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The Brussels Post, 1889-10-11, Page 6•,?^ i Red Riding flood,my red hood, yen know, nud he said i I moat bo careful whotu I talked to la wolves. Of course I ,.:,* of the volvoE•ouehfonsd for fear (if knew he did not moan a rend wolf, cents of an eastern, bound train a mamma often told me tbo story of little child sat all alone. Red Mdiug hood, and yho said that bad meu and bad women were worse than wolves. You are not a wolf, are you P" She was very young, ziot more than six years old, but the rosebud face had a look of intelligence be. yond her years. She was richly dressed. A hood of red satin framed the wee face, and a cloak of costly velvet, lined with fur wrapped the small figure. Velvet boots, fur -lined, clad the morsels of feet, and a tiny muff lay on the seat beside her. It was the latter part of February ; no snow was on the ground, but the weather was cold. The child never smiled, not even when the conductor, in whose charge she was, came and sat down by her side, and tried by cheerful chat to coax a little of the sadness out of the small white face and big blue eyes. She coud not have been more courteous or dignified, but she never smiled. But when the conductor made , some remark intended to be gay, 8110 gave a little cry, and the largo soft eyes filled with tears but not one fell. She looked at him a moment with a scared look on her quivering little faeo and then turn• oil her head away. The conductor rose and passed nu, biting his lips with vexation. "That is the strangest little lady I aver saw," he said, "all the way from California. Her mother died suddenly, and she is going to Bos ton. There was no ono to go with her so she was put in charge of the conductors eachlone passing her to the next." An old lady with bright pleasant eyes who had heard what the con- ductor had said, leaned forward and asked : ".Do you think she would let me sit beside her and comfort her a little ? I am going to Boston too and she might not feel so much alone if she knew it." "You might try," the conductor said, doubtfully. She is not likely to make friends with you. Several have been very Lind to her. But she only looks in that pitiful way, as if her heart was broken." "I will try anyway," said the old lady, and she went and took the vacant seat by the little girl with- out speaking to her. Tho little one did not notice her for some time. Presently as she raised her eyes to the lady's fade her own changed immediately. "Are you my grandma? Oh ! are you my grandma 2" she asked. There was something so sweet and touching in the strange query that the lady could not answer for a moment. She beat her eyes tenderly on the wistful face and pot her arm around her. "No, my dear, I am net your grandma ; bot I live in Boston. My name is Lawrence—Mrs. Law- rence." The child did not draw away from her, but kept her Large eyes uplifted. "I am named Alta Deepard," she said. "My grandma's name is Mrs. Axtol. She has soft white hair, like yours, and kind eyes. I have no one to love now but her—down here. Papa and mamma are both in heaven." The simple pathos of these words, uttered without tears, made the lady turn her head away a moment, lest the little girl should see how she was moved. 'nave never seen my grandma,' the child went ou, "but I ought to have known you were not she. But just for a moment I thought you might be. You see I was just think- ing about her." "I think you look a good deal like grandma. See here is her picture," and from out of her bosom she took a little locket, set with large pearls, and hung by a rather massive chain. When opened, two Niietures were displayed, one a gentle -faced old lady, with snowy hair showing un- der a lace cap ; the other a much younger and very beautiful woman, with golden hair and sunny eyes. "This," touching the last, "is my mamma," said little Alta, evidently trying to keep oalm. "I told mamma I would try not to bother grandma," she said abut- ting ter eyes a moment, and then Winking thorn very fast. "Don't you think you look like my grandma 2" ""A little, perhaps," said Mrs, Lawrence. She was greatly pleased at the liking the little one seemed to have taken to her. The conductor, too, looked pleas- ed and vastly relieved as be passed that way. "You see," said Alta, growing confidential, "when the kind dootor, who was with mamma, put me on the care, lie told the conductor not to Iet anybody steal me. He called MO lied lading Hood, because of The lady smiled amusedly. "Oh, no," she said, hugging the chili. "If you wore a wolf, you wouldn't eat me, would you 2" pursued the child confidingly. "Indeed, 1 would not," said the lady, with another hug, and