Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-19
! ana something to drink. y

And sonething to drink"
Il can Get some milk. may be- said the
trembling little girl
"Poohi niilk-nnw.' snapped the grinv
man, in a voice that made tie poor child
jump Coffee Of the strongest kind Say
do they lock this barn at nigntF
uYes--
"Then yoli must find the key and bring it
out to NE. want to get of In the night.
Mind, If You don't do just as | say, III claim
you in the morning. Noone can keep child
from its own father
Shudderirig from head 10 feet, Elsie showed
the man into the barn, where ne made him
self bed in the hay.
Then the child went back into the house,
quite crushed with the misery that had come
upoa her She felt 50 sure Of the truth Of It
ALL and such dread lest this terrible parent
would carry out his threat, that she did not
say word 10 Mrs Ford
Il think Elsie must be i'll, said Cicely, as
she watched her; ''she has not looked right
since she came from school"
On being questioned. Eisia admitted that
she had headache, and tn tears came into
Der eyes as Mrs. Ford bent down to kiss her
good night
Ola, how she longed to sob out all the terri
bic story on that kind breast, where she had
found shelter in all her childish troubles.
But the horrible phantom Of that grimy man
who waited for her in the barn kept her back.
The thoughts Of what her life might be, filed
her with cold horror She laid aside her
pretty, dainty clothes with vision OF herself
in rags, trainping down the long roads and
begging from door TO door. 1t was all as real
to her as could be; she never paused 10 doubt
or Question On, how pleasant the soft bed,
white as a snow drift, but warm wool. felt
to her tired limbs; for the nervous strain had
tired her, and she louged 10 sleep
She had asked God TO help her, but she did
not see how he could But perhaps he
would find out way However, no miracle
happened for her, and she got up softly at
last, trembling from head to foot, and put on
her clothes She thought of mamma and
Aunt Ciceiy in the pleasant sitting room IN
the front Of the house. IL was bright there,
with the students lamp on the table, and
mamma with her work. Aunt Cieely was
reading to her. She could hear her voice.
Oal they were safe, and never dreamed of
the poor child who was stealing down stairs
with shudder, to get tine key and go out IN
the dark and open the barn for that dread
full man
Perhaps he would take their horse and
ride away, and she would not dare to stop
him She felt like shedding tear at poor
Charles possible fate. Yes, he would surely
take the horse, to save himself from the
tramp, and he could escape so much faster.
At this thought she stopped short, with The
key in her hand, and great pain at her
heart All, she dared not stop now. She
must go on. She stool a moment shivering
at the back door, looking out into the lght.
There was no moon, and the trees seemed
trembling in low wind Fantastic shadows
appeared to- be budding together The way
to the barn seemed long aud dark. She had
basket with loaf and some cold meat, all
she could find
She must shut the door now and leave her
sell on the outside. She caught her breath,
and grew very cold, and hesitated. The next
moment a hand grasped her arm and drew
her back.
as tit is Elsie" cried Mrs. Ford in
amazement. "Why, do believe the child is
out Of her head. Why, Eisie, child, what
ore you doing with basket and Lreadi Yes,
| it is bread aad meat. And what's in the
Other handi The key Of the barn, DO de-
clare"
| Elsie burst into tears, and could not speak.
| Nervous chills seemed to shake her from head
to foot.
TEL me all, darling sad Mrs Ford, ten
Derby; don't be afraid Is any one in the
baru%
| "it's-my-my father, come back from
prison, said Elsie, and he's il tie barn"
"Your father, clildl Now l know you're
out Of your head"
A ray of hope came like sunshine into e.
! sizes heart
"You are my own mamma, thenfn she
cried claspins Mrs. Ford's necG with affec-
! ton.
Dear, am not your own mamma, but
love you ali the same" said the gentle wo-
man, kissing and soothing the CHILD, ''aad
this man is an iynpostor, for your own father
and mother are dead. They were wrecked
at sea, but you were saved by brave sailor.
| So we took you to be our own little daugh-
| ter
Taking the trembling caild 90 her lap,
Mrs Ford drew out all the story,
"We Ill leave the wretch safely locked
up till the morning sho said at the end,
"and papa VIII DO here to settle him.
Then vas really fshed up out of the
waterf' sad Elsie, still very unAapf; But
Regina made up the rest"
This tramp was undoubtedly lingering
near, and heard her, SO lie thought he might
make something out of the story"
This was the truth. The tramp waited i'm.
patiently for his child victim. But a con.
stable came instead the next morning, and
took him out OF his trap aud put him in
prison, for be S;rued o1t to be a noted Lorsa
| thief
Elsie had many happy years, but she could
never think without q chill of horror Of that
dreadful day. - Aunt Cecil in Once Week.