Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-13

Mrs. Dennis acquiesced. 80,
Tomorrow night, at eleven, III be
waiting at the corner Of the street wid
cloak and big market basket, an LII see
that Charles there afore US.
The next afternoon, Just as the wintry
twilight was fading Unto the black; IN
distinguishable dusk, Mrs. Dennis skill
fully propelled the slender, cat-like
figure Of little Charlie through the mar
row iron bars of the staircrase-window..
She was Just in time, for as she
stopped again to poke In the depths OF
an old ash-barrel with her well-worn
iron hook, a policeman lounged round
the corner of the house.
Halo, old woman! What are you
ioing herc?"
AN is it the cinders ye'd grudge
mop wiined Mrs. Dennis, ian the fre
going out on the hearth-stone. wild the
six little ones blue with the cold? Arrah,
an its hard lines for poor folks, so 1t
IS, and Mickey hcGsrsan' me husband
that is"
well, well, you needn't make such
a noise about it." deprecated the police
man striding on.
And Mrs. Dennis smiled stealthily
under her ragged red hood.
Meanwhile, Charlie obedient to
orders, curled himself up under the
stairway, amid a lot of tin bath-tubs,
disused furniture, and invaded sauce
pans, and went composedly to sleeps
How long he had slept he did not
know, but the harrow stairway was
lighted up ~ the. glare OF q candle
when he woke, AID hand was on the
ra,gc1 lapels Of his coat.
"Why, bless me, it's child p"
Nonsense, Nancy; it's only the cat"
~ tellyou it's child, and he asleep"
Another figure advanced into the
yellow circle of Pickering light thrown
by the candle-that Of a pleasant-looking
woman, with a something in her face
that made Charles heart stand still,
and brought the long disused word
mamma" involuntarily to his lips.
How on earth came you here, little
boy?" she asked, little less astonished
than her companion had been.
Charlie glanced furtively about the
room, in vain search for n loophoio OF
escape; but there was mono, and Charlie
had no idea of sacrificing himself for
the sales OF Mother Dennis and Mike.
Mrs. Dennis put me through the
window" he WIKI rcred, land she and
Mike arc coming at eleven o'clock to
steal the spoons and things, and I'm
10 unbolt the front door for EN-; and
please ma'am, l never did such thing
before, aid I'm so cold, and and"
Charlie wound up his explanatory
speech with @ burst Of very genuine
tears, and screwed his little knuckles
tightly into his round blue eyes.
My goodness gracious! calculated
Tho elder lady.
{" LESS US and save usy' shrickcd
tho younger.
Its planned burglary" said Miss
Nancy.
"Scnd someone for the policoy
screamed Miss Betsey HISTORICALLY.
Yes" sobbed little Charlie, enter
ing heart and soul into the new cause
get policeman to stand back o the
easement door, VI N open it, just as
If nothin' had happa.ed. And, oh, don't
| you give me up to EN-, ploaso-plea6e,
| lady, or they'll beat me to death an SCI
| me to the doctors afterwards! !"
Don't Le afraid, my little fellow,
said Miss Nancy, who had heen givin
.9U.e oruer5 in hurried whisper to ;
grizzled old servant-maid who had stood
staring in the background. Come witt
me. Why, how cold your hands are
No one shall harm you"
She led the sobbing, shrinking littl,
urchin into a cosey parlor, where the
crimson carpet and curtains seemed t.
sea-coal fire, and the chandelier diffusel
a shaded lustre through the room.
The walls were hung with soberly
tinted old family portraits, which seemed
to stare down upon the bewildered chile
with eyes of reproach and curiosity.
"See Nancy he is really pretty" sale
Miss Betsey, smoothing down the tangled
curly hair as she led him to the fire
"And only see what blue eyes he has
Poor little soul and SO young, too-a
mere baby! What is your name, childT
Charliev"
Charlie WHAT"
But the child SHOOK his head.
Only Charlie-and mamma's namt
was Ph9bew
At that instant, in his restless motions
around, the little fellow caught sight .oi
portrait hanging in recess, hitherto
obscured from his gaze. He uttered o
cry:
Mamma that is Charles OWL
mamma"
Gracious goodness !" exclaimed Miss
Nancy, trembling in every joint; what
does this child mean? That is ouI
Phebe!''
at Is mamma! Mammals name was
Ph9be! and she had black hair just
like that and big black eyes"
And the child. who had treasured w
that one flower of memory in his MIND
for two long years, began to sob and cry
pitifully: q
II want my mamma! they have
taken her away from me! Where is my
mammal"
Miss Bctsey rose up, pale and solemn
Nancy, it's a voice from the grave
It's Phoebe come back to us, to put hel
little childs hand in ours! We have
searched for her in vain these five years
now her orphan child has come straight
to us!
Don't you see Gods hand In it
Nancy? We disowned her. and sent hel
away, because she would marry the mal
she loved-we never relcntcd when ",
heard she was left u widow, but w,
mourned and sought her long when i
was too late"
Her voice was stifled by tears, bu
little Charlie was held close-close I,
her heart. The outcast habe--the littl.
neglected parah, had been led by tn,
guiding hand Of Providence straight t
the home and the hc"-tS that were wait
ing for him.
The policemen, summoned duly by OLE
Margery. arrived. and were put on tn
watch. And when the basement doc
was stealthily nholted, Mr.. Dooley am
Mira. Dennis walked straight into tn
arms of two hurly detectives,