Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-05-07
D the whole length of his spinal

What on earth shall l do ?" NUT
tered the wretched man, as he cautiously
approached the resting-place of the
child, whose shrieks became more fran
tic. With the courage of desperation he
proceeded To uplift the infant-for-
tunately right side up-but as he awk-
wardly attempted to hush its cries by
saying "Shoo-shoo now the cries
were redoubled, and Mr.. Archer began
to think darby of the way in which
young kittens are disposed OF.
In most well-regulated stories, where
a baby is left, under these or any other
circumstances, when it is found it al
ways looks sweetly into its discoverer's
face and "coos (Which believe is the
correct expression), or stretches its little
arms to be taken up, or smiles so sweet
ly, or something of the kind.
This, being real hesh-and- blood
baby, did nothing of the kind. But it
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 the door, accompanied by a
fresh outburst from the interesting in
FAINT.
But, to his dismay, who should be
there but Miss Fletcher, who had come
to call on the Green family.
"Why, Mr.. Archer-I didn't know
I thought-you didn't like children p
was the remark of the astonished
lady, as Mr.. A, with scarlet counte-
nance, attempted to make himself heard
above the din, and to explain the situa-
ton.
Like 'em - shouted Mr.. Archer, as
though Miss Fletcher had been hard of
hearing I'm going to drown this
-this-wretched being, if 1 can find a
salt-bag anywhere handy" and we are
not altogether sure but that he would
have made his threat good, had not Miss
Fletcher, after a moments hesitation
as to the 'propriety" of the thing,
stepped into the entry, and taken the
child in her arms, and then, to the Won
der and awe of Mr.. Archer, there was
sudden cessation of the tumult, and as
the distorted features settled down to
something like their original shape,
Miss Fletcher exclaimed, as she trotted
the now pacified baby on her knee.
"Why, it's little Daisy Barton % And
then Mr.. Archer, in tumult of delight
at the discovery. grew animated and
agreeable, and they both agreed that
it was some of "that terrible boys" do
ings,
After ALL" said Mr.. Archer, as they
sat in the other room, and the fire threw
Pickering shadows over Miss fetch
er's soft brown hair, and tingedher still
round cheek with a becoming flush,
there is more drollery than malice in
that boys composition, and l can hard
~ blame him for trick which has given
me the pleasure of Miss Fletcher's COM
pany.
For, sooth to say. the old bachelor,
as he sat there watching the lady in
question, who, fortunately, had on her
most becoming dress and her best braids
of false hair, with just tinge of rouge
on her face, had made the discovery that
Miss Fletcher looked really quite pref
ty; and the maiden lady showed beau
tifuily white and even set of teeth when
she smilingly thanked MIR. Archer for
ais compliment.
Meanwhile, Mr.. and Mrs. Barton
were fastening homeward, the latter
full of apprehensions in regard to the
fate of her babe, and much self-reproach
at having been so unwise as to have left
it in the care of her rattle-pated
brother.
The youth, who had watched the dis
covery of the babe, and the subsequent
call of Miss Fletcher through the blinds,
who had not been able to devise a
scheme for the recovery of the infant,
resolved to brazen it out, and was very
busily engaged in strapping pair
of skates as little Mrs. Barton opened
the door and made rush for the
cradle.
"Good heavens where-what have
you done with Daisy, Charles ?" was the
terrible exclamation of the mother as
she discovered its absence.
"Don't worry, sis, sait. the impurta-
bable youth. with a patronizing air,
while Mr.. Barton glared on him in
speechless Indignation from the door.
You see, Mr.. Archer, next door, got
sort of lonesome, and came In and bor-
rered Daisy for little while.
"And," continued that unabashed
youth, miss Fletcher and he is playin'
keep house, and so I"
Mrs. Barton waited no longer, but
rushed into the next door just in time
to find Bob Archer's arm cleverly en-
folding Miss Fletcher's waist, and the
baby looking as smiling as possible in
the latter lady's lap.
Mr.. Archer jumped hastily to his feet
and muttered an incoherent remark
about "trying to amuse the child. "
Miss Fletcher blushed violently, but
the general explanation that followed,
served to cover the mutual embar-
rassment of the two most interested
parties.
The baby was given up, and Miss
Fletcher was accompanied home by
Mr.. Archer, and next day the town
was electrified by the news of their en-
! gagement.
III