Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-29

sic. I've lost my little girl. Conductor
stop the train!'' Dorothy saw in minute
that she was with the mother of the little
girl she had noticed in the station.
In an instant the conductor came to see
what all the excitement was about. as
did many of the passengers He soon had
the facts of the strange occurrence from
the excited woman-that in her hurry CT
boarding the train she had seized another
womans child by the hand. the probabiI-
ity being that the other mother had taken
her little girl in exactly the same manner.
But where, oh where" cried the poor
woman, has she taken my Bessie?"
Madam" said the conductor, who could
not help smiling at the situation. "the
other lady is no doubt as worried about
the mistake as you are. But don't fret;
we'll telegraph ahead to Philadelphia. and
beyond your having to keep the wrong
child a your house over night I don t
see that much harm is DONE
Poor Mrs. Miles did not seem to get
much comfort from the conductors re-
marks. She saw, however, that the remedy
he suggested was the only possible one. so
settled herself to await the result of the
telegram, which the conductor sent off
from the next station. 1t was:
Find little girl on Southern Express
named Bessie. Tell lady with her to Gem
municate with Mrs. Miles, Pleasnntville,
n J., who has the little girl Dorothy with
her.
Mrs Miles asked Dorothy some ques-
tons about herself, and learned that she
lived in Washington; that her papa Wss a
Judge; that she was an only child, and
that she was seven years old. Poor Dor
othy! AS she told these facts she became
more and more homeSick, and she turned
her face toward the window to hide the
tears which fell faster and faster. Mrs.
Miles was not given to comforting children;
but she did tell Dorothy that she would
keep her until tomorrow, when her own
mother would bring Bessie back and take
her away. In about an hour Pleasa1tville
was called and Dorothy and Mrs Miles
alighted the conductor telling them to so
into the station for the answer to their
telegram. Dorothy's lonesomeness was a
little lessened when Mrs. Miles read aloud
the following answer:
will take the best care of Bessie and
bring her home tomorrow. Fair exchange
is no robbery. Love to Dorothy. Tell
her not to fret. MARY G. MADISON"
The station was an ugly. tumble-down
structure, and Dorothy was glad to leave
1t. even when Mrs. Miles handed her a
heavy satchel to carry. Outside driz-
cling rain had begun to fall, but not motto
ing this, Mrs. Miles started to climb the
Hill which ran past some ramshackle houses
into the town beyond.
Where's the carriage?" asked Dorothy;
well get wet"
"Carriage" shifted Mrs. Miles. It's not
many carriages you'll find In Pleasantville
you're dead though It's little you'll be
caring then whether you're tired or not.
Dorothy thought of the handsome carriage
and fine horses which would bring Bessie
to her home.
I'D the long hill trudged Dorothy-her
arms aching with the heavy satchel. the
rain beating in her face and chilling her in
way which would have made mother tele-
phone at once for DR.. Quirk. Mrs. Miles
on reaching her native place assumed
quick. cross way of speaking, which sound
ed to Dorothy like scolding. DO walk fas
ter" she urged. You will not get home
tonight at the rate you're going. Besste's
much smarter on her feet, though she's not
so big as you"
After what seemed an hour to Dorothy,
hut which was in reality but a quarter
long. Mrs Miles stopped at small, untidy
looking house Chickens INSTRUCTED the