Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-07

They take me away in the night. Why
don't they let me rest, Mamma Dare?
Don't let them take me. Nobody loves
me but you. That woman beat me pes
cause 1 couldn't dress. They pun my
hair out" And the big brown eyes
filled with tears as the child looked at
the lawyer who turned away.
"Oh, Mamma Dare; does Jesus truly
love little girls? Why don't he make
them let me reSt?"
Don't Marchie; don't talk like that;
you're breaking my heart"
"If they break my heart, Mamma
Dare, I'll die; then you can bury me out
there under the rose push Win VIII, ~. my
white yabbet. Then Aileen will put
some flowers on top and say, here
poor little Marchie; she's so sleepy
they can't bother her any more, NAM
ma Dare"
That Mrs. Gress and the attorney in
tend to get away with the child at any
hazard is the belief of Mrs. Ware. She
says they had an automobile waiting
around the corner from her home and
that the driver quickly approached as
signal and Marchie was taken away.
When Herald reporters found Mr..
Gress at a downtown hotel yesterday
the man showed the signs of his sleep
less nights and exciting days.
Eyes, I've got Marchie here" said
the father, his eyes flashing; and I'm
going to keep her. She has suffered
enough. l am going where l am known
and have influential friends. think
it will go hard with anyone who tries
to take her away again. am going to
take care of her from this on and she
shall have a home where she can pc
we'll cared for and have an education.
Questioned about his adventure IN
San Diego Mr.. Gress laughed quietly.
He said the dispatches from San Diego
were in the main correct. He admitted
the situation was somewhat dramatlc.
VIII Leave State
'I don't care particularly about
heroics," said Mr.. Gress. Il have had
about as much of that sort OF thing
as 1 want. My ambition is to get clear
away from here now where 1 can have
my child in peace; am not aware
the police are looking for me, though
I admit L shall breathe freer when
get out of the state. Not that any one
has a right to detain me or touch my
child, vet I shrink from further an
noyance and persecution. we shall
leave for my former home on night
train"
Mr.. Gress turned to trained nurse
who entered the room and told her to
awaken Marchie for her luncheon,
which was served in the suite. The
woman returned in a few minutes ten
derly bearing her pink burden. Never
did a SWeeter, more pathetic little race
peep out from frame of tousled curls.
Her eyes, big, brown and with a Won
drous depth, seemed ready for tears
or laughter. She looked wonderingly
at the reporters and said: "Oh, papas
Marchie was so sleepy. I dreamed
such a beautiful dream. L thought
Aileen was here and she climbed on
my bed"
The child's voice was soft and her
drawl delightfully."- sweet. Marchie
turned to the nurse and looked search
ingly into her eyes and said:
Are you going to be new mamma?
If you are you must be careful when
you comb my hair 'tause 1 dot two
places that hurts awful if you don't
be easy with Marchie."
Eyes, darling, L am going away with
you on the train tonight. I'll be your
mamma until you get to your auntie's
beautiful big home. Won't you love
me, Marchie?'
The child stepped up, put her chubby
arms around the kneeling nurses neck
and patted her softly on the back and
Marchie had made one more friend for
life.
Guests of Marchie
Marchie insisted that everybody pres
ent should be her guests at luncheon.
Reporters and artist sat at the table
and pretended to eat while the young
ster played the hostess. After luncheon
she recited short poem, and. lying on
the sofa, crooned two or three little
songs in Spanish, which were readily
distinguishable as the melodies taught
by the good sisters in the Tucson
school.
At times she was silent, looking out
the window across the gray roofs of
the houses and far away toward the
blue mountains, and those who gazed
into the depths of those eyes wondered
what was in the child's mind.
Are you going to take me away to-
night, papa?'' asked the sprite after a
pause. Assured that that was the in
tention, the child waited a long time
and then said:
Papa, I just can't go without seeing
Mamma Dare. She'll just cry her eyes
out" This with melting pathos that
was irresistible.
you shall see her, sweetheart" ex-
claimed the father, and last night be-
fore the overland left for the east there
was another meeting and parting that
will never be forgotten by those who
witnessed 1t.
1t was 6 o'clock. The conductor of
the overland signalled to the engineer.
and the long train moved slowly out
of the LIE Grande station. Gress sat in
a Pullman car, the child in his arms.
you're safe now, little girl" he whis-
pered tenderly.
But Marchie was fast asleep.