The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-21


81 told her" said the sorrowing man,
that she should always have a home
with me, no matter when she came to
Claimit, and that / would never see her
want for anything II she would come
back 10 me, but that II she persisted In
the life she plainly said she proposed to
live, l would do nothing for her before
or after my death. And then she left
me, saying II was forever, and cursing
me-cursing me, her father, who even
now would die for her II need be-
Fora time after this nothing was heard
Of tho prodigal. Then one Christmas
eve she wreaked her hate, or vengeance,
as she chose to call 1t, in an awful crime.
Mrs. Harrison's only child, a boy not
quite three years old, was In n Of the
public parks OF the city, in charge of a
nurse, when Sarah approached, and, by
pretending q violent fancy Tor the child,
threw the careless servant off her guard.
Whether she bribed the girl, or really
succeeded in tricking her, was never
known, but II was two hours later when
that frightened individual reported to
Mrs. Harrison that her boy had been
stolen.
1t would DO impossible to describe the
agony OF the parents, and useless to de-
tall all the circumstances Of the search
that was made. The servant gave q suf-
tiClently accurate description Of the
strange woman, whom she had never
seen before, for theiamily to know who
the kidnapper was, but Sarah had had
a sufficient start to get on a train for
New York, and all efforts to trace her
were Intellectual. Had the newspapers
even at that time learned the particulars
Of tho story II would have become as
famous as the Charlie Ross case, but the
family shrank from the exposure that
would have been inevitable, and though
all the detective skill that could be pro-
cured was employed, no publication was
made in the press.
Six years had passed from the day the
boy was stolen when Mr. and Mrs. Har-
rison entered the little mission school In
the Five Points. 1t was her own loss
that had made her so peculiarly anxious
to benefit poor children but, though she
was forever searching for her own little
one, both she and her husband had al
most given up the hope Of ever finding
him. While Mr.. Harrison was talking
with Mr.. Van Meter, however, her eager
eyes were scanning the faces OF all the
boys in tho room.
Suddenly she turned pale. ooh,
George = shesaid, or gasped, rather, and
without another word she flew rather
than ran to the other end OF the room.
Dropping on her knees In front Of the
poor little wall who had drifted In 80
strangely, she seizedhim with both hands
aud looked eagerly, almost wildly, into
his eyes.
"lNhat is your nume2" she said to the
startled child.
George" he said.
George what2"
~ dunno" he answered, begininning
10 cry. for no had developed q sensitive.
ness about his lack OF q proper Compli.
ment Of names, and, moreover, he was
half Heightened by tho now frantic wo.
mans strange behavior.
Suddenly she tore open his Jacket aud
tho poor, ragged shirt he had on, aud
looking on Ills breast found tho birth.
mark she sought. Then, quick as flash
whole thing happened 80 quickly
that II was over before her husband
reached her side-she gathered him into
her arms, dirt, rags and all, and kissed
him until II seemed as II she were trying
10 dOyour him. Then, Ot course, she
tainted.
II did not take long, though, for tile
other ladies In the room 10 bring her
back 10 consciousness, aud then such a
scene "a srarsly witnessed In this world
put an end 10 anything like the usual
order OF exercises. MI. Harrison WRs
naturally little slower than his wife 10
recognize the child, but only q little, and
tho beWildered boy was shortly Elm.
and kissed as few children Ia this
world ever have been.
SuChia prayer as Mr.. Van Meter utter.
Cd, while Tho tearsj stteamed down his
and every person In tho room
dropped on his KNEES, has seldom been
heard even from hiB eloquent lips, and
a few minutes Mt. Harrison proposed
.olUaye, II was obvious enough 10 him
hat he had 10 take the child home,
bht the good missionary was too we'll &c.
iuainted with the neighborhood 10 lot
film 10 unattended,
nYou would DO mobbed before you
had gone q block, II the people saw you
,afrying away the child" he said and II
vac presently arranged that apollCeinan
DO summoned 10 escort the party
up 70 Broadway aud . CArrlago sholld
1b taken thefe,N