The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-05


and she must attend on her aud the lit
tie girl. besides the many duties of the
ordinary day. A pleasant hour for a
stroll with the chiIda Indeed it was.
and more the pity. Her mistress would
not let her grandchild out of her sight:
did she fear that she might harm one so
innocent? And the madchen shrugged
her plump shoulders and hurried into
the house as the whistle resounded and
a shrill voice strained the tube.
So, Hugh. BY circuitous route. re-
turned to his eyrie and waited. feeling
rather discouraged. But by and by the
door OF the Tracey mansion opened and
slammed, and short, stout, rcd-feced
woman, who looked angry with herself
since there was no other suitable an
tagonist present. came down the steps,
tightly grasping child by the hand
a dainty little girl. with long golden
hair and happy eyes, and feet that
danced impatient to the restraint of her
grandmother stride. She marched up
the street as if to bastion. She
wheeled at the corner and entered the
park by that very path near which
Hugh lay in ambush, and little Mary
skipped blitbely by her side like a
Cupid attending one of the fates
Deuce take it" muttered Hugh, Il
never shall have better chance.
There's not soul in sight. But what
can | do? l can't loosen those broad
hooks short of garroting."
He withdrew the closer among the
evergreen as the pair approached and
looked about him in desperation. The
lazy curl of the smoke caught his eve
and suggested a wicked design But
there was success in it, for saint or
shrew. victim or vixen, would surely be
affected alike by such a peril He
deity wove wisp of leaves. twigs and
grass. He lighted it He crept behind
the matron and dropped it on her trail
ing wooden skirt. In an instant he
was by her side with hands appraised
and alarn-protruding eyes.
Beg pardon. ma'am." he shouted,
"but your dress is all ablaze."
Now if there was one thing-persons
We're out of the running-that Widow
Tracey feared it was fire. There was a
directness about it which she could ap-
preciate. Her lecture on lamps, which
she delivered whenever a new servant
was engaged. and consequently very
often, would have been 4 potent adver-
terising medium for an electric light
company. And SO, as she looked be-
hor nj no 6n
her head and found her feet at the
same moment. Without thought of
the child, she sped across the lawn
toward her home. surprising the air with
singular screams.
Hugh stamped on the wisp. which he
had adroitly kicked from the skirt, and
then, raising the terrified little girl
lightly in his arms, disappeared through
the windings of the grove. A moment
later they were seated in downtown
car, little Mary eontentedly munching
her orange and Hugh holding her hand
as carefully, if not as aggressively, as
her grandmother had
''You are glad to go and see your
papa?" said he.
Yes, and my mamma, too"
''And you love Your papa?'
''Oh, yes, and my dear mamma"
Hugh thought for a moment 1t was
touching to hear this child speak SO con-
fdingly of parents who had separated.
Their chickering's had not affected her
instinct at least; perhaps its purity
might blind what they had loosed.
''That's-right, little one, he said. sal
ways speak of your father and mother
as if they were united in all things as
they are in your love"
Little Mary looked at him inquiring-
ly as if she but half comprehended
Il love my papa and my mamma, bofe
Of dem together" she stoutly! reiter-
ated.
Poor Widow Tracey ran and screamed
and smellcd smoke and felt hot until
she reached the street. Then as she
could not help from perceivlng that the
passers-by were not a whit alarmed for
her safety. but rather for their own,
her as one of unsound mind,
she gradually appreciated that her
blood was responsible for the heat and
the bonfres for the smoke, and then she
recalled little Mary.
Back to the park she sped, screaming
anew, and more surprisingly, and those
who had only suspected were now sure
IF her mania. Back to the very spot
where the offending wisp still smol-
iered, but no signs of the child, no
signs of him VINO had so basely de-
ceivcd her. Unframed, yet scorched by
he fires of Indignation, Mrs. Tracey at
ength returned TO her home. She en-
-ered her daughters room in whiri of
Hes done it," she cried. 'The
wretch. the villain, He's stolen the
;hild, We are ruined-undone! I'll
nave the law on him ii l live, Oh. how
hate him, with his SNUG German
pies, III arrest that one for arson, for
preach of the peace. for-for kidnapping
sophia. what ais you? Why aren't you
,xcited? Why don't you faint?"
But Sophia only settled back on the
pillows and smiled
My little girl is safe with her father" /
he said. II only wish she had on d
'rettier dress"
"Oh, YOU" screamed the widow. "I /
NOW you. You are as weak as your
'ather was. But I'll strengthen you as I
used to strengthen him III send for /
ny lawyer. Well see w1-ather Justice
: the woman they figure her TO be III .
end for little Mr.. Phibbs- And oh. .
~ dear child, be firm. Remember 4
our wrongs; try 10 be like me" But /
sophia only smiled and was silent
Little Mr.. Phibbs came, and the next 4
lay Alfred Nevalls was served with q
writ Of habeas corpus requiring him &c I