The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-03-22
11e
Kidnaper
BY MILDRED WHITE

{Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union,
Peggy came down the terraced stems
from her sisters bungalow and looked
wistfully up and down the street.
Here were the trees all crimson and
gold, her long summer visit coming to
ia close, and this glorious afternoon
free. with no amusement in store.
B, Peggy's wide eyes seeming not to
Innd that for which they sought, she
wandered aimlessly up the broad road.
Near its top stood a great house be-
hind stone garden wall. Peggy had
always admired this wall, the trees
dropped over it so protectingly, and
there were glimpses Of fiower-bordered
paths within.
Today, on the walk before the house.
stood baby carriage, and smiling en-
chantingly from beneath the carriage
hood was a dimpl;ng love of baby.
"You darling" Peggy responded to
the smile, while the baby put forth
chubby hand with an evident invitation
for its clasping.
"You friendly little thingw Peggy
acclaimed.
600" answered the baby.
No attendant was In sight; probably
the child's mother had left it while
she stopped at the great house. Peggy
decided to visit with the baby until
her return.
Gratefully the little one put forth
efforts to entertain. The girls laugh
rang out at its droll tricks-hide and
seek with the tiny skirt of its dress,
Ipeek-a-boos between chubby fingers.
But no mother was Forthcoming.
Loath to leave the adorable little
thing, Peggy made trip OF iEvestga-
ttion up the flower-bordered path.
The baby's lusty cry at her deser-
ton caused her to go farther and ring
the front-door bell. To all appear
ances, upon this glorious October day
the great house was vacated.
"Some careless nurse girl" Peggy
Indignantly reflected, chad forsaken
the baby for her own pleasure. She
must already have been gone some
time. No wonder the tiny one had so
rleefully welcomed her presence"
Peggy returned, to find baby's smile
of greeting banishing the tears. She
decided to push the carriage slowly
down the stone walk until the one in
charge should appear. But no one
came.
Baby. indeed, seemed the only object
of life In all the silent surroundings.
Peggy continued to push the carriage.
"Just as well to give the neglectful
one a scare" she considered. And
as she went on, new vistas of fall seem
cry invited.
She had never looked before from
the hill to the valley. Baby cooed de-
Ilightfully, while Peggy's thoughts went
wool-gathering.
'aThis was the first day Of her long
stay in which the nice man had not
passed her sisters home"
In her own thoughts-and strange to
say, he was often in her thoughts
Peggy referred to him as the mice
man."
There was something so wholesome
ly frank in the good-natured face, even
lin the mans swinging carriage. Peg
Nv wondered dismalIy how 1t was that
they had not become better acquaint-
ed. Her sister introduced them one
day, "a passing.
"Oh, that is Tom Price" she care
lessly remarked.
If the married sister had guessed at
the wild commotion the chance encoun-
ter with this same Tom Price had
raised in Peggy's usually adamantlne
heart. she might have been more ex-
plicit in her description.
In some inexplicable way, In the
many places where Peggy had hap
pened to be during the past changing
year. this mice man" had bobbed up.
until recognition between the two be-
came an astonishing fact. Peggy ran
,cied him eager for a meeting; yet, az
ter her sisters introduction. Tom Price
passed on his contented way-with but
a daily. distant bow. And now she
must 60 home!
600" reminded the baby.
Peggy glanced about In surprise
she had gone farther than she knew.
Then suddenly. apparently "out OF the
nowhere into the here" mans ngure
doomed up before her.
"How de do?" said Tom Price.
Peggy stared, then she laughed. =.
81 might have known that 1t wouid
be you" she said. 'This is about the
only corner where we had not met"
The nice mans grin expressed satis'
faction. ),
Couldn't be too often to suit me,
he remarked pleasantly. "Where dio
you get the baby?"
"Oh!" she murmured; II did not re.
alize 1t, but / guess-rve kidnapped
him."
Severe penalty for that" said Tom
Price, and his eyes twinkled.
''It is really serious" Peggy protest'
ed. II have been most thoughtiess
Perhaps some distracted mother is now
wringing her hands over his absence
He was so captivating, you see, Jus'
kept pushing him on from before the
r. =