Oh, my beautiful girl--come
back--come back--" And then when she became calmer, told them what
they already knew; that she had found her daughter's room undisturbed,
with a note addressed to herself on the toilet table, containing only
a simple farewell message.
"There, there, wife, she's gone," said Adam, clumsily trying to soothe
the mother's anguish, but finding that a tongue long accustomed to
expressions of haughty pride and bigotry, could but poorly lend itself
to softer words of comfort. "There, there, don't cry, let her go. That
scoundrel printer is at the bottom of it all. Somehow the girl does
not seem to take after the Goodrich's. Madam, please try to control
your feelings. You must not make yourself ill over this matter."
Mrs. Goodrich, accustomed to obey, with a great effort, ceased the
open expression of her grief.
"There can be no doubt but that she has gone with that tramp," continued
Adam. "I shall do what I can to find her and give her one more chance.
If she acknowledges her fault and promises to do better she may come
home. If not, she shall never darken these doors again."
"Oh, Mr. Goodrich, don't say that," cried the mother. "Think of that
poor child on the streets all alone. Perhaps you are mistaken."
"_What_? Am I to understand that you take her part against me?"
"No, no," murmured the frightened woman.
"I tell you, there can be no mistake. You saw them did you not, Frank?"
"Yes, sir."
"You hear that, Mrs.
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