The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-04-22

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 shiverine.
The bed clothes had slipped down and
her arms were very cold. She drew up
the covers, and "snuggled" 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 were Lucys 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 floor[ she'll
catch her death of cold!" 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 Lucy!
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 kidnappers. They've
got her! Oh, my dear little sister!"
Once more she crept around the
room In the darkness, feeling in the
closet and in every corner; but no Lu-
cy could she find. Trembling with fear
and cold, she slowly felt her way
downstairs to her mothers room.
Mamma, mammal" she called in
loud whisper
What, dearie? Are you sick?' asked
mamma, awake in an instant.
80 mamma! Lucy's gone! The kid
nappers have got her!" came the
trembling answer.
Lucy gone!" exclaimed mamma in
an incredulous tone.
Eyes, I've hunted under the bed and
all over the room. She's been kid
mapped, mamma! I'm sure she has!'
and Ellen burst into shivering sobs.
Have you looked in Aunt Lucy's
room?" asked mamma suddenly. Don't
cry, darling. I'm sure We'll find Lucy
all right"
Mamma lit a small night lamp, and
wrapping a shawl about Ellen, they
both went softly up to Aunt Lucy's
room. There lay the missing child,
fast asleep in Aunt Lucy's arms!
"Aunt Lucy kidnapped her, didn't
she, mammal" whispered Ellen, with
nervous little laugh after they had
left the room. 81 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. We're in more
danger of colds than kidnappers, dear
Now go to sleep, my little grille! and
mamma left her with tender kiss.
Next morning there was great ex-
citement when the family heard from
mamma the story of Ellen's fright and
her brave search IN the DARK Auht
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 wax
ing you. I'm so sorry, dear. VIII you
forgive me, if I'll promise never, never
to steal Lucy away again."
Eyes, I'll forgive you this time, Aunt
Lucy" said Ellen earnestly. Then she
added, with roguish smile, "You may
steal her again if you want to, auntie
won't be scared next time, now
know we have kidnapper of our own
right here in the house!"-Christian
Register.