The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-12

till no deliverance had come TO the daily
decreasing band of defenders; hope had
zone down very low and it was question
whether they could hold out many days
longer not only on account Of the shortness
)f rations and scarcity OF water, but because
The rebels wore evidently making great
for deliberate attack upon
the already weak and poor defcnses.
They're pretty quiet now, mother;
said Tottie one evening Just before dark
ness began to fall. Couldn't i 20 into
The compound for minute or twoY I'm
choked in here" The words ended III a
sort of sob, which she tried hard 10 nip in
the bud, but which the mothers love-
sharpened ears heard, nevertheless.
ayes. think you might go for few
DEAR she answered tenderly.
"But you will be very careful and keep by
the wall, won't your"
ayes, but can't you Gomez" imploringly.
"Not for ten minutes or 80. | must
make the arrowroot for poor Mr.. Belize
has had so little today, poor fellow" IL,
"Then I'll wait for you, mamma, said
rottie resignedly.
"No, no. Go and sit outside at least,
larling. ] will come to you in lew min
utes. fancy you will find father out
there-he went out to see how Capt
Evans is today"
"Over at the hosptal?'
eyes, dear"
"If went over might ask how Nelly
is mightn't II" Tottie asked.
ayes, OF course, and | will bring Mr..
Belle arrowroot over rs soon W. II Is
ready"
So Tottie gave her mother kiss and
went out to run across the compound.
RUM No, poor Tottie did not run much
in those days, but TO creep across the com
pound to the hospital and inquire after
her little friend Nelly Davis, who had been
slightly wounded by q splinter from Il
shell which had exploded within the de
lenses the previous morning. and then Il
find her father, OF whom she saw but it'll,
at this time.
Left behind, Mrs. Marchmont finished
ironing the big pile OF bandages which she
had undertaken TO wash for tho hospital,
and then to work TO make the arrowroo
ior Mr.. Bell. and not only for him but fol
as many other paticne as possible. Whei
il was ready she poured IL into large jul
in which to carry il acruss the compound
"lIcre Is the arowroot, doctor sh,
painted, us she gained The veranda Of th,
hospital. elias Colonel Marchmont beer
over here2"
ayes, here heis, answered the doctor,
scizing on the big jug eagerly.
"Oh, you are here, she said to 'h'
colonel "And where Is TOttioP'
"Tottie? I haven't seen her. III,
colonel answered.
"She came across to see Nelly Davis AM
% find you," Mn. Marchmont said. "ShI
was so tired of being indoors, poor child
dare say she is with Nelly"
"No. | have Just come from it'll
Nclly-bcen dressing her wound, yo'
know Tottie was not there" said tn
loctor.
"Then she is somewhere in the hospital,
Mrs. Marchmount replied, without show
ing or indeed feeling any uneasincss so
perhaps she went back into the hous,
How Il Nelly today, DOCTOR
Every icverish aud excited, " the docto
answered. ''It's not much of wound
but the child is rather historical. By Oh
by, Ill send hc-up cupiul oiyour arrow
root"
"Do, poor little soul" said the colonel
wife kindly; then, after she had paid
short visit to one OF the two inyalids, Nh
took her husbands arm and went bac
across the compound TO the rosidency.
But Toitie WIS not there. Had not
fact been seen by any one since she ha
lett her mother at work ON the pile
5andagcs TO 90 across the compound mi
ask after her little wounded friend.
"Ncd," said the mother when she rca
lied that the child was nowhere IN u
house, ''is IL possible that any harm ca
have come 10 her2"
She was white TO the very lips as she pI
the idea into words, and his bronzcd che,
paled in spite OF himself
"No, my dear, no. All has been ~
fcclly quiet for an hour or more not
shot has been fired. What could have hn
pencd 10 her7 Don't Distress younTI
my love. she has gone into somebody
room or other. will go round and III
out. Happily-with Sigh Tor the stu
ton in which they were-"therc Is n
very far TO look"
but, small ~ the ground was over whit
they had 10 search, they found no sign
trace Of the child. Apparently she Ia
disappeared Ms utterly ~ u she had new
been at all.
Col. Marchmont and his wife were VI
nigh beside themselves with disircss, ~
the entire garrison wis mon disturb
and excited and concerned mt the mystic
than they had been By all the deaths fro
cholera OF misadycniuro that had tax
place.
, Il was 10 mysterious Al had be
! quiet. unusually N in inct: the child II
gone out in broad daylight, for there Is
twilight in India, 10 90 across two strips
compound, and, from that moment, b
disappeared, leaving no trace ol any ki
; | behind. Where could she have GOT
Who could have spirited her away3 WI
! WIS her iatc2 All these questions pas
freely 10 and fro and led 90 another, VIII
! WIS even more important still 10 each q
= who asked Il: "What traitor have
, among ~. and who will he taken in ]
p way nextY'
|. The long hours Of the long even
A passed slowly by, each moment seem
!. AT least an hour; up and down and In O
4 out did the colonel and his wilc wand
!. searching rooms and vcrandas over
G over again in the forlom hope Of find
r their lost child. "Sho will get her de
n In this night air." Mn. Marchmont O.
Il moro than once, and the brave soldier
4 n deadly chill crccp over him ~ he REM
II bered that, In all probability, his poor
o tle Tottic had already met her fate.
c But he said nothing Of bis fcan 10
Il wife, and II such thoughts crossed
'c mind she did no, express them In woi
l. but sought on, hoping against hope,
Y not admitting the fear Of the Won't eyci
u herself. And OH what hours Of ag
u aud dread they were seven eight
III -ten-elevcnl As II the night We