The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-08-30

killed on the railway Harry might
lose all his money, and Dot might have
to come back, an abandoned, miserable
little woman, to the family ingle. But
this last picture had a bright side.
dried my tears to look at il, and was
presently in condition to take myself
in hand and administer a good scold-
ing.
Harry did not turn out reprobate.
l was made quite miserable by Dots
happiness a. reflected in her letters. All,
these girls! How confidently, with
what utter hilarity do they fee from
the dear old hearthstone, lured away
by the might Of that strange, potent
necromancer who holds such marvel
GUS lien upon all human hearts!
By-and.by, had letter from Dot,
begging me to come to her, and lying
perdu in the little rose-scented note was
the most exquisite secret in the world.
[ went at once, and before l had been
many weeks in Dots home, all the
world-our world-knew our secret.
There was a day and night of awful
suspense, and the stars in their course
seemed 70 stand still, and all the great
round earth to tremble and culver in
mute, breathless expectation. Then, in
the hush of the morning, a new little
life began, and we laughed and cried
over each other, and praised Gods
goodness, which we had dared to doubt
only halfhour earlier.
1t was funny to see Harry. He had
been lifted in a moment from the val
l.. g hn n
hope, and the poor fellow was dazed.
He stood leaning over her where she
lay, like wilted lily, but with heaven
shining in her eyes.
sOh, Harry, look at him! y
That was Just what Harry was doing
with all his might. Presently, he
touched the babys cheek with his fin
ger. ! think he had had suspicion
that it was by no means real flesh and
blood, but only a waxen hoax.
Hes little fellow" he said, con-
templatively.
All the mother awoke in Dot.
"Little Why, Harry how can you?
He weighs eight pounds!"
Harry did not recoil under this mon
strous fact. He took it quite calmly.
"Does he? Welt y still doubtfully.
~ suppose he will grow"
"Grow!' cried Dot, sobbing and
laughing. 81 should think he will. It's
only question of time. Give him time
enough, and he will be as big as you
are. Oh, you precious, conceited fell
low. didn't know you thought you
were born grown up"
not,s bahv did crou II Uoa IN q 70.
fined, suitable fashion, after my own
heart. l never could understand the
ecstacies people 60 into over your huge
baby, who only represents SO much adj
pose tissue.
Look at his armsr' they cry. look
at his lees!'
Dear friends, do look at them, and
| don't like them. They remind me of
pork! It's dreadful thought, know,
but can't help it. | suppose it betrays
some horrible cannibal pedigree, but |
never see one of these over-co" pulent
babies without thinking how nice he
would be cooked. AS for soul,
should despair of finding one in such a
mass of avoirdupois.
You may think it is only nepotism
which makes me declare that Dots
baby, as q baby, was absolutely perfect.
His exquisite limbs would have delight
ed sculptor. Indeed, they were
modelled more than once, and we might
have had quite museum of casts, only
that Dot declared she wouldn't have
pieces of her baby lying round all over
the house.
The little fellow had a name Of his
own-a very pretty name, too-but he
was always spoken of as Dots Baby.
When he was three years old, went to
spend the winter with Dot.
ut is really time you we're married
Ruthy," said Dot. 81 have a forebod
ing that you will be an old maid. l read
the other day that there were seventy
thousand more women than men in
Massachusetts,. The papers didn't say
that the most of 'em live in the country
towns, but know they do. You shall
stay here this winter, Ruthy, and il
you don't get lover by spring, Harry
and will pay your fare to Colorado
Only, you mustn't make love to Harry
or seduce the baby's young affections
This was the week before Christmas
and our principal work just then was t
60 shopping for p esents. One day W,
had been unusually busy, had lunched
downtown, and didn't start for home
till the short winter afternoon was JUS
closing in.
81 am wild to see the baby" said Dot
as we crowded into the car, already
crammed as cars are at the holidays
IL always think when I'm going home
what if anything has happened t.
himY"
"what should happen to him?'
Dot knit her two aristocratic eyebrow
into frown.