The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-02-28

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Rub. rub, rub. 60 Dolly's little hard
hands up and down the dashboard; her
work Is almost done, night draws near,
and the sky is heavy with threatening
storm. Suddenly, while Dolly rubs
and sings. quick, heavy step comes up
the stairs, the door opens, and there en-
\ ters Dick Burns, the boarder, q tall,
rough-looking boy Of IL. On his arm
he carries child, little girl Of ), per-
haps, who leans against his shoulder in
heavy sleep. She Is dressed in delicate
garments, but her pretty clothes are
soiled, her tiny boots are covered with
mud, and down to her waist her long
hair hangs in tangled curls.
"Hullol" says Dolly, in amazement;
and then she wipes the soapsuds of her
arms, and begins TO shake up the pillow
on the old lounge.
"-sh!" says Dick, under his breath,
IS he lays the child carefully on the
place Dolly has prepared. Keep the
young uns still. and don't We wake her
up. picked her up in the street-lost
child-belongs to rich folks. D. We
mind her clothes? She was a-cryin', too,
like good un.''
"Oh-h-h! Dick Burns! Why didn't
ye bring her to her own house? Couldn't
she tell ye where she lived!"
Dick chuckled maliciously.
" She told me where she lived fast
enough; thought was fetchin' her
home, yer see, when I fetched her here,
and fell asleep on my shoulder"
Why don't ye carry her home right
away, then? Only think how her folks
will feel! And now it's comm night
and every thing! Lot me, Dick-I'l
take her, il We don't want to, and 70
stay with the children! Will We, Dick?
All, do, now!" And Dolly's face took
on an appealing look.
"Shut up yer mouth! The child
amt goin' home till l get ready to let
her, and that won't be in hurry. Don't
We see there'll be . reward in the pa
Pers, and the longer We keep. her the
betteri"
The blue eyes blazed.
"And make her folks think she's
dead? Ye ought TO be ashamed Of your
self, Dick Burns! don't care! It's
awful wicked-it's worse nor stealin'?
When she wakes up, how do you pose
she'll feel? Why, wouldn't be as bad
for . hundred dollars! Ye're worse
than . kidnaper-ye are . kidnaper!"
says Dolly. in burst of indignation.
Dick looks at her angrily.
Shut up!' he says. "Pollyll be in
right away. I'm gong down town
again. Mind and keep the young uns
quiet, and tell Polly what l told ye.
She'll see to the child"
"I'll see to the child" says Dolly,
in the depths of her womanly heart.
Almost a. soon as the door closes,
however, on Dicks retreating form the
baby stretches out his fat hands, and be-
gins to put mis- little head up from the
cradle like bird from the nest.
"Oh. baby. babyl" whispers Dolly,
reproachfully; but baby Is smiling and
Growing, quite ready to be lifted, and
equally ready in case Of disappointment
to yell - no baby was ever heard to yell
before.
"Oh, ye torment-ye hateful, naugh-
ty, wicked torment" says Dolly, in pre-
tended indignation, under her breath,
picking up the baby and squeezing his
face against her neck and showering
kisses on bis doubled fist. . What for
did you wake upP l don't love ye at
ALL Now, Dolly's going to get her boy
some bread and milk. Joey, Joey!
Come out Of that coal-box! DO We
mind! oh, what bad joey! Nigger
handsl Go and wash 'em in the little
tub. Dear me! what shall ! do with
gel"
As Dolly asks this question, almost
in despair, going about with the baby
on her arm and tin cup in her hand,
the stranger-child Is sitting up, staring
round her with great brown ewes, and
parted lips, - 4 scarcely awake. In
another instant she has stepped from
the lounge and runs across to the door,
sobbing piteously.
"This isn't my house! This isn't my
house, Oh, l want to 60 home; want
my mammal" And her poor, little fin
gers twist 1t the handle, and she leans
her forehead against the door, her
slight frame shaken with sobs.
Dolly goes over gently and kneels be-
side her. She has all she can do TO
hold the baby and the mug, but she
manages to spare one hand to pat and
smooth the pretty, dropping head.
SNOW, don't be cryin','' she says.
" See, here's baby; and Dolly'll take ye
to mamma, don't ye be afraid. There,
now, hush! Look at Dolly See, mo-
body II hurt ye here"
"Mammai mamma! want TO 20
home. Where's mamma? l want
papa! want to 60 home" The child's
voice sounds faint and hoarse with tears.
Dolly feels her own eyes filling As she
replies:
/" But ye mustn't cry, ye know; yen
see mamma and papa, too, in q little
bit Of while. Nothing'll hurt We. Oh,
look! the baby wants to love Va. He