The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-11-09
The Mysterious Baby.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

We had just taken our seats at the tea
table, one evening, when fash Of light
ming and heavy peal Of thunder told us
that the storm we had been expecting all
day had at last broken over the city with
fury which, betokened il was no passing
shower, and bade us expect long and tor
rible tempest Co., Ha.lD ID iai n u
No chance of interruption to night, I
thought, as open d the page of work Of
my favorite author, and seated myself in
my little rocking chair. was mistaken,
howevcr, for hardly had perused three
Sentences when ring, hard and impera.
tive, sounded through he house. = .lt
g Who can il possiblyhe on such night
as ihisT Isaid, running to open the door
myself, while Psal'er followed me into the
hall, for the same idea had taken possession
Of our minds ut the same nlomant--namc-
ly: that some accident had happened to
Tn,n's fanilyS and that he had sent FOR us.
Tom himself stoodupon the door step, wet
10 the skin, and holding large bundle in.
fis arms. which he extended towards me
with the lsconic observation "Take it,"
received the burden, but almost drop.
ned il again, so overcome was ! with as
ton shmeut, for. if YOU will balieve me. il
was uoihlng more or'lcss { an a young-a
very young abv. ,yfb ri
l do not wonder that you are surprised
Emma" said Tom, in answer to my start,
l suppose, for had not spoken Just
wrap it up in something dry, and I'll tell
you all about it." e -..-
o The poor little thing really needed to
be taken caro- of, for IL was nearly wet
through by the rain, and its cunning red
feet were cold as ice; and, while did the
best in my power for it, Tom narrated the
following adventure -
"You know, l suppose" he began,
that have been up to Newark for few
days, but you do not know that | returned
this morning about five O'clock just as
stepped from the cars, noticed a woman
with baby in her arms, who was walking
in the Same direction with myself. We
had proceeded Some distance, when she
turned suddenly, and began to calculate:
Billy, Billy whore is little Billy9 Have
you seen little boy with blue jacket
and straw hat following me sirl' re-
piled in the negative. oh, dcar9' she
exclain ed, with every appearance Of genu-
inc alarm-'Oh, dear, l must have left
him behind in the ears. Won't you be so
kind as to hold tic baby, sir---Tll not be
gone two ninutes-while | run after him !?
oh, Billy, BiIlyr never for one moment
suspected that the woman was acting, her
alarm seemed so perfectly natural; so /
took the baby, and she went after Billy"
"And stayed, suppose" interrupted.
"Yes-shc did not come back" replied
Tom; although l waited for two hours,
until that terrible rain came on, when
concluded to bring the child here. de-
clare could not believe hal been taken
in, she was such a respectable looking wo-
man."
| laughed.
allow could you allow yourself to be
imposed upon in such shallow manner,
Tom" said John, with an air of sage ex-
perience rdifying to behold. Il should
have seen through the trick at once. /
should have said Woman, your design
is too cvident---you wish to rid yourself of
your offspring, but you cannot deceive
me-"
"No you wouldn't, john" interrupt.
cd; you would never even have thought of
such a speech. But, Tom, what do you
intend to do with the baby? And why
did you not take it home TO Jane in the first
placer"
Tom looked confused.
"Well," ho said, after pause, IL
have heard Jane express some peculiar
opinions on such subjects, and, TO tell the
truth, did no, know how she might take
it. | can't bear to tako the child TO an
almshouse. and | wish you could take
care of it until can find a favorable oppor-
tunity TO break the matter to Jane. Just
at present really would not like to nt-
tempt it
|. / was very very foolish or l never
would Lave given my consent to such
thing; but. somehow against my own
judgment, | acquicsccd il the arrangement.
ana when the storm had in some measure
subsided, Tom departed, leaving the child
in my care.
Such an unmanageable, ill.tempercd
bhDV WAS never eerll DetOf', 90 peilcNe'
1t cred-aud no wonder-all night. l
was fairly worn out before morn ng.
After breakfast, examined the baby's
clothes, which lIcpsiba had washed and
ironetl. Thy were 'of good quality, and
well made. Evidently the poor child had
not belonged to very poor people. and had
been proporly taken care Of. WAS very
ueb puzzled to account for It's desertion.
Atei DIR s,,ng and feeding the babe, |
lnd a6wn on my lounge, in hopes Of en-
ying little rest, but scarcely had ny
nesd touched he pillow, when Hepsiba
'riprped me that was wanted in the
pplo.' | obcyel the summons, and
found Tom waiting for me. He was in
great tr, pidation, Jane was coming TO spend
the afternoon with me, aud he begged mo
very earnestly to keep his secret just a
little while.
al win tell her the whole story myself
very soon," he, pleaded; "but must
choose fitting opportunity, or shc will
mover credit word Of it. Jane gets a lit
tlsS, out of sorts, you know, now aud then,
so don't tell her at present, that's good