The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-18
THE OLD BACHELOR AND
THE BABY.
1EoneInded.l

Concluded.
"Hallo, there ~ he called to the con-
ductor. "Stop! this train can't go on;
there's woman left behind! She went
to get cup of coffee. Stop! l tell you
this instant, SIR"
"What's up I" asked the conductor.
"Shr's left the baby"
.'Your wife 7 Oh never mind. Such
things occur frequently. She'll come
next train"
81 tell you to stop! shall 60 crazy
And. Oh, Lord, what shall do with
the baby! Say, Pll give you five dol
lars-ten dollsrs-twenty-yes, fifty
dollars, if you'll put back and let me of
at Parkersburg
"I should have no objection to the
money, but couldn't oblige you if you
were one of the Rothschilds
And the conductor passed on his way.
"Bless your soul, sir ~ said the old la
dy in the next seat, giving Corban a
nudge with her parasol, you'll sutfo-
cate that baby don't you see eyou're hold
ing its feet where its head ought to be 7
He's wrong side up"
Corban hastily rescued the yOungster,
which uttered shrill yell at his treat
ment.
"You'd orter be ashamed of yourself"
went on the old lady indi nantly, "to
toss that blessed child around in sich an
onhuman way. A nan never orter have
no children that don't have no natural
feeling towards 'em. Sir, you was a
baby once yourself {"
Just then a thin, yollow-faced woman
slipped into the seat in front of COrban.
She was middle-aged, bnt her dress had
the gRshingness of sixteen. Lovely
child she exclaimed insinuatingly.
The baby began to quizzle up in its
face and flourish its fists.
"Dear me how forward it is How old
is it, sir /" inquired the spinster, for such
she was.
81 don't know " growled Corban.
"Becn widower long, sir 7" queried
the lady.
"No. never had a wife,"
"Bless me! Then she's run away and
left You. Dear! dear! How could she
leave such a nice man, and such dear,
darling little babyT
whats that" inquired middle-aged
gentleman near by, who was evidently
little deaf. "Your wife gone and left
you, sir! J1st my case, sir, exactly. My
poor Jane departed this life last May.
| got her the hansomest gravestone that
money could buy. There's an angel on
it, with all her wingsSpread, and this
Latin Observation-Disclosures her cat in
Peace. The grav estons-maker said it was
a good epigram, and consented. as she
was fond of cats"
By this time the baby began crying
Justify, and the whole car sympathized,
especially the females.
"It's got the cholera morbus" said the
lady. It'll die for sartin if something
isn't DONE
"Die? You don't think ~ cried Mr..
Corban.
"Dear me ~ said the little thin-faced
woman, "what an iuauman creature its
mother was"
Take it, my good lady, do" cried
Corban, imploringly. "Ill give you a
hundred dollars to take it."
What is all this row aboutf said a
sharp-nosed man, with o newspaper in
his hand. "a child, is itf Fall back,
gentlemen, and let me look at it. lfit
should be the one."
"Howi What do you mean :" "queried
a dozen voices at once.
at is it is! 1t can be no other" ex-
claimed the sharp-nosed man. How
strange that ! sheuld chance upon ii
Listen to this, and he read from the pa
per in his hand the notice:
"Stolen-Suppesed to have been sto-
len from its carriage in Central Park, on
the morning of the 18th inst, male
child about nine months old. Said child
has blue eyes aud rather dark hair; and
is q remarkably forward child. Any
person who will return him to his af-
flicted pareLts, ut No.-Forty-Ninth
street, or give Information that will
lead to his recovery, shall receive re-
war Of three hundred dollars
''LoUIs RoscoE."
WALL / never!" exclaimed the old
lady. 'It must be the very ssue baby
This child has blue eyes and dark hair,
aud pears remarkable forw'd r
"Yes, ma'am, unquestionably the very
same" remarked the sharp-nosed man,
confidently; consider it my duty to
take possession"
"Oh, take it, do" cried Corban i'm
ploringly; I'll give hundred dollars to
get it off my hands,
"No doubt you would, my man; but l
amt took in that way. Ny name is
Smithers-Peter Smithers, sir; and /
live in Albany. I'm q magistrate, sir,
and arrest you for child-stealing."
~ tell you didn't steal it. She went
off after a cup of coffee"
"Don't trouble yourself to repeat that
story again. understand the case
fully" said Mr. Smithers, promptly.
Conductor, is there a place on the
train where this rascal would be any
safer than herefr
1--WE don't run prison vans.' respond
ed that worthy, sulkily.
"Well, gentlemen" said Mr.. Smith
ers, blandly, "you are all men Of honor,
and have wives and children, or ought
to have; and you all have feelings of
sympathy, doubtless, for the parents of
this unfortunate babe; and i depend
upon you, gentlemen, to assist me in
guarding him until We reach station,
n