Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-06-26

to the eolored woman. who wAs busy pol
ishing the windows With piece Of crum
pied newspaper.
'Ahem ! I was TO meet my niece here
and don't see.'
Your niece. sir; what i her nauer
'Verley.'
%! yes. sir; she has been here thes<
two hours. bless her dear heart, she i.
asleep now
'Asleepr gaspcd Mr.. yerley. but the
stewardess answered him By bursting into
the inner apartment and bringing out what
appeared 10 be . compact bundle with Z
pink face at one end aud mass Of trail
ing embroidery 1t the other.
Joseph Vcrlcy recoiled as far a the an
gle Of the door would permit him.
'Why-it's baby
To be sure it is,' said the woman, and
as fine little girl as ever saw, bless her
sweet blue eyes,
Bat isn't there . nurse or some such
person here. who could take care Of her ?
There was . nurse brought her on.
sir-a queer looking thing. with yellow
skin and hair black as night. aud gold
hoops in her e.rs. but she talked some.
thing about the next steamcr-I couldn't
unders,and her lingo, sir-and went
tigh, back to New York by the o'clock
train
Joseph vsrlcy looked aghast. staring at
the rosy baby As it lay in the woman $
arms. and wondering which Of his lucky
stars he should call on to aid him in this
unlocked for emergency. A full grown
niece would have been bad enough-but
baby
so this is my niece be muttered -
And what am going to do with her ?
lie turned suddenly to the woman.
What time does the next train leave
for Wil6cld?
In an hour. sir
Would you be kind enough to take
care Of the child till then? I suppose
| must take it home with me. for can't
very well drown it or throw it under the
car Wheels
Sir" calculated the astonished stew
ardcss.
But Mr.. Ferley 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 awaited him with
the sleeping infant in her arm.
Asleep, ch ? commenced Mr.. Ycrlcy.
Well. that's luck
Where's the nurse. sir 2 inquired the
woman.
The nurse? what nurseT
why. suppose you went away to get
nurse
Never once thought of itr calculated
Joseph madly shifting his forehead. Here.
give the thing to me, quick, the train is
moving
He had hardly time to spring on board,
as the locomotive gave an unearthly
shrek, while the baby followed suit Wig
orously
He staggered to a seat, holding the um-
brella and the child in one hand. while in
the other his valise swung backward and
forward.
There. there. bless its little heart he
exclaimed initiating the colored woman,
we won cry. so we won't.
But the baby evidently had an opinion
Of her own upon the subject. and would
cry in spite Of various Establishments prac-
ticcd oy the bewildered uncle, such as
shaking the umbrella. swinging his watch
and dancing it on both knees.
People began to look around reproach-
fully. young men shrugged their shoulders
and young ladies giggled.
Hush hush there's . darling, whis-
pered Mr.. vcrley.
But still the baby went and walled and
CRASHED its gums, for Of teeth it had but
two. Mr.. Verley began to look around
the car in search Of some matrimonial
dame Of whom he could seek counsel. but
in vain. There were only three ladies in
the car. and they were young. with round
hats aud dimpled cheeks.
They don't know anything about it,
groaned Mr.. ver.ey, in anguish of spir-
10.
%. Why didn't I have common sense
enough to 60 and get nurse? Isuppose
there is no danger Of the baby bursting
its lungs. but | think if there was such a
contingency this baby is in a fair way of
meeting it. Well, roar away nv youup
friend. can stand is az long a. YOU eau.
Vain boast As futile as vain. as Mr..
verley soon discovered. The baby not
only cried. but screamed, it kicked. il
doubled itself over more ways than q con-
tortionist's widest dreams could imagine.
and became apparently frantic with pas.
sion. The perspiraiion broke In huge
drops on Joscph's brow. bis face flushed.
and still the cars thundcrcd on.
What's to become of me !! holding on
to the struggling infant BY the sash tha,
eucireled its little waist. and watchin, lis
purple face with species Of delec,aiion.
4 don't wonder that Harold died. shall
die in . week if this goes on. Aud /,
seemed 50 easy for Barbara Smith to take
care of her little brothers aud sisters. If
Barbara Smith were only here And
Verley pulled the baby back into a sitting
position with jerk.
'rll.' quoth Mr.. veriey, I'm take the
back express at four o'clock in the morn
Ing aud 60 straight there. .Ah. You
stop you little hypocr:se. but it wont do
any good; I'm not 70 be caught twice in
the same trap
Barbara Sini,h was watering her tube
roses 10 The bright sunshine. when he ss.
rived With his valise and bahy.
Dear me. Mr.. Verley,' she cjaculsscd.
blushing celestial rosy red. why What
. sweet baby
Yes. very sweet he responded drily.
ITS my niece that vas to NEE, at Speed.