Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-11-18

to her exit; but she did not come.
The engine puffed, the whistle
sounded, the wheels began to move
slowly. Mrs. Tucker moved badly
softly and thrust her head out of
the window, drawing it back sud-
denly with surprised wink, just as
she didn't knock it against a post.
The cross woman in front of her
condescended to speak. Any agree
able subject would not have drawn
her out, but here was a chance to
expiate in her own element, and
she improved it as eagerly as fish
that is just thrown back into deep
water.
"She's gone, of course" said she,
nodding to or at Mrs. Tucker
"You've got your hands full of
somebody's badly, / think"
was bound to contradict her,
though in heart i half believed she
was right. But would have con-
tradicted that woman if she had
said the sky was blue. / had to;
it was necessity of my nature,
and l have observed that when you
say that people Of culture accept it
as finality. So / said cheerfully:
81 don't think she's gone, she is
probably in the baggage car attend
ing to her things"
"Why, sure enough" beamed
Mrs. Tucker, "she wouldn't think
O comm back while the trains go
in, t would be real bad"
"H'm!" shifted the woman in
front, "you'd better tell the con-
ductor to find a policeman at Wor-
cester, and take the youngster to
the poor house"
Mrs. Tucker looked unspeakabIe
things at her. Those black eyes
kindled with indignation, but all
she said was:
Put it in the poor house" with
an emphasis of at least six excla-
nation points.
Now if there is anything I do
like it is to "drink delight Of battle
with my peers" so said very con-
fidently, "Of course she is on the
cars, you will see the conductor
very soon and can ask him, and If
the badly wakes up and cries, it
won't do any harm, it is good for
babies to cry, it strengthens their
lungs" 49,
What a look ! got from the hard
blue eyes that seemed at last to re-
cognize an enemy, so ! went on =
"No doubt she got into the bag
gage car to be sure about her
things being on board, and is there
still, wishing she could get back to
you and the badly; or even if she
is left you will get telegram at
Worcester, for she will be very anx-
ious." Madame Moi, as l began to
call the cross female, for evidently
''me' was the ruling motive with
her, put on an expression of SUBJ
lime contempt for such ignorance
as l exhibited. "Pm afraid not, my
poor woman" said she to Mrs.
Tucker, in a cold and lofty tone,
quite ignoring me, but mincing her
words exquisitely. 81 really fear
you have got into trouble. 1t is
never best to take strange babies
on railway never no." She
sank back languidly, and smiled.
/ don't think she would have pick
ed a baby out of the bulrushes any
where. Mrs. Tucker, meanwhile,
cuddled the baby closer and drew
her shawl about it, tucked i'm
its feet in true mother fashion, and
brooded over it "as poplar as hen
with one chicken" She was hap
py. 1t never entered into her dear
gray head to suppose any mother
could leave her child Intentionally
or willingly. She could not have
done SO. AS long as fallible things,
like men and women, judge other
people by themselves, l pray that
my lot may be cast with the Mrs.
fuckers. BY and by the conduc-
tor came along, and Madame Moi,
who had been pretending to sleep,
but kept one eye open like O cat,
pounced on Mrs. Tucker, who was
nodding like lilly of the field, and
poking her with her long cologne
bottle, nearly made her dislocats
her neck with The start.
StTho fho 49,, IL. a -. q
"Now you can find out about that
other woman" srtn.f
was wide awake enough, for
had rather dreaded the conductors
arrival. "Oh y gasped Mrs. Tuck
er. ''Say, mister, there amt q
woman in the baggage car, is there!"
ave don't generally carry 'em
there" dryly remarked the conduc-
tor, a saturnine man whom it evi-
dently hurt TO smile. fe.f nfIHI
"Well, / s'pose not, but / mean
there amt one there accidentally,
as it might be, lookin' for trunk,
is therel'
"No, ma'am, there isn't anybody
there but cat in a basket" repli-
ed he. taasfs
Mrs. Tucker looked dismayed,
and Madam smiled in superior
manner, and shrugged her eye
brows. -,...,
"Well, where do we stop nextr'
went on Mrs. Tucker.
Worcester" was the curt an
swer. 5000 ~ "A F Rif