The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-12-09

ITO clean what?' asked Mrs. Sang
ster.
Her soul" repeated the younger wo-
man. "She asked me if / cav anything
on her forehead, and said sugar. She
seemed quite awed, and wanted to
know If she could wash it off. said it
was on her SOUL and she went out to
clean it, l fancy | guess she's all
right" she ended. lightly.
But the mother was not satisfied.
Suddenly she caught sight of figure
moving across the meadow. No" she
said; there's comes Abe alone. Mag,
something has happened to Aggie
May"
She started down the path, and her
sister rose, and reluctantly followed.
She wanted to finish her sewing. The
child was probably all right, and was
doubtless playing somewhere about in
the yard. 1t was tiresome of Flo to
make such a fuss.
Mrs Sangster answered only two
words "Aggie May"
"Where?" He caught her roughly
face toward him.
Gone" she whispered, and their
eyes met. Even Mag felt an electric
shock of horror, and wished she had
not been quite so hopeless about the
sugar.
"Since when have you missed her?"
asked the father, tremor in his
voice.
Mrs. Sangster shook her head
81 last saw her under the apple tree
at about three, l should say" answered
Mag.
The three hurried to the spot half
expecting to find her at play. 1t was
Aggie Mays favorite spot to retire to
play, to think or to pout All the
great crises of her life had been en-
acted here. But her swing hung limp
and motionless.
Mr.. Sangster turned to go, but his
wife suddenly called him back with
piercing cry.
Look" she said. At her feet lay
heap of golden curls, and beside
them, thrown upon the ground, lay a
pair of scissors-her scissors.
Indians" gasped Mag, turning
white.
"Gipsies," ventured the mother.
ooh, Aggie May, Aggie May, where
are your" she called, wildly.
Mr. Sangster said nothing. He
stopped, and gathered up the handful |
of golden hair, and crammed it in his
pocket Then he turned to his wife
Il think, Flo" he said, gently, you
had better go home. I'll look for the
child" There was curious white
line about his mouth.
WHAT Go home when my child is
perhaps dying?"
Then, my dear, come quickly, for
l think we are needed"
They crossed the meadow In the
open space it was still broad daylight,
but in the forest beyond the shadows
were already black.
Mag" said Mr. Sangster, suddenly
turning to his sister-in-law, run and
rouse the men, and get lanterns. Well
search the woods"
Mrs. Sangster shivered with fear
not for herself, but for her baby-but
the two pushed rapidly on. Only to
catch the fugitives before nightfall,
for they had no doubt that the child
had been kidnapped.
Suddenly the man stopped. In the
fading light something white hung to
an outreaching bush. 1t was a scrap
of Aggie Mays calico apron.
Mrs. Sangster caught it and kissed
it. Again Mr.. Sangster stopped. This
time it was an open space of ground
under the trees, where no grass seemed
growing. He sank on his knees, his
face close to earth. 1t was the faint
outline of child's footprints that he
saw. He searched in vain. There
we're none beside them.
He turned to his wife. cit looks
like she was alone" he said.
What would she be doing in the
woods alone? she asked. Then she
stopped Across her mind
dashed the conversation Mag had re-
peated to her. She had gone outside
probably to wash off the sugar. 1.-The
1rook!" she gasped, and they hurried
forward
They reached its banks, but all was
peaceful and serene. The water CUR
sled and laughed in an abandon Of
slee; the current swept on until
sudden curve in it's course lost it to
view.
III.
Meanwhile Aggie Mays little feet
,ped fast and faster. The shadows