laugh. ing outright. In the seat directly behind Alta and her new friend a man sat wrap. ped in a huge overcoat, the Dollar of which was buttoned oloee about his throat. He wore a hat which he kept well over his face, and pretoad- ed to be asleep. But not a word of the conversation between the lady and the child did he mise. When Alta took out her locket, he altered his position so as to see it : and when she said that about the wolves he laughed eneeriugly to himself. But nobody saw it ; his limo wad so deep in the collar of his coat. Presently the cars stopped for supper. It was about ten o'oloak in the evening. Mrs. Lawrence went out with the passengers ; but Alta could not be persuaded to go. "Well, then," said Mrs. Law- rence, 'I will go and have supper for both of us brought in here. Yon will eat with me if I have it brought here 2' The child's shy eyes brightened. She said 'yes,' with ladylike thanks. 'I will leave my bag with you,' said Mrs. Lawrence, and hurried away. The man who sat behind the lady and child wont out when Ii'rs. Law. rence did. He came back almost immediately. 'Mrs. Lawrence has slipped and hurt herself,' he said hurridly to Alta. 'She wants you to come and bong her bag.' The child started up. She never thought of any deceit. She scarce- ly looked at the man, as she seized the lady's bag and ran out on the platform. "Not that way," said the man, as she was turning in the direction ut an eating house, which stood in full view, in a blaze of light ; 'this side, please.' But on the side on which the man stood seemed very dark. Alta hesitated involuntarily, and looked into his fain. His hat was set back now. She saw a wicked and re- pulsive countenance. The eyes were mere slits, the mouth was like a beast's. she exclaimed, and drew back shuddering. a In an instant he had flung a huge woolen shawl over her head and plunged away with her in his arms with rapid strides. Alta was unconscious, long before he stopped. It was a wonder she was not smothered to death. She was brought to herself by the ruffian undoing the folds of the shawl. She heard a woman's voice say 'What have you got there, Rick 2' Then she was set upon her feet. She staggered a little, at first. Her red satin hood was hanging around her throat by the strings. Her rich cloak was tumbled. Pushing her curls out of her eyes with both hands, she looked at the man with angry rather than scared eyes. "What did you do that for 2" she demanded, shaking her head. The villian laughed. 'Come, I like that,' he maid. 'I'm a wolf don't you know, and you are Red Riding Hood ; and I'm going to eat you presently, bones and all.' The child gave a little shudder, but she smiled scornfully. 'You're not a wolf, you're a man. You won't eat me Dither.' 'Spunky, aint she 2' the fellow said to the woman, who had not spoken before, and who stood staring at the child. 'She's got on a locket; he added in a whisper, 'that's worth two hundred, at least. That's what I'm after.' 'What's in thia 2' said the woman, picking up Mrs. Lawrence's bag. He snatched it from her and pro. ceeded to examine Oho contents. Bo found a pocketbook, whioh he took possession of, with a grin at the child. 'How dare you open that bag 2' said Alta boldly. 'You had better put that money bank: 'Olt ! yes, presently, my dear,' he said mockingly. 'Will you let me look at your pretty locket a moment ?' Alta gave a gasp of lionise, 'No, no, no 1' she said, catching at the chain with both hands, The woman whispered something to him, 'All right,' he answered; 'after THE B,1- U SSELS POS'I SS7. ga 1D.' .r' m!iR.uz. ..0RNAte Thames. I couldn't get to my weight, though I took very light work. I wouldn't drink hear, Fa everybody doea over there, but I don't thick that had anything to do with the result, On the day of the ratio Searle was the bettor mac." "What do you think of your chances against the Australian when you are in fit condition P" "I thiole I can beat him, 1 nm surd of it, but I'll never have the chance I did then. Ho is not likely to come to America, though some of the Australian party said he probably would. J. will row him for the same stakes on any fair water in America, aid at any dis- tance, but I don't suppose ho will make each n match, Any Bonner from this country is greatly handi- capped on such a course as the Mimeo, butt would like to moot Searle on still water." J. J. Ryan and O'Connor's brother, who accom- panied him Immo, report a very rough passage. The dinner to Toronto's representative took plane at the Albion on Tuesday night. she's asleep. You'd hatter have 1 her aleeti with you, 00010 now i and get wt houiu similar. You onu bring hofs lip here,' The two went out looking the the door after them, The child was frantic. 