Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-01-09

she's not coming. Oh! that deceitful
creature, Sarah! I believe you're right,
Fred, and | don't believe it was her
brother she went to see at ALL" .'..
Well, suppose it was her sweet
heart, then. The poor girl has not had
holiday for six months, you know"
"Now, don't be provoking, Fred.
But what is to be done? We can't go
now of course" s-.....
"Why not-what's to prevent us p
said Mivan.
What, go and leave the blessed
darling all alone in the house by him
self? wouldn't do it for worlds"
"Oh, very we'll. 1 shall have to go
alone, then, suppose"
The reader will perceive that Mivan
was brute.
"You shan't go alone, Mr.. Mivan."
If you're not coming, my dear, /
must"
Mrs. Mivan burst into tears.
Good-by, darling" said Mr.. Mivan,
edeing toward the door. Don't sit
up for me, and take care of yourself"
"Mr. Mivanv'
"Well, love?"
Are you determined to go?"
Most assuredly."
Then I'll go with YOU"
"The most sensible thing you can do.
We won't be later than two o'clock, and
the child is safe to sleep for the next six
hours"
Mrs. Mivan advanced to the bed,
where that rosy cherub lay wrapt in the
arms of slumber.
"The little darling" she said; " will
it be good, and not wake up till its
mamma comes back -
Now, then, are you coming ?' said
Mr.. Mivan. 8" We can't keep the cab
waiting all night"
1 don't think it was right for Mrs
Mivan to leave her child; but there can
be no doubt that Mivan was brute.
Dick Colon arrived come that night
at his usual time. Instinct carried him
straight to his own door, and he was
about to insert the key in the lock when
he happened to look around.
"Hello" he said, something the
matter. 1 don't see the stone"
He looked carefully up and down the
street, and at length perceived the stone
some doors off.
CAN right" he chuckled-' that s
my house."
And he opened the door and went in.
AS he groped his way up the stairs
he had two-fold cause for self-congrat-
ulation. First, in the forethought
which had caused him to provide the
stone; and secondly, in his present state
of sobriety, which had enabled him to
perceive its absence from the habita-
ton which he had mistaken for his own.
"Spose I had been 'toxicated, now, 4"
he said, "and gone into that house
without examination might have been
mistaken for a thief again, and got
shot, perhaps. Great thing, sobriety-
always be sober, Dick, my boy; always
be SOBER"
This declaration of his love for the
great cause of temperance, when there
was no one to hear it and nothing to
be gained by it, would surely have con-
ylnced those who accused him of drunk
enness, could they have listened to it,
of the falsehood of their assertions.
Dick reached his sleeping apartment
in safety. He lighted candle and pro-
ceeded to divest himself of his upper
garments. He was about to step into
bed, when he started back.
What. this?' he exclaimed. ga
baby? All! I see how it is. Mrs. Cub
bins has been here, cleaning up, es she
calls it. She's always leaving some rub
bish behind her. Patterns, ginger-bee1
bottles and old umbrellas are bad
enough; but to leave live baby in O
fellows bed is coming it too strong al.
together. What shall I do with the
thing? Shall I pitch it out of the win
dow? / have great mind to. It's a
pretty little thing, too-wonder if !
ever was like that baby ....
This reflection occupied Dick for sew
eral minutes 1t filled him with more
tender feelings toward the child. He
did not throw it out of the window.
But, taking itup, he wrapped it care
fully in an old blanket, and put it in q
corner near the fireplace. He then blew
out the light and jumped into bed; and
he, soon slept the peaceful sleep which a
gulleless conscience and o moderate
amount of bottled stout seldom fail to
produce.
Mr.. and Mrs Mivan arrival Of homo