The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1906-03-08
MY KIDNAPPING


k.ollzed each other, but as | was only
inlr years old when, as my mother Al
ways expressed 1t, 'he left u.s. l did
aot remember him.
When | was a girl of sixteen was
one day watching a housemaid move
a desk. She was about to put 1t back
In its place when | noticed the corner
of on envelope sticking out from the
back of the desk. | took Wold OF II
and drew 1t out. Ii was addressed to
nv mother. had never been opened, and
the post mark bore a date of twelve
years before. l concluded to open II
It read:
If you are convinced. write me definitely
By return mail. After Saturday 1t VIII be
too late.
1t was signed with a single letter
either an NJ. or a W, could moi bt
certain which.
| placed the note in n of the little
drawers In the upper part of the desk
NV mother was absent at the time. and
| intended to call her attention to 1t or
her return, but forgot al about 1t.
One evening | visited a friend who
lived a few doors from our ana,
on taking my leave, started to go
home alone. A carriage was standing
by the curb. and two men were lolter
Ing on the sidewalk. AS | passed they
approached me. and almost before l
knew what had happened they had
lifted me off my feet and put me IN
the carriage. Then they both got in and
shut the door, and the coachman drove
away.
| begged them with tears TO tell me
what it all meant and what they were
going to do with me. One of them as
sured me that no harm would come TO
me and | had best calm myself. After
driving some distance they entered
large grounds and stopped under the
porte cochere OF a dwelling. The door
of the house opened, and a matronly
woman came out, put her arm about
me with a pleasant smile and led me III
TO the house and up into a bedroom,
where she said | would spend the night.
[ questioned her, but she gave me no
information, though she assured me
that no harm would come to me. |
lear,Ied something. however, from over
hearing a telephone message. the In
strument being fixed In the hall. One
OF the men who had kidnapped me was
CAIking.
"Sne's here"
A pause.
"No. I'll guarantee that. Not a hu
man being except those concerned
knows where she is or can track her"
a pause.
".5he behaves very well, though, OF
COURSE. shes pretty badly cut up"
The man listened to something more,
then hung up the receieer and went
downstairs. a few minutes later !
heard tho carriage drive away.
| will not attempt to describe N.
feelings. which were rather puzzled
than otherwise, for | was so kindly
created tat it was impossible to con.
time to he frightened. Tie motheri.
woman brought ne a nigatdress ana
asked NE If I'd like an supper. She
had no fear of my getting j through
the window, for | was on the third
btory.
Ia the morning after breakfast was
directed TO SO into the library. \ gen
tleman was waiting for iae who as !
approached regarded me with a face
on which sadness had been stamped,
but which now lighted up With kind.
hess. love. admiration.
Marjorie, my child. what a splendid
xlrl you are"
/ drew back. astonished. WHO art
Sou?" | asked.
Your father"
MY father is not living"
"Has any one eyer told you that he
IS dead?'
/ could not remember that any one
aad ever said Sc.
Marjorie he continued, drawing
ne 10 him, II am really your father.
Your mother has had you long enough;
ut least it is now my turn for awhile.
We shall sail this afternoon for Eu-
rope"
| was convinced that he wa really
my father both by his bearing toward
me and a picture | had seen of him. |
temporized with him. neither asserting
nor dissenting. Weywere still talking to.
gether when several men forced their
way into the house, and soon after my
mother drove up in a carriage. She
found me with my father. Selling her
by the hand. | e%ndeayored to draw her
to him, begging them to be ~reeonclled.
impossible" said my father. II
gave your mother a last opportunity
more than ten years ago.
"You did not" said my mother, tears
starting to her eyes. you left me
without a word"