The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-05-04

20, lost its mother, l believed
These low people are always losin,
their young ones. So | left Dol
Quixote tho Second in charge, an
came away. | wasn't going 70 b
mixed up in tho affair Homo oil
ready, l declare Allow me to as
sist you out, Miss Hope"
But Miss Hopes foot had scarcely
touched the carriage-step before i
was arrested instantanconsly will
breathless dismay. For Mrs. Della
ford came rushing TO the carriag
door, the ictty curls blown back from
her ashy pale flco, and tho scarle
lips almost coIorlees.
"Mary, Mary-for Heavens SAX,
tell mo have you seen little Jamic7'
Jamie? mol why, what has hap
pencd 10 him ?'
"He is lost, he is lost" walled Mrs
Delaford. 81 took him out with m,
this morning, and carclcssly allowed
him to play around the store door
while was looking ut silks within
And when came out he was gone
oh, MIR. Morrison, what shall | do
have sent the servants in every
direction ~
Morrison stood aghast- until tina,
moment he had never known tha,
Mrs. Delaford had "litt!e Jamie =
"But, Helena, why don't you 20 te
the police station? This would be
the best planl" interrupted Mis-.
Hope. 81 am sure Mr.. Morrison will
kindly escort us thither!"
"By all meansl" inlofjccted Nor
rison, blandly.
Tho policc-stations-to be sure
l was 80 bewildered, SO crazed that
never thought OF them! y, lot us
go thither at oncel l will put or
my bonnet this instant. How iorlu
nate that tho carriage is at the
doorl'
Charles Courtney sat patiently or
wooden settee in the inner room oil
the station, beguiling tho small man
ikin on his knee, with tales respect
ing hidden "woodcutter" inside o
the watch he held close to the litllt
ear. The tears were oil dried-anc
but for an occasional sob upheaving
itself from the depths of the mud
splsshed merino dress, you never
would have dreamed OF the tom pcs,
of lonely grief which had 80 lately
racked the baby frame.
The door opened noiselossly, and
grayheaded policeman put his
shoulders into the room.
"TEe mother has telegraphcd--
she will be hero in five minutes u
And in five minutes moro or less, 8
lovely vision in jetty curls and cheeks
flushed with joyous excitement
rushed into tho room, and clasped
dirty Jamie to her jeweled breast
"My darliug-my recovered treas
ure I"
"But, mammal" demonstrated the
child who he considered himself le
have been hugged enough, "see the
great big man that carried baby
Me love the big man-mamma mus,
kiss the big man, too!'
For the first time Mrs. Delaford
looked up.
"Mr. Courtney! she exclaimed
and the softest shade OF rosy carminc
deepened over her peach-blosson,
cheeks, as she held out her hand
with fearful thanks, all regardless o,
her hopeful sons clamorous and oft
reiterated demands that sho should
"kiss big man tool" But she did not
blush half 30 red as Courtney him.
self!
"How can l ever thank you
enough?" she fallered.
81 am already rewarded, Mrs
Delaford, in learning the child is
yours. Ho could not tell his name,
and insisted that his mothers only
name was mammal"
"You will como homo with us, and
allow me to express my gratitude
under my own roof?" murmurcd the
widow.
"Not now, Mrs. Delaford, but very
soon," was the reply. And Court
ney quietly withdrew in spite of the
noisy protestations of his small pro.
tege! In his way ou. he stumbled
over Morrison.
"Just your contounded luck, Court
neyF" calculated that young man,
hooking his arm through his friends,
"who would have supposed that dirty
little wretch TO be the divine wild.
ow's child?"
81 took it for granted he was some
body's child" returned Courtney
dryly.
"And to think l must make such
u double-refined donkey Of myself as
to tell the sister all about it. and to
make the whole matter as ridiculous
AS possible! wish my tongue had
boon cut out first! OF c. urso she'll
report every word to her sister
Courtney, my chances with the wild.
ow are gone pretty effectuallyi'
A year afterwards, when Morri-
son came to the wedding reception
of Mrs. Delaford Courtney, he said
to the bridegroom in a semi-comic
whisper;
Charley, there is many true
word spoken in jest. When l asked
you if you would not like to adopt
yonder curly-headed littlo rascal, |
didn't suppose | WAS SO near tho
truth! l say-do you think your
wife has ever forgiven mo those un-
lucky adjeotives | piled on, when
was telling tho story to Miss Hopo?
"They are forgotten long ago, my
dear fellow, believe me |" said ourt.
ney. laughing. But Morrison shook
his head obviously, and talked on:
"And hero yourare married man,
and just as far off from the goal as
ever. l tell you what, Courtney, l
mean TO rummago up and clcar the
cutters and pick un the first dirty
baby find! That seems TO DO the
only way to lovely woman's
favorl"
Whether or no he adhered to this
resolution, we never heard.
A SHARP REToRT.-During n re.
cent engagement of Mr.. and Mrs.
Barney Williams in Philadelphia, q
woman, with an infant, attended one
Of tha parforp, n Anac trha b,h,,