we
then leit the hotel silently. scarcely no.
iiced by the servants busted about the en-
tranc hall. Once out in the open air,
seemed to breathe more freely; but my
heart was too heavy for speaking. and
we pursued our way in silence.
The noise of The traffic, the lights Of the
tshops streaming across our path, and the
number of foot passengers passing and re-
passing us. bewiliered me at first, all un-
accustomed rs was to walking through
streets so late ; hut we passed steadily on
through the ever-changing crowd, and
people seemed too intent on their own
business to take much heed of two way
E,rers ike ourselves After time we
turned into u less irequented part of the
town. and the streets more deserted.
suddenly the boy stopped. and seemed
uncertain as 10 which road he should take.
lie paused moment; then, turning to
ME said:
Madame, I fear have missed my way
a little; hut my mother told me she would
give some directions in her letter; will
madame give it me that may right my
self?"
Without thinking. I handed him his
mothers letter; and standing beneath
neighboring lamp, he read over slowly
| a..
holding it still open in his hand. he re-
sumed his walk, referring to it every now
and then, rs though still in doubt rs to
| his whereabouts. There was u certain
mysterious quiet about the neighborhood
that we were in that proved upon my
spirts--a certain silence ] could not
fathom; and my courage began to flag
strangely as we continued our lonely road.
| experienced sensation of intense re-
lief. therefore. when my young guide
stopped suddenly before a tail dark house
in quiet street. and | listened eagerly
for an answer to his gentle tap at the
closed door. A voice from within an
Swered softly. in French ''Ilow fares it
my sonp and in English. the boy an
,wered: Safely and fairly; open the
door" The door was then unbarred
without the least noise. just wide enough
to admit us; and we entered hall light
ed by a small lamp held by a tall woman
poorly clad The Pickering flame oi the
lamp gave forth SO dim n light that !
could not distinguish her features. and she
spoke scarcely above whisper. in
qured eagerly for my brother. and beg
ged her to conduct me to him mt once
She shook her head sadly, then said:
"Ah, madame. your coming may do
great things for him: you will be able to
ease the poor mind that runs on nothing
but money. money, day and night, with
out ceasing.'
She barred the door by which we had
entered. and then proceeded me up a brok-
en- staircase. the boy following us with the
feeble oil lamp. The house sounded hol-
low, and our footsteps echoed drearily as
we went. Presently we stopped before
the door of a room which l imagine to
have been at the back Of the house, and
the woman, entering first, beckoned me to
follow her.
In one corner of a large. almost empty
apartment was bed, shrouded by thick
dark curtains; in the CRATE low charcoal
fire was burning. made at once for the
corner where the bed was, and was about
to draw the curtains which concealed from
INV view tue pDDT i Idu CDfUe 50 Ulyf-
teriousv to visit. Suddenly from behind
me cloth was lied tightly over the whole
Of my face. a strange burning sense of
suffocation overspread my senses, and
remember nothing more all was silence,
darkness. Il hdeous blank. until awoke
in my bedroom at the Hotel de L.. with
my head aching strangely and a benumbed
sensation prevailing my whole frame NV
maid, an English doctor with whom was
slightly acquainted, and another doctor,
who was a stranger to me. were anxiously
watching for my return to consciousness.
1t was quite light, and the sun was shin
ing into the room. As one by Que the
events of the proceeding night rose before
my mind. | was utterly mt loss to imag-
inc how had been rescued from that hor.
rible house and brought back to the hotel
in safety.
The story was soon told. The night
porter, coming on duty Mt one O'Clock. had
found me lying on the steps leading to the
side door Of the hotel. which opened into
an unfrequented passage or street. Find
ing ! was unconscious. he had summoned
the day porter, who was waiting for him,
to render assistance. and this man, know.
ing me bv sight, identified me as a lad,
staying in the hotel. He at. once reused
the bouse. My maid (who was waiting
for me, wondering and alarmed at my
Iprolonged absence) speedily procured the
services of two medical men from the ad.
Ijoining neighborhood. and they had since
been using every method to restore me tc
CONSCIOUSNESS, when I might perchance
unfold the mystery of my strange return
There was no trace If any viole' ce hav.
ing been used. nor any proof by which
they could discover where / had been
The only thing they found upon me, which
was not my own, was handkerchief
tightly clasped in my hand on which were
embroidered my brother Richards ini
tials, and which | at once recognized as
having been worked by me some years
previously for my unhappy brother. The
money of course. had all been taken also
the rings. brooch and locket had worn
My wedding ring was left. and the bag in
which ! had put the money was still hang
ing on my arm. ~
! As soon as ! was able / told the doctor
fCOntinued on Hnur4h naae