The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-12-20
REUNITED
A kidnapping Leads to a
Happy Christmas.
BY ANDREW D. MORTON.

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have faint recollection of stock
ings hanging to the mantel, lovely
face over my crib and lady taking
me up and kissing me passionately.
remember distinctly that she was
weeping. Then she put me down on
my pillow, and went to sleep.
This is all remember OF a Christ
mas for many years. | was brought
up by my father and had no knowl-
edge of my mother The Christmas
season, which was so enjoyable to 9TH
er children, never brought happiness
to me. AS 1t approached my father
grew gloomy. and | was sent away to
spend Christmas day at some other
home
When l became old enough to Won
der why l did not have a mother like
other boys l wished TO know, yet
dreaded to ask.
One day-it was the last day of study
before Christmas, when | was eight
years old, coming from school-a car
riage drew up at the curb beside me,
the door opened and lady beckoned
to me to come to her. l did so, and,
taking my hand, she gave me a very
sweet smile and drew me into the car
rage Then she shut the door and
ordered the coachman to drive on. Her
expression was so lovable and loving
that had no fear.
The streets were full of shoppers
making their last purchases before
Christmas. There We're children peer
ing into the windows at the display
of toys, which were already beginning
to be lighted arthcially. Sitting by
the lady, remembering the many duh
Christmas days | had spent and an.
other dull one before me, l felt com
fort. pleasure, | had never expert
enced before. How l wished that she
could 20 home with me to make
Christmas for mel She, too, seemed
to me to he thinking of the same
thing She said nothing to me, only
held my hand in hers. l longed to
throw my arms about her neck and
ask her if she would not be my
mother
Ii was between and 5 O'Clock In
the afternoon when | was taken up.
and az Il was winter, when the days
are short, IL soon began to grow dark.
Pm afraid" | said to the lady.
That papa will be worried about me.
He always expects me to go home di
rect from school"
The only response ! received was a
press;f"p of the hand she held. In n
few moments | said again, II think
Will get ont here aud 90 home"
She replied to this by putting her
arm about my waist There was
sometime in The act that indicated
an intention on her part to prevent
my leaving her. For the first time 1t
occurred to me that j was being kid
naped. ! thought of my father walt
ing FOR me and wondering why l did
not come home. and this troubled me.
but it did not occur TO me that |
should meet with any harm Mt the
hands of the lady.
Presently the carriage drew up In
front of a dwelling house. The lady
got out and, still holding my hnnd,
drew me after her. She took me up
to the house and into pretty room
where bright fire was blazing on
a hearth
You are very kind" | said, ito take
me to ride and bring me to your
house, but I'm sure papa will be trou-
bled about me Unless I'm to go home
Mt once l think you had better let me
send message TO him. Have you n
telephonef"
She thought n moment, then said:
Certainly. Telephone by all means"
She took me TO the telephone, looked
in the address book. found my fathers
number and instructed the central Of
fee to call 1t up. Then when the con.
nection was effected she placed stool
before the phone and handed me the
receiver, standing beside me as
talked
rs that you, papa?" | asked
My father was evidently relieved to
what had happened and where was.
told him that beautiful lady whom
| had never seen before had taken me
TO drive and then to her home.
Tell him. said the lady. that you
are to spend Christmas with me-"
did as she bid me and added. at her
request, that she intended to make me
some slight atonement for the many
Chrlstmases that had been deprived
of the pleasures common to other chill
a.en.
There was silence for few mo-
ments. Then my father asked me to
describe the lady | did so, and he
asked me If could give him the street
and number, but / could do neither.
Then the lady told me TO say TO him
that she was Cornelia; that | would he
carefully guarded and he needn't worry
about me at all. Then she hung up the
receiver and led me back into the room
with the fire on the hearth.
Now, the name Cornelia at once ar
rested my attention. A year before
when | had entered the third grade nj
school my father had brought down
desk from the garnet for my use | was
to keep my books and papers In IL. and
II was to be my study desk In the even
ing. In clearing it out | had looked
over several old papers that were In IL.
and In one had seen this name Cor
nelia. More than this, the contents of
the paper had impressed me. | could
not remember the name signed to IL.
but II was woman's name She was