The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23


asked it. and there was tenderness in his
voice which surprised himself
Dolly" was the reply. "Come and play
with the towers
There was an air of imperious command
about the words and the tone which
amused him. and he laughed. 1t was his
first laugh for years, and he-felt better for
it. The laugh seemed to amuse Dolly, and
she Joined in with shrill shout of laugh
ter.
The prison authorities would have been
amazed could they have seen Convict 215
during the next hour. He had always been
well behaved but sullen. and yet within
thirty-six hours Of his leaving prison he
was playing with little child. laughing
quietly at her remarks, trotting over the
grass by her side. plucking wild flowers for
her, tying wreaths of blossoms round her
golden head, and she was as happy as IL no
harm hung over her bonny sweet form.
AT last she was tired. and he sat down on
bank and she crept into his arms.
''Doge.'' she said. when is we going to
papa?"
want to go?"
"Yes. Where Is hep"
"Gone away with mamma
''Dolly's tired. Let us go home to
mamma"
That was not, however. in Georges pro-
gramme, so he began to weave a story for
the childs amusement, and before long the
sleepy eyes closed and Dolly was fast
asleep.
The light in the west had already begun
to fade, and he conceived that the time had
come to begin the next part of his inten-
tons.
He laid her gently down on the grass.
and, taking off his coat, placed it over her.
Then. taking her sun-bonnet, he left her
sleeping and began to retrace his steps to
the river. 1t was not a very large stream.
and he calculated that by the time he could
go, deposit the hat and return 1t would be
dark enough for him to start for the sta
ton en- route for London, and there was
still enough of bitter malice in his heart
for him to gloat over the pain Of Charles
Debenbam and his wife at their loss.
Part of his programme he carried out. A
part broke down. The task of carrying the
hat and depositing it on the rivers brink
was not as easy as it looked, for couple
of men were about, and as he did not wish
to be seen he was delayed. The result was
that by the time he returned to the dingle
where he had left Dolly it was nearly dark.
A great horror fell on him when he
reached the spot. The child was no longer
there
The coat under which he had left her ly-
ing was there, but the child had vanished.
In a flash he saw what had happened.
she had wandered away into the woods,
probably terrified at the darkness and lone
illness. Heaven help him! She would wan
der about all night, and in the morning
would be found lying dead from fright and
exposure. And he would be guilty of her
death!
In a moment a great love for the little
one rushed into his heart. She had been
fair to look upon. lovins, so trustful.
so innocent. She had been the only crea-
ture who for five long years had shown
him love and confidence. Her innocent
childish kiss was still warm on his lips
Even while he had plotted against her she
had nestled into his arms confidingly. And
she had wandered away to die! He could
not bear the thought of her suffering. His
vengeance was forgotten swallowed up in
remorse and anguish. He reviled himself
to think that all that his plans of revenge
had accomplished was the suffering and
pain of a tender, loving little child.
Dolly, Dolly" he called, but the wind
moving the trees was all the answer he got.
Then he began to dash to and fro, fran
tically calling her name, peering among
the bushes for a glimpse of white dress.
Dat 81 tx x,oin and whom fha dark
ness had settled down he was still in the
dingle alone.
For an hour after it was quite dark he
continued his search, but it was with de-
spair in his heart.
One project now took possession of him.
He could not callously turn away and
leave the child to perish, even though 1T
was what he had actually intended and
planned The only course left was to go
to the child's home, tell his story and OBJ
tain help to look for her.
He shrank from such a course. To go
back to Charles Debenham as a suppliant
for pardon was too much. He could not
do it.
But finally his manhood conquered The
evil spirit in him succumbed to his better
nature, and he turned resolutely.
He had not gone a hundred yards before
a child's faint cry reached his ear. Swift
as an arrow he turned in the direction and
sped away. And under hedge he found
the little one, crying quietly.
'Doge, take me home, rs tired" the
baby voice said piteously,, as he picked her
up and pressed her to his heart.
IT will Dolly darling he said, and fold
ing her in his arms he started off again.
There were lights in the house of Charles
Debenham when he drew near. He under
stood. Search had been made for the lost
one In all probability search was still be-
ing made, and the household had not re-
tired.
BY this time Dolly was asleep again. A
French window was open. and he stepped
into the room where a gas jet, turned very
low, gave a dim light He was in a room
cozily and almost luxuriously furnished.
He laid the sleeping baby on a soft couch
and hastily threw over her a soft wrap
he caught up from a chair. Then his lips
lightly touched its forehead. and he turned
to go.
But a fancy took him to see. If possible,
how Charles Debenham felt at his loss. He
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