Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-08-29

. By-and-by, had q letter from Dot,
begging me to come to her, and lying
psrdu 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 day and night of awful
suspense, and the stars in their course
seemed TO stand still, and all the great
round earth to tremble and culver in
mute, breathless expectation. Then, in
the hush of the morning, 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 moment from the val
lev of despair to the sunlit heights of
hope, and the poor fellow was dazed.
| He stood leaning over her where she
lay, like wilted lily, but with heaven
shining ia her eyes.
ooh, Harry, look at him n
That was just what Harry was doing
with all his might. Presently, he
touched the baby's cheek with his fin,
ger. think he had had suspicion
that it was by no means real flesh and
blood, but only waxen hoax.
"He's a little fellowr' he said, con.
templatively.
| All the mother awoke in Dot.
"Littlel Why, Harry how can you
He weighs eight poundsr"
Harry did not recoil under this mon.
strous fact. He took it quite calmly.
"Does he? Wellr' still doubtfully
81 suppose he will grow"
"Growr cried Dot, scbbing 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 fel
low. 1 didn't know you thought you
were born grown upr'
Dots baby did grow. 1t was in a re
fined, suitable fashion, after my own
heart. | never could understand the
ecstacies people go into over your huge
baby, who only represents so much adj
"Lock at his arms ~ they cry. "Look
at his legs p
"Dear friends, do look at them, and
don't like them. They remind me Of
pork It's dreadful thought, know
but l can't help it. suppose it betray.
some horrible cannibal pedigree, but ]
never see one of these over-corpulent
babies without thinking how nice he
would be cooked. As for soul,
should despair of finding one in such 8
mass of avoirdupois.
You may think it is only nepotisn
which makes me declare that Dots
baby, as baby, was absolutely perfect
His exquisite limbs would have delight
ed a sculptor. Indeed, they were
modelled more than once, and we NIGH
have had quite museum of casts, only
| that Dot declared she wouldn't have
pieces of her baby lying round all ovel
| the house.
The little fellow had name of his
own-a very pretty name, too-but hs
was always spoken of as Dots Baby
| When he was three years old, went tt
spend the winter with Dot.
sit is really time you were married
Ruthy," said Dot. ~ have a forebod
ing that you will be an old maid. l reao
the other day that there were seventy
thousand more women than meE il
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 i
you don't get lover by spring, Harry
and will pay your fare to Colorado
Only, you muslin, 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,
go shopping for p, esents. One day ",
had been unusually busy, had luncheo
down town, and didn't start for hom,
| 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
az always think when I'm going home
What if anything has happened t.
him p"
"What should happen to him ?'
Dot knit her two aristocratic eyebrow
into frown.
"Don't be goose, dear, and pretend
You know a thousand things Nigh
have happened to him. But l can't tel
the man to drive faster because Pm wor
ried about my baby, can II"
l smiled in my maiden superiority.
believe said something about conceit
ed young women who fancy that thei
baby's cradle is the axis of the planet
Poor darling Dotl Why couldn't I hav.
| foreseen the awful trouble that was tt
come upon her?
We got home at last, and Dot ran VI
! the steps before me and rang the bell
Mary, the second girl, opened the door
smiled at first, glanced past us inquir
ingly, and then gave a short scream.
i" What's the rnatter?" demanded
Dot, turning upon her with whit
face.
"Sure, an it's the baby, ma'aml"
"The babyr' shrieked Dot. "Wha
what"
The words died on her lips. She wa
quite past speech. But she seized Mar
by the shoulder, and her eyes were will,
and fierce in their demand.
"You said first you'd take him
ma'am, and when went up stairs am
found he wasn't asleep on the sofa as y
said, thought you'd tux him. Howl
motherl it's lost he is p
| One awful, fixed, uncomprehendin
stare, and then, as the truth came hom
| - L -, Do4 fo11 foruapd in a IooI fo;r