The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-17
REUNITED
A kidnapping Leads to a
Happy Christmas.
BY ANDREW D. MORTON.

| 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 Christ
mas for many years. | was brought
mp by my father and had no knowi-
edge of my mother. The Christmas
season. which was so enjoyable TO 9th
er children. never brought happiness
to me. As it approached my father
grew gloomy. and | was sent away to
spend Christmas day at some other
home.
When | became old enough to won
der why | did not have a mother like
other boys wished to know. yet
dreaded 10 ask.
One day-it was the last day of study
before Christmas, when | was eight
years old. coming from school-a car
riage drew mp at the curb beside me,
the door opened and a lady beckoned
to me to come to her. | did SO. and.
taking my hand. she gave me very
sweet smile and drew me into the car
riage Then she shut the door and
ordered the coachman to drive OH. Her
expression was so lovable and loving
that had no fear.
The streets were full of shoppers
making their last purchases before
Christmas. There were children peer
ing into the windows at the display
of toys, which were already beginning
to be lighted artihcially. Sitting by
the lady, remembering the many dull
Christmas days | had spent and an
other dull one before me. | felt com
fort. pleasure. / had never expert
enced before. How | wished that she
could go home with me to make Il
Christmas for me! She. too seemed
to me to be thinking of the same
thing. She said nothing to me. only
held my hand In hers | longed to
throw my arms about her neck and
ask her II she would not be my
mother
1t was between and 5 O'Clock in
the afternoon when | was taken mp.
and as 1t was winter, when the day.
are short, 1t soon began to grow dark.
I'm 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
pressure OF the hand she held. In a
few moments l said again. Il think
will get out here and go home"
She replied to this by putting her
arm about my waist. There was
something in the act that indicated
an intention on her part to prevent
my leaving her. For the first time it
occurred to me that / was being kid
mapped. l thought Of my father wait
ing for me aud wondering why | did
not come home. and this troubled me.
but it did not occur to me- that /
should meet with any harm at the
hands Of the lady.
Presently the carriage drew mp in
front of dwelling house. The lady
got out and. still holding my band
drew me after her. She took me up
to the house and into pretty room
where a bright fire was blazing on
a hearth.
You are very kind said. ito take
me to ride and bring me 20 your
house. but I'm sure papa will be trop
bled about me. Unless I'm to go home
at once l think you had better let me-
send a message to him. Have you u
telephone?"
Shn fhnnrhA
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 ii up. Then when the con
| nection was effected she placed a stool
before the phone and handed me the
1 receiver. standing beside me as /
| talked.
| lis that you, papa?" l asked.
/ My father was evidently relieved to
hear my voice and asked me at once
what had happened and where was.
! | told him that a beautiful lady whom
l 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
Christmases that l had been deprived
+ of the pleasures common to other chill
! dren
There was silence for Il few mo
ments- Then my father asked ME to-
/ describe the lady. ! did so. and hr
asked me if l could give him the street
and number, but | could do neither
Then the lady told NE to say to him
that she was Corneia; that would he
carefully guarded and he needn't worrv
about me at all. Then she hung up the
i receiver and led me back into the room
with the tire on the hearth.
Now. the name Coruelia at once ar
rested my attention. \ year before
when l had entered the third grade at
school my father had brought down a
desk from the garnet for my use. / was
{ RI 4