The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-03
TWO LOCAL REAL LIFE STORIES
 OF PECULIAR HEART INTEREST
Montgomery Woman Restores Grand chld to Humble Tennessee Home, From Winch Fate
 Had Taken Her.

Through the tender heart and sympa- thetIc nature of a Montgomery woman little Ada May Keel thirteen years old, bright and attractive child. has Just been restored to the arms of her aged and devoted grandmother. Mrs. Banks at Hoi- landsworth, near McMinnviile, Tenn. When the parents of Ada May heei died in Tennessee she was a mere baby. They had been poor but honest and high ly respected persons. With their death the child was bereft of all those who had looked with love into her baby eyes, save one, her grandmother, the one who nag breathed life into her maternal parent. This grandmother, Mrs. Banks, was aged and poor. Reluctantly she gave her consent for the baby girl to be taken by a wealthy but childless family in a neighboring city. Mrs. Banks could nor do more She, herself, was pracucaiy helpless, and her age-racked heart was torn when the little one of her own piooo went away.
 Time came when Mrs Banks resolved that she would come into her own. This resolution was made when story came to her that stiil further saddened her heart; story that her baby, the darling of her declining years, was cruelty treat ed by the strangers who had pledged themselves to care for the little girl as they would for their own.
 After weeks of anxiety and fruitless effort, Mrs. Banks was Informed that she could not secure possession Of the child without an action at law. Suits at law cost money. which Mrs. Banks did not have. For weeks she planned. guided by the advice of good friends, until the time came when she realized her high hopes. She was prepared to make le- gal battle for the recovery of the baby of her heart She would lead this little princess of her affection again into the castle builded by her day dreams of de- votion.
 Then came a message which struck at the heart of the aged woman as swift and keen as knife cut. Annie May Keel had vanished from the great house in the city and she could get no word of her whereabouts.
 Weeks heightened into months and the heart of Mrs. Banks was torn by conflict ing emotions. In her humble home there was great sorrow for the loss of the little girl She exhausted every effort which her slender means would allow to secure information about the child. Hope was born one day to die with the morrow. Mrs Banks finally, in her great Christian faith, permitted herself to believe that the child of her bosom had been swal- lowed by the throng which moves upon the face of the world. but would be re- stored to her in Gods own good time.
 Meanwhile little Annie May Keel. who had grown to be 8 sweet-faced. intelli- gent girl instead of the babe that had left the arms of a lovfrg grandmother, was sent to Alabama, where she thought in the simplicity of her childhood, and the ambition of her tender years she was to go to school and ''5e like other girls" At Montevallo she was met by persons who had been advised of her coming. They were friends of the foster parents of the little girl In this Montevallo fam ily Annie May Keel became a servant. The impressionable age had come into her life and she rocked of the cruelty of fate. She thought of the aged and de- voted grandmother in the hills of Tennes- sec but she could not communicate with her.
 Months passed and the Montevallo family tired of the pretty little serving maid. who notwithstanding the hardness of her life had laughing eyes and cheery ways.
 Then fortune smiled upon Annie May Keel. The path of the little girl, this waif on the rolling pillows of a restless world, led to the home of Montgomery "OAhhh PAONNh lO OO htl ldAil BOu- mother.
 This Montgomery woman, whose heart Is filled with a great love for the un- fortunate ones of humankind, expressed a desire to secure a bright little girl as a companion. She had a friend who told her of certain pretty child at Monte vallo who needed a good home and friends. The Montgomery woman in- vestigated. The result was that Annie May Keel came to live in a fine house on Perry Street in Montgomery.
 The orphan was poorly clad, but be- heath her faded bonnet bright eyes shone behind her rough exterior the Montgom- cry woman soon found character which gave promise of high development
 The two. the Montgomery woman of station and the child of the people soon became fast friends. Little by little as this friendship melted into abiding love- the Montgomery woman drew from the child a story of misfortune mstreat- ment and consequent misery
 As a result of these condolences the Mouthgomery woman entered into a cor respondence with persons whose names were supplied by her little friend. Mrs. Banks, the aged grandmother, heart broken and sorely distressed had removed from her former home, and it required weeks to locate her.
 The news which Mrs. Banks received was too good to be true She had been deceived before and she was dubious. Finally the aged woman had a letter from her baby darling. Then doubt was dispelled. and Joy crushed into the tired heart and filled it to overflowing.
 You shall go to your grandmother, Annie May" said the Montgomery wo- man. setting aside the love which had found a place in her heart for the child You shall go to your grandmother, although l shall miss you greatly"
 And so Annie May Keel wearing the garb of children who daily feel the touch of plenty, was driven in a carriage to the Montgomery Union railway station. She was provided with ample money rail- way ticked and solicitious injunctions