The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-02-02

j conclusion. AT lenSCn Suc decided t(
take it down stairs and place it al
!. Mrs. Whiffters' door.
"As she's so fond of, babies,n said
:. Miss Quilts, grimly, "Il give hel
, another to take care OF"
Now, it so happened that Mr.. Pot.
ters, while wrestling with "fate, free
will and fore knowledge absolute, u
had head Rosa's yell, and ct this
very moment was standing at his
door wondering what could be the
matter. AS Miss Quilts door opened
he closed his own, but remained
looking through the crack.
His astOnishment~w was unbOunded
at seeing his Maria in her fearful un-
dress, which was, if possible, increas.
ed when he noticed her burden.
ga babyW he whispered hoarsely
to himself.
| In his agitation he moved the door;
| it gave slight creak.
| 6Goodness gracious!" thought Miss
Quilts, eff anybody should see mel"
She laid the baby on the floor and
scuttled back to her room.
| Watching the hall she saw Mr.
| Potters come forth, take up the baby,
and say, soothingly: "My poor childn'
and so retire.
"Oho!" she said, wagging her
head maliciously. $50 it's your
child, is it? I'll pay you for this when
we are married. And you a theologi-
cal student, toow
With that she fell to preparing her
self for public exhibition as rapidly
| as possible.
| Meanwhile, Mr.. Potters was walk
ing up and down the room with the
| baby in his arms-he had heard that
was the best way to quiet children
thinking of what he had just seen.
| "And so this is the secret she
would tell me when we were married
| and l could not help myself" he said,
recalling her words Of the previous
day. "How could she imagine that l
would ever live with her after know
ing her disgraceful story? She ought
to be ashamed of herself! How ugly
she looks when not dressed 1 never
could have believed that q woman
could alter herself so," he added.
He was very innocent.
At this moment the baby began to
cry. He cndeavored to hush it, but
every instant its screams grew louder
and louder.
In the midst of the noise came a
knock at the door.
"Come in"
Miss Maria Quilts entered, but
stopped short, with well-feigned
amaZement.
Elijah, dearest!" she exclaimed.
"You with baby! What does this
mean?"
"Hold, unhappy womanW said Mr.
POtters, sternly. "Your shameful
secret shall remain forever buried in
my bosom; but let there be no fur
ther question of love between u.s."
whats that you say ?" she shrek
ed.
~ say that could never think of
taking for my wife an unmarried
MOTHER
Miss Quilts not very equabie tenn
per took fire.
II like that" she said scornfully,
"when its your baby"
MY babyu' he gasped.
"Yes, your baby! A pretty minis
ter you'll make! If you do not marry
me, Fl cause q scandal, and expose
yOuw
Infatuated female! beware how
you draw destruction upon your
head !"
The answer of Miss Quilts was to
spring to the window, fling it open,
and cry: police! police!"
In few minutes the numbering
step of a burly biue-coated guardian
Of the peace was heard upon the
stairs, and he came in, stolidly.
All this time the baby Was yelling
with the full power of his lungs.
Il want that man arrested" said
Miss Quilts, pointing to Potters.
"What for?"
"He wishes to abandon his child.n
ats q lie-an internal lie !" shout
ed Potters. ats her baby"
"It's yours"
"It's yours"
at isn't"
.'It is"
"Ow!-owi-owlu from Miss Quilts;
premonitory SYMPTOMS Of Mysteries.
Come, now said the policeman.
"you don't playilthem points on me.
Which ofyer owls the babbyw
"She does" I.r-,, -.
~ don't.u
"You do"
The policeman rubbed his chin
meditatively.
II guess you'd both step around
to jefferson Market, and settle it
there
"Oh, my baby! my precious little
| darling! And did its naughty mamma
go and leave it, so she did ?'' With
which rather confused observation,
Mrs. Whiffters rushed into the room,
snatched the baby from Potters, and
fell to kissing it extravangantly.
$50 here's another on 'em," said
the embarrassed policeman, who
could find no other remedy for the
situation than to repeat his former re-
mark, that they had better step
around to Jefferson Market.
Potters gave him bill and he was
| satisfied.
"You horrid thingr said Mrs.
Whiffters, energetically, to the crush
ed and Inundated Miss Quilts. "This
comes CT old maids meddling with
children" Flinging this ranking
Parthian arrow, she withdrew.
what is that terrible secret you
spoke of Yesterday? ?" asked Potters,
| gloomily, cycling Maria.
"That-that-that is my 'front.'" she
sobbed.
It is, perhaps, unnecessary to add
that the engagement was broken, and
Miss Quilts left her boarding house
hat afternoon.
TIE San Francisco Morning Call
thus adds another to the numerous
! A