The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-03

last. feeling weary|I was miles away
from the castle-I was about to return
when saw light glimmering from a cot
tage window within a few steps from
where | stood. l was surprised TO find a
house in that lonely spot, for l had been
told that that portion of the moorlands
was too low lying and barren for human
habitation. As the idea of a short rest
was not unwelcome l looked through the
thinly curtained window, and saw that a
tall, dark woman bending over a steamlng g
saucepan on the stove and little child In
ragged clothes making friends with a
shaggy dog were the only occupants Oh Ihe
room.
was about to make my arrival known,
when a second look at the child, whose face
was turned full towards the window, made
me pause suddenly. Was l dreaming. or
were those really little Rodsric'S blue eyes
looking up with the frank wide-open gaze
that knew 80 well? The soft golden curls
had been cut off, aud the coarse rrstif
clothes were a good disguise, but knew
NV Young charge too well to be deceived.
Like a mad woman, few back over the
long, dark road to the SchlOss. 1t was noe
safe to lot my investigation go farther
alone: 80 l seized on the first servants
found-Max, the coachman, and the maid
Lisette, whom had befriended-and, Civ
Ing IUeIn Ii dCtOuub Va L hol
seen, | led them back TO the lonely cottage.
We made our way in unceremoniously
enough. At the first glance the room
seemed vacant. and my heart sank; but
the next moment we discovered the baby
asleep upon pillow in a dark corner. The
man gathered up little bundle and bore it
to the light; the baby awOke and looked
with sleepy, hazy eyes at the d:sturber OF
his rest. Even then [ saw no look of recog-
nil ho tc1 Cnrll | ha
mistaken? The thought was misery.
But, becoming fully aroused, the little
child sat up and held out his arms to me,
claiming in baby language an old friend.
sit is our young master-I have no long
er any doubt" the man said instinctively
raising his hat.
Look TO; the mark of the dogs bite on
his knee, to make sure" put In LiSette,
trembling with excitement.
had not thought of this before, and was
thankful for the girls suggestion. AS
expected, we found the three little prints
made by the dogs teeth in the baby's ten
der flesh. At this additional proof of my
darling's identity fell upon my knees and
sObbed for pure delight, thanking from the
depths of my heart the mysterious Provi-
dence that had directed my steps to the
desOlatc cottage.
Atthat moment the woman whom had
seen on my first visit entered the room, and
the look of terror that came over her face
at seeing us / shall never forget.
"What-who," she began confusedly
but Max interrupted her by saying coollv:
"We have come to relieve you of the care
of this child; he is needed at the Castle,
where he belongs"
Putting the little boy into my willing
arms, he whispered few words to me to
the effect that was to go back with all
speed and send two or three men to re-
lieve his guard over the suspicious prem
ises.
An hour later the Schloss Beroldstein
was the scene of the greatest excitement.
The news spread like wildfre throughout
the whole neighborhood that the young
Duke had been restored from the dead.
dressed little Roderic in his own clothes
gave him his toys on the hearjhrug, and
then brought his grief-stricken mother to
look at the pretty picture. l shall not at
tempt to describe how the house of mourn
ing changed TO one of rejoicing. A last
but striking proof that the young heir had
returned was the unfeigned delight with
which little Amalie welcomed back heI
brother.
The dark woman of the cottage was pun
under arrest, and with very little hesita.
ton made a statement to the following
effect: She, Anna Freitschler, had come
some weeks before from Thuringia to
Beroldstein with the lady known as Nine.
Elizabeth. She had brought with her her
little boy, one year old-a pretty child
when in health, fair and blue-eyed, but at
that time much disfgured by illness
The doctor had said that the child was
too i'll to travel, that he might die any
dav: and she, Anna, had not wished to
make the Journey: but Mime. Elizabeth
had given her large sum of money, with
a promise of more if she would bring the
child; and she, being a poor widow, had
not been able to resist the offer. She was
required to give promise to live alone in
the cottage that Nine. Elizabeth would
choose for her, and 80 tell no one who she
was or whence she came. She did not
know for what reason she had been sent
for, or what purpose she was destined to
serve: she was only content that the prom
ised money was paid her at regular inter-
walls. The baby grew much worse and
became shocking to look at, with its face
like a scarlet mask. One night when Anna
thought it very near its end, Nine. Eliza
beth, dressed in white, came alone and on
foot to the cottaGe-her second visit there
that day. She seemed very much excited
and said Anna must let her take the child
to the Castle, where there was a great
physician who might perhaps cure him.
The woman was accustomed to obey, so
SHE DttDN III gave
him to her. Nine. Elizabeth came again
that mighty late, still holding something
in her arms. "They could not cure your
baby-he is dead" she said, "but 1 have
broug you this child in his place" And
she laid in Anua'S arms little boy not
unlike the one she had taken away. Nine
Elizabeth then gave her an astonishiugly
large sum of money, and told her that she
was to prepare to go with the child back t.
Thuringia as soon as possible, there to real
him as her own, and she made her promise
never to tell soul of the exchange thai
had been made. Anna had no idea of the
great wrong she was doing; she had only
blindly Obeyed every order of the mistress
who had her completely in her power.
1t was proved beyond doubt that Nine
Elizabeth, disguised as ga ghost" had
stolen away the young heir of Beroldstein
with the intent to secure the succession o
her son, a crime deserving bitter expiation
But a worse punishm than the law could
inflict awaited the miserable woman-Sht
became permanently insane, and in the
asylum where she was kept in close con.
finement it was said that her mental
sufferings were terrible.
For my efforts in restoring little Roderir
to his ancestral home received reco5ni
tion from the Duchess which made nv
union with Charlie possible, without feal
of want in the future.-FdmHy Herald.
Telegraphic Unreliability.