Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-05-08
The
Kidnapping
of Lucy.
By II. J. Wright.

and nieces stood before her In row,
arranged according to age, the baby
steadied by mammals hand. i've gone
nm the stairs correctly; now let's see
n can 20 down again: Robbie is
eleven, Bonnie is nine. Ellen is seven
mo, she's eight! she's eight" chin
I'd several eager voices.
II had a birthday yesterday" Ellen
announced proudly.
@Oh, knew there was break in the
series somewhere" said Aunt Lucy,
With a comical pretence Of vexadon.
~And I'm half past nine," objected
Bonnie.
II can't possibly undertake fractions
the first day, Bonnie. Now let me be-
ein again: Rob is eleven, Bonnie Is
nine Ellen is eight, not seven. Mary
Is ave. Lucy is three, and BERTHE Is one.
rbere!" Aunt Lucy clapped her hands
m triumph. and the children all Joined
in the applause. Baby BERTHE shouted
"Pat-pat-pat," evidently thinking this
vas "pat-a-cake" on large scale.
aNow I'm sure I'll not make mis-
take again said Aunt Lucy. Sitting
down in a big armchair. she coaxed
little Lucy and the baby both into her
Ian, and gathered the other children
about her.
Aunt Lucy was q kindergarten teach
ar in a distant city. She had just come
hack. after five years absence, to spend
q summer at the old farm with her
sister. the mother of the six little chill
dreu. She was tired from her long
Journey, and mamma urged her to
send the children away; but she could
NOT be persuaded to let one OF them
80.
She asked about their books and
TOYS. their work and their play. She
told them stories of her kindergarten
children In the big city. She knew
funny little rhymes to say on the ba-
by's fingers, and she had to repeat
them times innumerable.
At last mamma said positively that
Aunt Lucy must go and rest for an
hour before supper. so she regretfully
released her little captives, and went
upstsirs with mamma to the spare
room.
After supper papa built a big fire In
the sitting-room fireplace; for one OF
those cold SPELLS" which often follow
the FIRST warm days of June, had come
suddenly upon them. and everyone was
shivering.
They gathered around the bright
IRE after the evening work was done,
and baby BERTHE had been tucked away
In mammals bedroom, just back Of the
.stting-room. Aunt Lucy and mamma
visited" and papa occasionally read
aloud an interesting bit OF news from
bis paper brought over the rural route
that day. One item was startling
account Of the kidnapping Of child
in st. Louis. The child had been lured
from his home three days before, and
carried away. Not trace of the kid
nappers had been found, though
threatening letters were received from
them through the mails. The poor
parents were frantic.
As he read the children drew I'M
easily nearer their mother and father.
Little Ellen, with an anxious look on
her childish face, said, Il hope the
hdnappers won't get any Of our chill
dren." They all laughed at her moth
erly tone.
They won't come away out here,
Ellen" papa assured her.
And II that little boy had stayed
In the house and gone to bed, he'd
have been all right now" said mamma
with meaning emphasis, taking lamp
and starting upstairs.
That means 'bye-bye' for you chill
dren. without a doubt" laughed Aunt
Lncy, sliding little Lucy, from her lap
With hug and kiss she babe each
one goodnight and watched them up
the stairs.-Rob and Bonnie ahead
then Ellen leading her two little sisters
BY the hand.
When mamma came back, she and
Aunt Lucy had long. quiet talk to-
setner. II was quite late when Aunt
Lucy finally went upstairs She paus-
"a moment at the first door and peeped
IN at Rob and Bonnie, rosy and smiling
IN their slumber. At the next door she
went In and looked at the little girls
az three fast asleep in one bed, with
Lucy In the middle. They looked
rather crowded. Aunt Lucy thought
and she decided to take little Lucy In
bed with her.
Sne went into the spare room, put
tne lamp on the bureau, and opened
tne bed. Then she went softly back
very gently drew Lucy out from under
tne covers. and carried her into the
other room without waking either Ell
len or Mary.
Lucy half opened her eyes as sh.
sank into the cold bed. But when Aun
Lacy whispered, Don't you want I.
sieep with auntie?" she smiled ant
dropped asleep again. Soon all wa,
VAIN. and Aunt Lucy was asleep. too
sake. W ''-e -e
me clock was striking one, two
ee when Ellen woke up shivering
me ned clothes had slipped down an,
arms were very cold. She drew nj
as covers. and Struggled" over to he
sisters to get warm.
mere seems to be so much room
- sne bed" she thought. and reachin
@ softly she felt Mary's long braid
mar. But where were Lucy's shor
eurlsi