The morning call., 1890-12-25

her under the robes and drove home unob-
| served.
Home they played in the stable, where
| there was no one but the horses to see them,
! and finally he carried her to Mrs. Feretzle,
| who was ha PLY ignorant of all the COM
| motion, having been oat in the street when
Elna and her husband started. She ac-
cepted her without question as a little visi-
| tor of Reggy's.
| 1t was Reggy's simple theory that after a
| long time land 1t seemed to him ages since
| they first visited the donkey he might DIS
| play his captive and coax his aunt to keep
her. All this story came later Then, there
| was only one impulse among the women
which caught them up like cyclone and
| swept them through the hall, over the lawn
| to the little cottage back of the stable.
| Oh the sweet small face at the lighted
| window; with the homesick tears on the
| voice exclaiming mamma will tum pretty
| soon! Papa will tum pretty soon!"
| think half the witnesses were crying
| They fell back and let Miss Celia take her.
| Thus Miss Celia met her niece again, but
| this time she lifted her in her arms and
kissed her and sobbed inarticuate tender
| nesses in her ear.
~ suppose some one ought to telephone to
her mother" suggested Dr. Rollins, in a
| meek voice.
Yes" said Miss Celia. And still hold
| ing the child in her arms, she walked across
the dark lawn back to the house and through
the hall.
No one ventured to speak to her or to
offer to help her with her burden.
She rang the bell and herself called Mrs.
Brace. Then they heard her answer to an
inaudible voice:
at is l, Celia Wilder; Oracle is here"
With the word she lifted the little head to
the trumpet mouth.
"Call, Oracle. call loudr she whispered.
Call mammal
The sweet, high. little voice echoed
/ and get Gracie!"
The lamb" cried Lizzie, weeping on one
OF the dinner napkins.
"Oh. Tad, think of her poor mother"
Mrs. Rollins whispered in her husbands
ear, when she hears thatl'
And think of you being such wicked
boy, Reggy, as to kidnap herr cried Teena,
who always felt herself sort of policeman
of virtue.
AT this Reggy, dazed before, by the rush
of events and the mex plicable excitement of
grown people," recovered his power of
defense.
"She's my little 'dopted sister," he pro-
claimed. land l didn't kidnap her. She
glved herself 10 me. DIDN'T you, Oracle ?"
"Es,' said Oracle, "but l want to do
home to my mamma. My mamma will be
lonesome. She won't have no little girl
Gfacie's mother was not long without her
little girl. In an incredibly short time the
door-bell rang and Maddox ushered in
rather short, sioutish young man, with an
ugly, clever, attractive face and q tall, beau
tiful young woman, both of whom, for
little while, saw nothing in the hall but one
tiny shape.
It was the father who spoke first "And
it is you whom we have to thank ?" he said,
| holding out his hand to Miss Celia.
Mrs. Rollins caught her breath and
coat very hard; but, after all, there was
nothing of a scene. Miss Celia took the
protfered hand, saying: mo, it is l whom
you must forgive, for the little lad is the
kidnaper."
The real scene, if there was any scene.
happened after the Rollinses were gone-and
you may be sure Mrs. Rollins had the tact
not to stay long.
The sisters, Oracle, Brace and the erring
Reglnald (whom they treated rather as if he
lessly. Teena thinks, does justice slip some
times were all in the dining groom,
Miss Celia had insisted ON the young
people, who had eaten nothing ali that
friRhtful day. having an impromptu meal
Afterward Brace had tried 10 help the in
eyitable constraint by a few common
places.
| nize General Wilder"
His wife's face made him pause; she had
risen and gone up to the canvas and was
standing before it. The tears Slowly
gathered in her eyes.
Celia" said Brace, in different tone.
There Is one thing 1t is better to say. You
do not understand that your sister has
learned to love her father. Why. the moor
child has hunted up every scrap about him ::
she has read all his speeches. Ever since
Celia pushed her chair back, standing be-
fore his, white and trembling. taller than he.
No, Clarence" said his wife.
Eyes, / am going to tell, Grace" said he
firmly, Cecilia, Grace knew nothing about
her fathers sickness when she sent that teIe-
gram. Nine, de Ravillac persuaded her
that her father wanted to get her into his
power and had sent an invitation she did
not show the telegram to her to come.
They were to leave Chicago for New York
and Europe the next day. At that time
Grace believed all she was told about Gen.
eral Wilder"
fathers last message?" said Miss Celia. She
put both hands on the chair to steady he r.
self. Mrs Brace hid her face and sobbed.
| My wife found that letter among her
mothers papers" said Clarence Brace,
grayely.
There was silence. The children looked
on with aMed, wondering eyes,
Then, "She Is dead" said Celia, Good
forgive her!' and in a bitter-sweet, strange
moment she felt her sisters tears and kisses
on her cheek.
Through walls and windows came the
sharp clang OF bell and hoarse shout,
Lost, December twenty fifth"
why. II they aren't crying. Oracle, still!
exclaimed Mrs. Brace, to whom it seemed
quite miraculous that since her baby was
safely found the whole town should not
know it. do stop them, Clare"
Yes" said Miss Celia. smiling through
her tears, ~ GU could have them cry, IN
lily feud!"
cpufohted. 1890. By The Autaors Alliance; au
rights reserved.
Tho story for December 28th will BIO
1.-THE UnbreakabIe Doll Baby: or Ptrrs
PujoPs Luck" A New Years story by
Adolphs Beiof.
Arab pasha Ia slowlv DIVING In CavIor