Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-06-24

person here, who would take charge OF
her ?"
.Therc was nurse brought her on,
sir, queer, foreign looking thing, with a
yellow skin and hair as black as night,
and gold hoops in her cars, but she talked
and talked, something about the next sum-
mer-I couldn't understand her lingo, sir
-and went right back to New York on
the two o'clock train"
Joseph Verley stood aghast, staring at
the rosy baby as it lay crowning in the wo-
mans arms, and wondering which Of his
lucky stars he should call on to aid him m
this unlooked-for emergency. A full.
grown young lady niece would have been
bad enough-but baby!
$50 this is my niece" he muttered.
"And what am I going to do with her ?"
He turned suddenly to the woman.
"At what time does the next train leave
for WindGeld?'
"In an hour, SIR"
"Would you be kind enough to take
care of the child till then? l suppose l
must take it home with me; for l can't
drown it, or throw it under the car wheel"
"Sir?" CALCULATED the astonished stew.
ardess.
But Mr.. Verley turned on his heels and
strobe out Of the depot, scarcely able at
first to comprehend the disaster that had
befallen him.
The train was at the depot when he re.
turned, and the woman waited him with
the sleeping infant in her arms.
st ,lo,n Oh 2V cor,mouto1 NJ Varlov
Well, that's lucky"
Where's the nurse, sir ?" inquired the
woman.
"The nurse; what nurse p
"Why' l supposed you went to got a
nurse !"
"Never once thought of it," calculated
Joseph, madly shifting his head. Here
give the thing to me quick, as the train
is moving"
He had hardly time to spring on board
as the locomotive gave an unearthly yell,
and the baby followed suit vigorously.
He staggered to his seat, holding the
umbrella and the child in one hand, while
in the other his valise swung backward
and forward.
"Therc, there, bless its little heart! !"
he exclaimed, initiating the colored wo-
man. We won't cry, 40 we won't"
But the baby evidently had an opinion
of her own on that subject, and would cry
in spite of the various Establishments used
by the bewildcred uncle-such as shaking
the umbrella handle, swinging his watch,
and trottipg both knees.
People began to look around reproach-
fully; young men shrugged their should
crs and young ladies gigglod.
"Hush! hush! there's darling"
whispered Mr.. Verley.
But still the baby wept, and walled, and
gnashed its gums, for of teeth it had but
two. Mr.. Verley begau to look around
the car, in search of matronly dame Of
whom he could seek counsel, but in vain.
There were only three ladies in the car,
and they we're young, with round hats and
dimpled cheeks.
"They don't know anything about it,"
groaned Mr.. Verley, in anguish of spirit.
"Oh, why didn't have sense enough to
20 and get a nurse? l suppose there is
no danger of babys bursting its lungs
but should think if it there was such
contingency, this baby was in fair way
of meetingit. Well, roar away my young
friend; I can stand it as long as you can"
Vain boast, as. futile as vain, as Mr..
Verley very soon discovered. The baby
not only cried, but it screamed, it kicked,
il doubled itself over in more ways than a
coutortionist's widest dreams could i'm
agne, and became apparently frantic with
passion. The perspiration broke out IA
huge beads on Joseph's brow; his face
flushed, and still the cars thundered on.
whats to become Of me 2" pondercd
he, holding desperately to the struggling
infant by the sash that encircled its little
waist, and watching its purple face with
species Of detestation. "I don't wonder
that Harold died. shall die in a week
if this thing goes on. And it seems SO
easy for Barbara Smith to take care Of her
little brothers and sisters. If Barbara
Smith was only here"
And Verley pulled the baby into sit
ing posture with sudden jerk.
"I'll do it," quoth Mr.. Verley. am
take the back express at four in the morn
ing aud 60 straight there. All, you. stop
crying, you little hypocrite, but it wont
do any good; I'm not to be caught twice
in the same trap"
Barbara Smith was watering her tube
roses in the bright sunshine. when he ar
rived with his valise and baby.
:"Dear me, Mr.. Verley," she CALCULATED,
blushiug celestial rosy red. Why, what a
sweet baby" ....s
"Yes very sweet" he responded dryly.
" It is my niece that l was to meet at
Specdville."
"Why, I thought she was young
lady"
$50 did I. but it seems she's not. Bar
bara, what do you suppose brought me
back here ?" he added, speaking very fast
for fear the baby would cry.
"I don't know" faltered Barbara, Grim.
soning still more. Perhaps you forgot