The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-05-28

and she decided to take little Lucy in
bed with her.
She went into the spare room, put
the lamp on the. bureau, and opened
the bed. Then she went softly back.
very gently drew Lucy out from under
the covers, and carried her into the
other room without waking either 81
len or Mary.
Lucy half opened her eyes as she
sank into the cold bed, But when Aunt
Lucy whispered, Don't you want to
sleep with auntie?' she smiled and
dropped asleep again. Soon all was
dark, and Aunt Lucy was asleep, too,
with her arms around her little name
sake.
The clock was striking one, two,
three, when Ellen woke up shivering.
The bed clothes had slipped down and
her arms we're very cold. She drew up
the covers, and Struggled" over to her
sisters to get warm.
There seems to be so much room
in the bed" she thought, and reaching
out softly she felt Mary's long braids
Of hair. But where we're Ducy's short
curls?
"she must be down at the foot Of
the bed" thought Ellen, for Lucy often
followed the covers" when they slid
away Ellen felt carefully al over the
bed, but Lucy was not there.
She's fallen out on the fioort she'll
catch her death OF coldl" whispered
motherly little Ellen anxiously to her
self. She crept out Of bed very eau
tiously, so as not to awaken Mary,
and felt all around and under the bed.
Still no Lucyl
She began to be frightened. She
crept all over the floor on her hands
and knees, never thinking how cold
she was. Suddenly terrible thought
made her little heart stop beating for
a moment. THE lxidnappers They've
got herl Oh, my dear little sisterl"
Once more she crept around the
room in the darkness. feeling in the
closet and in every corner; but no Luz
cy could she find. Trembling with fear
and cold, she slowly felt her way
downstairs to her mothers room.
Mamma, mammal" she called in a
loud whisper.
What, dearie? Are you sick?" asked
mamma, awake in an instant.
20 mamma! Lucy's gone! The kid
nappers have got heri" came the
trembling answer
Lucy gonel" exclaimed mamma in
an incredulous tone.
Yes, I've hunted under the bed and
all over the room She's been kid
mapped, mammal I'm sure she hast"
and Ellen burst into shivering sobs.
Have you looked in Aunt Lucy's
room?" asked mamma suddenly. Don't
cry, darling. I'm sure Wen find Lucy
all right"
Mamma lit a small night lamp, and
wrapping a shawl about Ellen, they
both went softly up to Aunt Lucys
room. There lay the missing child,
last asleep in Aunt Lucy's arms!
Aunt Lucy kidnapped her, didn't
she, mamma?" whispered Ellen, with
nervous little laugh, after they had
left the room Il ought to have thought
Of that, but / didn't"
Mamma covered Ellen up snug and
warm again beside Mary, and put a
hot brick at her feet. Were in more
danger Of colds than kidnappers, dear.
Now go to sleep, my little girlie"l and
mamma left her with tender kiss.
Next morning there was great ex-
element when the family heard from
mamma the story of Ellen's fright and
her brave search In the dark Aunt
Lucy was so conscience stricken she
could hardly keep from crying.
you poor, little abused darling!"
she said, tearfully, taking Ellen in her
arms. Can you ever forgive your
thoughtless auntie? never dreamed
of your waking up before morning,
when I'd taken Lucy out without walk
ing you. I'm SO sorry, dear viii ysu
forgive me, if IN promise never, never
to steal Lucy away again?"
yes, I'll forgive you this time, Aunt
Lucy" said Ellen earnestly. Then she
added, with roguish smile, you may
steal her again II you want to, auntie.
l won't be scared next time, now
know we have a ddnapper Of our own
right here in the housei"-C Christian
Register