Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20


him in the morning; so was his miniature type
writer, as well as a gaudy company of books
and toys and in the first rapture Of his riches
he seemed to have forgotten any other desire.
1t is true there was one dampening moment
when he stood searching every corner Of the
room, in q single. blank solemn glance. But
it was only moment: he said not word and
then he was off for his donkey, bowling and
skipping with joy.
Miss Celia (who looked pale. though smiling)
went away to church quite relieved about him.
Privately, I think Miss Celia would have given
o pretty penny to the poor box could she thus
have purchased leave to stay at home. She
dreaded the leisure to think the music. with its
memories the sOftening influences Of the sea-
son. Miss Celia did not want to be softened she
wanted to be hardened. But there would be
the talk if such regular attendant stayed away,
and there were the Rollins invited to dinner.
Mics Celia dOnned her black velvet gown and
fastened her laces with her diamond brooch and
pu. large white silk handkerchief over them
under her pelisse. and Maddox tied her bonnet
strings and gave her a new pair of gloves out Of
the sachet, and she went to church.
How much or how little the service and the
sermon did for Miss Celia's soul cannot saw;
but know that she fixed her mind sternly on
certain worldly subjects (for instance Reggy's
kindergarten) and heard ia little as DR.. Rollins
melodious and magnetic voice would let her
The Rollins were late in joining her in the
vestibule: the reason for which instantly ap-
peared. in spite of Mrs. Rollins warning elbow.
You must excuse us, Miss Wilder said the
rector. 1.-THE fact is Mrs Dubarry WIS Just tell
ing Mrs. Braces little girl has been kid
naped'--- Here, aware of the elbow, he
turned his mild, inquiring countenance on his
wife,
She certainly was not so conscientious as he.
for she asked him if he wasn't OH her skirt
l-a h
kidnapping business out of his hands.
If she has any heart at all. thought Mrs. Roll
Inns. she ii want to hear about kidnapped
child! Yes, Miss Wilder" (.loud). isn't it
awful! 1t is the most mysterious thing, too.
Her father was walking up and down the hill
with her-just to let her try her new tricycle.
and almost opposite their own driye-you know
how tine hills sloDe up on that side the street
and how far back the house Is. SO you can see
it from the sidewGlk-well, do you know, the
little thing wanted to run home minute to
get something or other to show playmate that
she saw my dear. she ran up that asphalt drive,
with her father watching her, and into the
| shadow OF the stone porch-you know how
| dark it is with those heavy pillars and the arch
and all she ran there-and that was the last
seen of herr
II don't understand" said Miss Celia, ''shan't
we walk on?''
They walked on. DR.. Rollins. in his turn, ex-
planning.
Mr.. Brace Of course thought the child
was safe. In the house they supposed she was
| with him. He met-well Miss Wilder i. was
! whom he met and We chatted together pleas
anty. He is very cultivated. noble young
fellow. Mr.. Brace CDR. Rollins could not resist
| the opportunity and not q bit spoiled by his
money; like to talk to him. After he left me
he returned to the house and then, for the first
| time, discovered that the child was missing
No one had seen her since she left with her
father. There was instant search and inquiry
Nothing was found. Only, as nearly as they
could calculate at the time of Gracie's disap-
pearance. a yelled woman in a long cloak was
hanging about the yard"
Il don't believe she took the child" said
Mrs Rollins. people don't rig themselves up
in striking clothes when they are going to kid
| nap babies"
| Miss Celia asked no questions, but inwardly
| she was in flame. Had it been any other wo-
man in the town she would have sent Feretzle
with profers OF sympathy and aid. Now she
was silent. She let the talk flow over her. as a
rock does not resist high tide.
| At dinner the very servants we're agitated.
| She could catch whispers in the buffers PAN
| try. Elna, the Swedish nurse maid had stopped
| at the kitchen in passing to tell her story Of
| grief and frantic search. The police were
| securing the town and the two towns across the
river. Every house in the neiyhborhood had
been visited, every foot of the Braces house
with the flowers and light, they could hear the
crier shouting description OF the lost child,
and presently they saw a boy run by over the
snow with his arms heaped with posters.
DIR. Rollins said: That is the boy from the
printing Office with the offer Of the reward
Five hundred dollars offered. They will be
pasted all over the city before nightfall." He
had just returned from searching, having
parted from the ladies at Miss Celias gate. He
was agitated and could talk of nothing else.
Both the Rollins boys had remained to help
though what they could do was vague enough.
Even Henry Feretzle had gone, having pre-
sen.sd himself TO his mistress and asked TO 60
| with Elna Ito look"
| All the time they could see people passing,
women a. well as men. talking eagerly. The
| suspicious woman had been arrested, protest
ing that she was only q member Of the Saliva
evidence, but che had BEEN tHksu TO jail, vhses