'My locket 1' she said. 'My mammae and my grandma's pie. taros I indeed he shall not have it.' She ran from one window to the other, Both were nailed down. There war another door in the room beside the one at which the man and woman had gone out. This she found she could open. A short flight of stairs was reveal- ed, o-peniag into a garret. She could sec the scuttle in the roof from where she stood, A. second flight led tip to it, Tho child mounted both, succeed- ed in unhooking the scuttle, and after a great deal of tugging lifted it, and put her small curly head through. 'I thought it would be just like our house at home,' she said de- lighted, and then running back to the room below, 8110 Beograd lire. Lawrence's Lag and the shawl which her abductor had enveloped her 1n, that being Mrs. Lawrence's also, Re -mounting the stairs, she was soon upon the roof, which was fiat. The house stood in the middle of a block of others all alike. The night was starlight. Alta ran along from one scuttle to another trying each in turn, till she came to one that by some strange chance was unfastened. Lifting this with some difficulty, she saw stairs just like the others, which she descended with what speed she could, encumbered as her small person was. She made some noise, and sud- denly the door at the foot of the stairs was opened and a kind•eyed lady with white hair stood staring at her. 'Mrs. Lawrence 1' screamed Alta, throwing herself from the stairs into her arms, and beginning to cry for the first time. 'Did a bad man steal you too 2' Alta's story was soon told. Ae for her kind friend, Mrs. Lawrence - returning to the car, accompanied by a waiter with the supper she had gone for, and missing the child, concluded that she had tried to follow her. Instant search was made, and when she could not be found, Mrs. Lawrence decided to remain in the city and continue that search. Having put the affair in the hands of the police, she had driven to the house of a friend for the night, and by a strange and provi- dential chance, Alta's abductor had brought her to a dwelling in the same block. Measures were at once taken to arrest the villain, but he hal fled with the woman as soon as he wise - ed the child, and they were never caught. Mrs. Lawrence did not part from her small friend again till she had planed her in the arms of her grand. mother. Canadian News. A Woodstock rifleman bagged a bear near that town. Evangelists Crossley and Hunter are at work in Kingston. The Grand Jury at Hamilton re- turned 'no bill' in the:case of Police- man Hawkins. Leamington Orangemen have adopted resolutions condemning the Dominion Government for not dis- allowing the Jesuit bill. The decrease in the gate receipts it the Toronto Industrial Fair, compared with 1888, was $1,746.- 90. An estimated lose of at least $6,000 is looked for. The sudden death of Miohml O'Farrell in Wardsville at about 8:80 o'clock Sunday afternoon caused con- siderable excitement in the village. He was seen in..the early part of the day walking about his garden, but shortly before noon neighbors were attracted to the house by his moans. Two dootors were immediately sum. monad, but despite their efforts he breathed his last a few hours after their arrival. He had been drink- ing heavily and traces of Paris green were found about him, but all he would admit of was having taken the wrong powder. The coroner was notified, but deemed an inquest un- necessary. The wife of deceased died some years ago, and the family, one eon and three daughters, having grown up and left the village, he had been living alone for some time. William O'Connor reached Toron • to early Wednesday morning and a big crawl of admirers was disap! pointed when the 11:15 train from Montreal arrived at the Union Sta- tion without him. Ile looks well and hearty, and if he had been as big when he started to train for the great race the result would have been different. "I was certainly away under my proper weight," ho said. "The English Climate did not agree with me, and I was not my. self on running .water like tho THECOQK'S BEST FRIEND PHOTOS. TINTYPES, 4 - For - VO • Cents. All Rork from the Smallest to Life slsc done lata nrst•class manner. IIEW of Residences, l:to., at Reasonable Rates. W. J. Fairfleld S. PLUM General Blacksmith, 7 wishes to intimate to the public generally that be does all kinds of Blacksmithing in a workmanlike Manner. Wagons, Buggies, Sleighs and Gutters made to Order. Repairing promptly Bxeouted. I make a Specialty of Horse.shoeing. A Call Solicited. l'Eemember the Stand.—Nina Ons BRIDGE. 24 S. Plum. 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