Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-31
NO. 800.
Gales ano Skettbes.
SUNSHINE AFTER STORM.
4 Leaf from the Life OF = New Ensland
Household.
(Continucd from Yesterday.
By II. NJ. c. E.

N'"htihuSu irom yesterday.
Ot course. knowing the terrible ,roubl.
which bowed my uncle and aunt 10 m.
very dust. and that they had spent auite a
fortune in unavailing search for the lost
one. | was all eagerness at once.
well said she. was connected with
the show, and my attention was drawn 10
the pretty child as she let 90 her mothers
hand tor moment and came close 10 the
SHE of the tent where | was, and IL came
INTO my head that il could get her and
hrin@ her up Tor dancer or a circus rider
she would make my fortune with her bean.
". She came nearer and catching hcr up
l placed my hand over her mouth. as /
went rapidly TO a little wood at no great
distance. there l gave her narcotic and
then Travelled night and day, till n safe
distance was gained When the ..show"
came along, | tried TO Join il again. but
the manager would not have me. and
threatened exposure, but did not dare nj.
tempt IT for knew some things against
him that would get him into trouble"
The woman grew so exhausted that the
rest was told brokenly and with difficulty
II seems that she took in washing, any.
thing honest to support them for about n
year. that she never allowed the child 10
suffer for anything, but she did not grow.
and seemed to pine for home, and the wo.
man who had come TO love her dearly. W..
solved to return her to her parents. The
little one when she was taken had n card
in her hand upon which was the name of
James Achorn, and round her neck was n
gold chain and lockct, within which were
the miniatures of her parents. Going TO
the place where she had stolen her. she
walked all day. making ruthless search
and inquiries for James Achorn. No one
seemed 10 know such person.
mo wonder" said Miss Achorn "for
uncle lived forty miles away, and with his
wife and child were visiting in that place"
Well, she searched till late in the AFTER
noon. when, being on the outskirts of the
village, weary, hungry and pcnniless. she
found herself near Il pretty house beyond
an avenue of trees. Leaving the child
near the wood. she went to the house and
asked for food, which kindly looking wo-
man gave her. As she passed out she no.
ticed an odd-shaped tree near
he front door. an carclessly plucked y
handful OF leaves. which she carried with
the food to the child An impulse seized
her to leave the child there. and taking
one of, the smallest leaves. marked it's
outlines in india ink on the chlds len
shoulder. then when it was dry she placed
her on the step and rung the bell, till a
tall fine looking man came to the door.
and STOPPING down after moment, lifted
the child in his arms and carried her into
the house.
Crouching by the window she saw the
kind looking woman take the child on her
lap and feed her with bread and milk.
while handsome boy kissed and petted
her and seemed TO be pleading with his
father to keep her. Then she grew sleepy
and the woman gently undressed her and
in so doing found q note pinned TO her
dress, saying that the poor child was an
orphan and begged them to keep her and
not send her away. The woman watched
them put on little white nightdress and
the boy brought cradle, evidently his
own. and placed her in it. while the boy
sa, down to watch its slumbers with such
satisfied expression that the lonely
watcher by the window knew that Il was
all settled, and before morning was long
distance away.
She gave me the .ocket and dried leaf
but sank into state of insensibility before
telling me the name Of the town where the
child was. ] did not see how the inior-
nation could aid us in finding the child +,
so have not told uncle anything about Il.
II seemed that. the woman hearing nv
name mentioned. had sent for me in hopes
to gain information that would enable her
to right the ever+roubling wrong. before
entering upon the new life so near at hand
The sight of that tree was 70 me n
revelation said Miss Achorn.
at is all 80 strange" said Mrs. Pierce.
land Mabel's age corresponds too. Two
when kidnapped. three when foundling.
! fifteen now: been lost thirteen years.
Rather a strong ease. Mary. even without
the pictur, OF course Ralph would
know. but" shc added, thoughtfully.
''neiiher my husband or anyone else ever
even hinted that she was other than his
own child. think that I'll telegraph 10
Ralph and Prof. Lyons--a very dear
friend of my husbands she said, flush
ing little at the keen look in Miss
Achorn's eyes, land they can come to.
morrow (Fridav) evening to unlock this
mystery and advise what had best be done
Really. can have no peace till this Is
settled. for though ! dislike losing my
daughter. | cannot help thinking of those
unhappy parents"
Friday evening came but not the ex.
pected guests. Saturday morning note
was received from Prof. Lyons, saying
that Ralph was not able to 20 last evening
but they would go next Friday; and ths
friends were obliged to curb their inpa
tiencc as best they might
Sometimes Mrs. Pierce would hope tina
it might not prove to be Mabel. then re
preaching herself for her selfishness. Ions
to restore the lost one to her grief-strickeI
parents.
4 They came at last, and after tea Mis-.
Achorn being called upon, told the story
suppressing the part relating to her pre-
sent home till the last. Then Mrs. Pierc,
knew by Ralph's excitement that It wa
true-that Mabel. the sunshine OF tn
house. must be givenup,
Father made Aunt Hitty-then ou
only help-and promise never to reves
that she was not his own child. As "
had inst come here IN live the raiUhlkor