Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-28

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She might think perhaps. we had got lost"
With good reason grumbled Avery. Donald,
go up to the farm yonder and see II you can't get
some sort of wagon Somebody must take these
II volunteer to drive" answered the young
man addressed as Donald. Eric and Wagner
can act as nurses, and we'll get on capitally"
IF you can get wagon" said Avery doubtfully.
There will be no dificulty about that" an
swered Grattan, as Donald disappeared. The event
proved that he was right Barely twenty minutes
afterward Donald's shout gave notice that the
wagon waiting.
There he is, Eric. You may as we'll take my
coat to wrap around that little pickle of yours.
Lift her head higher; she isn't comfortable"
Meanwhile in the village excitement ran high.
The children had been kidnapped had fallen into
the river, had run away. Not for years had the
sleepy little place been reused to such degree
of apprehension and interest. Most people In
clined to the theory of kidnapping being the
most romantic. One young woman whispered of
a mysterious figure in red cloak, seen at the
end of the street just as twilight was falling.
Without doubt there were gypsies somewhere in
the neghborhood, and where the gypsies were,
there too, without doubt, were Elsie and Molly.
The women, after prudently counting their sill
yer teaspoons to make sure that vagrant had
invaded the sanctity of their cupboards, found
their way, -one after another, to the room where
Hester sat. She, 1t was agreed on all sides must
take no part in the search. Others would do
that; she must wait at home ready to receive the
little wanderers when they should return.
If they return" sobbed poor Hester, laying
her aching head down upon the table beside Mol
ly's untasted supper, unheeding. and indeed not
hearing the words of consolation" which flowed
glbly from the lips of her group OF comforters.
Only Hester did not behave as, In the eyes of
the good gossips of Melton, she should have done.
She neither shrieked, nor wept, nor tainted norl
tore her hair, though everybody in the room
well aware that a well-conducted young lady ought
to find vent for her emotion through at least
of these four channels
The good people who had come prepared to
sst at really touching scene felt defrauded and
disappointed. How could administer volatile
salts or burned feathers to heartless creature
who had evidently no more feeling than stone?
And meanwhile poor Hester sat STILL making no
outcry shedding no tears, only hiding her face
from the curious eyes and from the light, and
now and then drawing shudderng breath half
sigh, half moan.
The clock struck nine. Hester counting the
slow strokes, knew that the children had been
gone five hours-only five short hours. 1t seemed
to her that those hours had held the anguish of
five years.
"Oh. Molly! Molly! my little Molly!" she cried,
brokenly, and them deaf she had been to all
the murmured words of her companions, she sud
denly raised her head as her ears, quickened to
every sound without caught the roll of heavy
wheels Surely they were stopping at the gate,
and there!--was it, could it be, Elsie's voice?
At all events. it was Elsie herself who scram-
bling down from Carl Wagner's arms. rushed for
ward and hid her face in Hester's gown.
Sister, don't be angry; we couldn't find 1t,
after ALL"
laughter and at the sound of her voice Grattan
started forward, with one word
"Hester" That was ALL
The neighbors looking on felt thrill of vir
tuous indignation that made their very bonnets
tremble. They could not have believed 1t of Miss
Kingsley had they not seen her shocking conduct
for themselves
Even Elsie was bewildered Hester was glad?
Then why did she cry? And who was the gray
OGRE that sister should suffer him to put his arms
around her-yes, and kiss her too? Elsie whose