The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-24

afterwards as if nothing unusual had
occurred. y 4
I'll just run up and see Constance .
said Mr.. Carter. .sesss@2 .fs'
Very we'll, will wait for YOU"
And Mr.. Hamilton did so.
~ How is she? Does she look much
disturbed 2" asked the latter, when
Mr.. Carter came down.
She looks as If she had had a great
shock, Vane. I told her not to go near
the Frys." ~. (;
What did she say?n
Nothing, only that / need not fear
that she would do anything impru-
dent
1. No, she will not, you may be sure
of that said Mr. Hamilton, and he
walked along silently; and thoughtful
lily to the office. ysf.i.4, -. s.:
Constance did not intend to be i'm
prudent, but she did mean to see PRS
mus Edes and ask him a few questions.
Accordingly she went over about
o'clock and made her errand known
to Mrs. Fry. who ushered her into the
sickroom, remaining there herself as
Constance requested.
"Constance," he cried, $50 you did
come again. did not hope to see you
till tom orroW.''
IT want to ask you asfew questions.
I came for that" said she, quietly.
ASK me anything
You s7e say you are Vane Hamilton.
Tell me, them why you went away
every year in May" 1900
will. I feel now that I ought to
have done SO before But I, shrank
from it, fancying that you would think
my quest foolish one
Quest % .,es
Yes, q sacred quest. You remem-
Der my mother, Constance sad,
delicate woman who seldom smiled;
but you never knew the reason Of her
sadness, nor did I till short time be-
fore she died: Then she told me. She
had three children, a girl and two
sons, who were twins. Ny sister died
In childhood, and my brother, also,
7 as I supposed; but she, it seems, al
ways doubted it.. AS you know, Con-
stance, I was one of the twins and
the other was stolen. My parents
who were very wealthy at that time,
LIVED in Elmira, New York. The nurse,
who had charge of us, took our car
riage, which was a double one, to the
park, one day, as usual. There she
| left us, as servants will, to gossip with
| other girls, and when she returned my
brother was nowhere to be seen. OF
course, the woman was filed with
grief and fear, and she searched. g
long time, herself, before summonine
| aid, fearing the displeasure Of her
employers. But the child could not be
found. My mother was nearlylfrantic
for she had set her heart on her two
| remaining children after her little
daughter died, and it seemed for 3
long time as if she would be insane.
THE search was wide and thoro
1 Everything was done to find him that
| ample means and anxious hearts could
devise, and at last it was believed thai
he was dead, or had been carried from
the country. My father lost the larger
part of his property about this time
| Indeed, the long search had been 8
heavy drain upon it, and since 1t had
long been decided that no more could
be done, he took considerable pains tt
impress upon my mothers mind the
belief that the child was dead. There
t Msrs many 4 facts facts that that t xaaal
himself actually believed that Vic.
tor died after being stolen, and
/ before the kidnapper felt that II
would be safe to make any move to.
wards securing a reward for his re.
turn. !. a3:3g
This was what he believed. and al
j have said he had great reason FOR