The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-06-17

ANY person who will return him to his al
s filcted parents at No. ~ Forty-ninth street
tor give information that will lead to his re
: covary; shall reesive aiteward Of three hun
dred dollars LEWIS ROSCOE"
"Wall, l never" exclaimed the old lady
, "lt must be the very saEe baby This chill,
has got blue eyes and dark hair, and pear
} remarkably forw,d."
eyes; ma'am unquestionably the ver1
same" remarked the sharp nosed man conf
IDENTITY; consider it my duty to take posses
sion"
ooh, take it, co." cried Corban implor
inglyjs aIll give 4 hundred dollars to get i
off my hands"
i Ono doubt you would, my man but ain
| Took it in that way. My name is Smithers
| Peter Smithers, sir, and I live IN Albany
l am a'nagistrese sir, and arrest you fol
child-stealing."
II tell you didn't steal it. ghe vent Of
'Don't trouble yourself to repeat that sto-
ry again. I understand the case fully"
said MIR. Smithers, promptly. s"Conductor,
Is there place on the train where this ras-
cal would be any safer than here I" z
"He don't run prison vans,,' responded
that worthy, srlkily. rs
"Well, gentlemen said Mr.. Smithers,
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
| depend;ugon you, gentlemen, to assist me
in guarding him 'suntil Me reach a station,
where I can place him in the charge of the
proper officials, At the next stopping place I
will telegraph to Bridewell and have consta-
bles ready 70 take possession Of him the mo
ment We arrive" Y a i,.ss,aa
You shall pay dearly for this" roared
Oerban, now fairly Infatuated. eyes, sir, I'll
take the law on you the moment we get any
whore where there is any law. Call me a
rascal, indeed y So
Just at that moment the sharp signal to
'sdoWn breaks sounded, and in few mo-
ments there was a.sligAt shock, and the Grain
came to a sudden stop.
Everybody rushed to ascertain the difficult
ty, and it vas found that the wheel of the
engine had broken and the locomotive was
partially of the track
No-one was injured, but it would occupy
come time to get things SO that the next train
could run and, in the meantime, MIR. Cor
ban thought With rapture he cenld maka his
escape: Hes formed the plan. of dropping
the unfortunate baby and fleeing to the woods.
In the hustle ard confusion it could easily
be accomplished But he adreckoned with
out his host. Mr.. Smithers was right
at his elbow. He had no notion of allowing
that tempting reward to slip through his FIN.
gers, and a couple Of other gentlemen kept
guard with him. And there stood poor Cor
ban holding the whimpering baby. and ex-$
postulating, and clustering in way that
made all the ladies decide that he was a mon
ster, and they gaYe him and the baby very
wide berth. ss -
Suddenly the whistle of the next train
from Parkersburg was heard. A bright hope.
sprang up in Corban's breast. 1t was posi-
BILE the baby's mother might be on board.
He rushed forward, but Mr.. Smithers
seized his'arn and held him back.
I BE quiet sir" said he.- "Remember you
are under arrest" .
The train had been warned of the deten-
ton by the first express and came to halt
at little distance behind; and tie moment it
did SO the door IF one Of the cgrriages Vas
burst openaand out leaped the baby's nfother.
Y A cry of joy came from Corban, and with
one bound be broke the grasp Of Mr.. Smith,
ers upon his arm and rushed toward hers (.
sob, my baby-my precious babyw scream-E
ed she, snatching the child from Corban.-
my darling !-my'little angel darling J" and
she fell tekissingit in a way that set all the
ladies round about to pulling cut their hand
kerchiefs and exclaiming:
| .ssDid you ever !"
"Goa bless you!" cried Corbau, enthusiasts,
tically. ~ never was so glad to see any
mortal being .heforoYs
1 "Oh, you DEAR delightful man ]" cried she,
! shaking hands with him, II am SO much
obliged to you for taking care of my little
lamb. You see I got belated moment-the
coffee was so dreadful hot"
Mr.. Smither's face had grown very long.
| 'sThen it is rot Mr. Lewis Roscoe's child -
/ And it has rot been stolen?'' be asked dubi-
su.ly. - = - =
ii should rather ss,irk not" replied the
mother indignantly EST IS my child, .sizs-all
[ have left Of my dear husband, who gave up
his life at Cold Harbor two months after the
baby's birth" sA i--.s~-.'s "a :
'sImost heartily beg your par2oa, sir,"
said Mr.. smithers addressing 1Mr Corban.
l"I-I-that it, / didn't think YOU see
4 "Mind yous QvE business, sir, replied Mr..
| Cor5an shortly, sand continue Winding it for
the rest Of your life-that is my advice, sir. F"
! Mr. Corban and Mrs. Brent--for that was
the youRy widows rame-g.t very friendly
and familiar by the zine the was ready
to go on, and Mr.. Corban took the next seat
4 by her side with real feeling Of delight now.
! She was going on a'risit to some friends In
the very city where his business calleds him,
and he obtained'permission to call on her,
] and inquire ahont the baby. :.
4 And in due time-I cannot tel hcW it
came about, for there is no accounting for
i things of this kind-Mr. Corban concluded
that he was tired OF boardiug-Mrs, Gregg
i had become so neglectful of her boarders'
4 comfort; SO he led MIS-. Brent to the altar
I and set up a home of his own with wife and
4 baby
i Go to him now ard utter ore word against
4 women and babies and you would get shown
t, the door without ceremony !
Fact FOR FARNERS-IG NAV not be