Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-05-07

| did nothing OF the Kind. But 1t choked,
and roared, and squirmed, and turned
purple in the face to that extent that Mr..
Archer in his desperation was about to
take it out to the kitchen sink and pump
water upon its head when, to add to his
perpleXity and dismay, the door-bell rang
| again.
POSSIBLY the wretched mother may
have repented deserving her child" was
the cheering thought that passed through
his mind as he made rapid rush to TIE
door, accompanied by fresh outburst
from the interesting infant.
But, 10 his dismay, who should he
there but Miss Fletcher, who had come to
call on the Green family.
Why, Mr. Archer-l didn't know-I
| thoaght--vou didn't like childrenw was
the remark of the astonished lady, as Mr..
A, with a scarlet countenance, attempted
to make himself heard above the din, and
| to explain the situation.
Like mi" shouted Mr.. Archer, as
though Miss Fletcher had been hard of
hearing; Pm going to drown this--this
-wretched being, if | can find salt bag
anywhere handy" and we are not alto
gether sure but that he would have made
his threat good had not Miss Fletcher,
4
"propriety" of the thing, stepped into the
entry and takes the child in her arms,
and then, to the wonder and awe of Mr..
Archer, there was sudden cessation of
the tumult, and as the distorted features
settled down into something like their
original shape Miss Fletcher exclaimed,
as she trotted the now pacitied baby on
her knee
"Why, it's little Daisy Bartonw And
then Mr.. Archer, in a tumult of delight
at the discovery, grew animated and
| agreeable, and they both agreed that it
was some Of that terrible boys" dOings.
"Atter ALL" said Mr.. Archer, as they
sat in the other room and the fire threw
| Pickering shadows over Miss Fletcher's
soft brown hair and tiuged her still round
cheek with a becoming flush, there is
more drollery than malice in that boys
composition, and | can hardly blame him
for trick which has given me the pleas
ure of Miss Fletcher's company"
For sooth to say, the old bachelor, as
he sat there watching the lady in question,
who, fortunately, had on her most becom-
! ing dress and her best braids of false hair,
with just tinge of rouge on her face, had
made the discovery that Miss Fletcher
really looked quite pretty; and the maid
en- lady showed beautifully white and
even set of teeth when she smilingly
thanked Mr.. Archer for his compliment.
Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Barton were
fastening homeward the latter full of APP
prehensions in regard to the fate of her
babe, and much selireproach at having
been so unwise as to have left it in the
care of her rattle-pated brother
That youth, who had watched the dis
covery OF the babe and the subsequent
call of Miss Fletcher through the blinds,
and had not been able to devise a scheme
for the recovery Of the infant, resolved to
brazen it out, and was very busily en-
gagged in strapping pair of skates as lit
| tie Mrs. Barton opened the door and made
a rush for the cradle.
"Good heavens! where-what have
you done with Daisy, Charles?" was the
| terrified exclamation of the mother as she
| discovered its absence.
Don't worry, sis" said the imperturba-
bic youth, with patronizing air, while
Mr.. Barton glared on him in speeches.
indignation from the door, "You see,
| Mr.. Archer, next door got sort of lone
some, and came in and borrowed Daisy
for "A little while"
"And," continued the unabashed youth,
"Miss Fletcher and he is playln' keep
house, and so /"
Mrs. Barton waited no longer, but
rushed into the next door just in time to
| find Bob Archer's arm cleverly EMBEDDING
Miss Fletcher's waist and the baby look
ing as smiling as possible in the latter
lady's lap.
Mr.. Archer jumped hastily to his feet
and muttered an incdherentremarka about
trying to amuse the child" Miss
| Fletcher blushed vDently, but the gen
eral explanation tina followed served to
cover the mutual embarrassment of the
| two most interested parties.
! The baby was liven up, and Miss
| Fletcher was accompanied home by Mr..
Archer, and next da, the town was cleo
| trifed by the news If their engagement.
For love, like the measles, is apt to go
very hard with elderly people, and the
old bachelor who lad so long resisted
Cupid's darts had fallen victim at last,
Mrs. Barton administered a sound scold-
| ing to her mischievus brother, who only
chuckled as he recalled the expression
that was visible on lr. Archer's face when
he first discovered he trick for Charlie
had peeped through the entry blinds, but
of course he promised never 10 do Sc
again.
Mr. Barton also gravely narrated the
examples Of severa vicious boys whom he
had known, who al came to an untimely
end, but | fear the lessons were not
needed by that bad boy, who WAS ut that
moment shoeing he family cat with pa
per.
But as Mr. Archr, who is happily mar
ried to Miss Fletcher, always attributes
] &c trim ,,pia al fgli tn
events of that eveling he and the boy
are on the best of trms, and Charlie is
now settling downto be quite a steady
! Nnnfh