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For a few moments the woman sat silent； scarcely daring to breathe
in that artificial attitude。 And then； whether from some occult
sympathy in the touch； or God best knows what； a sudden fancy began
to thrill her。 She began by remembering an old pain that she had
forgotten； an old horror that she had resolutely put away all these
years。 She recalled days of sickness and distrustdays of an
overshadowing feardays of preparation for something that was to
be prevented； that WAS prevented； with mortal agony and fear。 She
thought of a life that might have beenshe dared not say HAD been…
…and wondered。 It was six years ago； if it had lived； it would
have been as old as Carry。 The arms which were folded loosely
around the sleeping child began to tremble； and tighten their
clasp。 And then the deep potential impulse came； and with a half…
sob； half…sigh； she threw her arms out and drew the body of the
sleeping child down； down； into her breast； down again and again as
if she would hide it in the grave dug there years before。 And the
gust that shook her passed； and then； ah me！ the rain。
A drop or two fell upon the curls of Carry； and she moved uneasily
in her sleep。 But the woman soothed her againit was SO easy to
do it nowand they sat there quiet and undisturbed； so quiet that
they might have seemed incorporate of the lonely silent house； the
slowly declining sunbeams； and the general air of desertion and
abandonment； yet a desertion that had in it nothing of age； decay；
or despair。
Colonel Starbottle waited at the Fiddletown Hotel all that night in
vain。 And the next morning； when Mr。 Tretherick returned to his
husks； he found the house vacant and untenanted； except by motes
and sunbeams。
When it was fairly known that Mrs。 Tretherick had run away； taking
Mr。 Tretherick's own child with her； there was some excitement and
much diversity of opinion； in Fiddletown。 THE DUTCH FLAT
INTELLIGENCER openly alluded to the 〃forcible abduction〃 of the
child with the same freedom； and it is to be feared the same
prejudice； with which it had criticized the abductor's poetry。 All
of Mrs。 Tretherick's own sex； and perhaps a few of the opposite
sex； whose distinctive quality was not； however； very strongly
indicated； fully coincided in the views of the INTELLIGENCER。 The
majority； however； evaded the moral issue； that Mrs。 Tretherick had
shaken the red dust of Fiddletown from her dainty slippers was
enough for them to know。 They mourned the loss of the fair
abductor more than her offense。 They promptly rejected Tretherick
as an injured husband and disconsolate father； and even went so far
as to openly cast discredit on the sincerity of his grief。 They
reserved an ironical condolence for Colonel Starbottle； overbearing
that excellent man with untimely and demonstrative sympathy in
barrooms； saloons； and other localities not generally deemed
favorable to the display of sentiment。 〃She was alliz a skittish
thing； Kernel；〃 said one sympathizer； with a fine affectation of
gloomy concern and great readiness of illustration； 〃and it's
kinder nat'ril thet she'd get away someday； and stampede that theer
colt： but thet she should shake YOU； Kernel； diet she should jist
shake youis what gits me。 And they do say thet you jist hung
around thet hotel all night； and payrolled them corriders； and
histed yourself up and down them stairs； and meandered in and out
o' thet piazzy； and all for nothing？〃 It was another generous and
tenderly commiserating spirit that poured additional oil and wine
on the colonel's wounds。 〃The boys yer let on thet Mrs。 Tretherick
prevailed on ye to pack her trunk and a baby over from the house to
the stage offis； and that the chap ez did go off with her thanked
you； and offered you two short bits； and sed ez how he liked your
looks； and ud employ you aginand now you say it ain't so？ Well；
I'll tell the boys it ain't so； and I'm glad I met you； for stories
DO get round。〃
Happily for Mrs。 Tretherick's reputation； however； the Chinaman in
Tretherick's employment； who was the only eyewitness of her flight；
stated that she was unaccompanied； except by the child。 He further
deposed that； obeying her orders； he had stopped the Sacramento
coach； and secured a passage for herself and child to San
Francisco。 It was true that Ah Fe's testimony was of no legal
value。 But nobody doubted it。 Even those who were skeptical of
the pagan's ability to recognize the sacredness of the truth
admitted his passionless； unprejudiced unconcern。 But it would
appear； from a hitherto unrecorded passage of this veracious
chronicle； that herein they were mistaken。
It was about six months after the disappearance of Mrs。 Tretherick
that Ah Fe； while working in Tretherick's lot； was hailed by two
passing Chinamen。 They were the ordinary mining coolies； equipped
with long poles and baskets for their usual pilgrimages。 An
animated conversation at once ensued between Ah Fe and his brother
Mongoliansa conversation characterized by that usual shrill
volubility and apparent animosity which was at once the delight and
scorn of the intelligent Caucasian who did not understand a word of
it。 Such； at least； was the feeling with which Mr。 Tretherick on
his veranda and Colonel Starbottle； who was passing； regarded their
heathenish jargon。 The gallant colonel simply kicked them out of
his way； the irate Tretherick； with an oath； threw a stone at the
group； and dispersed them； but not before one or two slips of
yellow rice paper； marked with hieroglyphics； were exchanged； and a
small parcel put into Ah Fe's hands。 When Ah Fe opened this in the
dim solitude of his kitchen； he found a little girl's apron；
freshly washed； ironed； and folded。 On the corner of the hem were
the initials 〃C。 T。〃 Ah Fe tucked it away in a corner of his
blouse； and proceeded to wash his dishes in the sink with a smile
of guileless satisfaction。
Two days after this； Ah Fe confronted his master。 〃Me no likee
Fiddletown。 Me belly sick。 Me go now。〃 Mr。 Tretherick violently
suggested a profane locality。 Ah Fe gazed at him placidly； and
withdrew。
Before leaving Fiddletown； however； he accidentally met Colonel
Starbottle； and dropped a few incoherent phrases which apparently
interested that gentleman。 When he concluded； the colonel handed
him a letter and a twenty…dollar gold piece。 〃If you bring me an
answer； I'll double thatsabe； John？〃 Ah Fe nodded。 An interview
equally accidental； with precisely the same result； took place
between Ah Fe and another gentleman； whom I suspect to have been
the youthful editor of the AVALANCHE。 Yet I regret to state that；
after proceeding some distance on his journey； Ah Fe calmly broke
the seals of both letters； and after trying to read them upside
down and sideways； finally divided them into accurate squares； and
in this condition disposed of them to a brother Celestial whom he
met on t