The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-12
THE LOST BABY.
A story of the Frontier.

blue as the depths ola June sky. DarlinI
Little Pearl, how we loved her. We ha,
been married just a year and a half whel
Philip caught the western fever.
Iloved my husband with an ~intensit,
bordering on idolatrY, but when he toll
me OF his intention to leave our beautifu
cottage and seek his fortune in the fal
West, it was a terrible blow to me. W,
had lived at Rosedale ever since our mar
riage, and could sec no reason why W,
could not continue to live there. Truly
the place belonged to my uncle, but ther
it would be ours at his death, and why
should Philip fret and chaie 50 under 1
foolish sense of dependenceP We hat
everything, elegant rooms, flowers, birds
pleasure grounds, and servants enough Il
keep our hands from anything like labor
and uncle gavO it all ungrudgingly, still
my husband was not content.
~ can't live this life, Belle" he sail
81 wasn't made for it. NV work await,
me somewhere in the world, and / must
hunt It up. My little ones won't respect
their father by.and-by il he is nothing
more than a drone in the hive Of fife" g
l was vexed and angry at first, and said
a great many things that were unwise and
unwomanly, but Philip pursued the even
tenor of his way, all patience and forbear.
ance. Our preparations were soon made,
the few things we held most precious were
picked up, and biddingadieu to our SUNNY
southern home, We started westward,
The excitement OF the Journey, together
with my husbands constant tenderness
and encouragement, reconciled me In n
measure TO the change of life; and when
we reached our little western cottage. nv
impulsive nature, always rushing TO one
extreme or the other, carried me into an
ecstacy OF delight and anticipation, ever
beyond anything my steadfast husband
exhibited, He seemed greatly relieved 10
see me growing 30 thoroughly contented,
and we began our new live very brayelv,
The cottage was comfortable enough, but
bare and humble in comparison to what
We had hitherto been accustomed: the
square, whitewashed rooms had A dread.
fully forlorn look and the little kitchen,
with its one starring window, and Inc
cooking stove standing in the middle of
the floor, filled me with shudderinp dis
gust every time | entered it. But | had
made up my mind to endure oil and every.
thing, and as have said, we began our
new life very bravely.
For the first two or three months | had
help, not very efficient help truly; but
better far than non Phillip entered at
once upon the practice OF law, and us his
Office was some distance from home he
did not return until evening, so we had No
great amount OF cooking 10 do, and be.
tween US, We managed 10 keep the cottage
tidy, and to take care OF Little Pearl.
Every afternoon wO went to meet him.
taking little Pearl, through the grand and
gorgeous praries, and al often as his Imp.
Ply eyes caught sight OF us he would hast.
en- forward with fond embraces and up.
proving words.
"Ah, Belle" he would say, ~ believe
am the happiest man in the universe, and
you are growing c%ontented, too, dear
can see it in your bright face"
Theglory Of autumn faded, and the chill
November rains set in, bringing dreary,
sunless days, and changing the gorgeous
pruirie.bloom into endless leagues OF sod,
den gray. My girl left Tine, and little Pearl
grew cross and fretful in her teetling. In
addition to his law business, Phillip had
gone into farming, and we had two Of
three laborers to feed and lodge, which
greatly increased the houseworE. Under
this accumulation Of trials my patience
began to give way. | worked late and
early, but grew morose ana iretiul, ant
never had q pleasant word for ms hus
band. But he never complained.
"Poor Belle" he would say, "poor,
over-worked little wife, be as brave us vol
can; better days will come by-and:by
Just as soon as | get off from my business
III go to the city and obtain permanen'
help. In the meantime, don't fret til,
roses from your cheeks and the bright
ness from your eyes"
But despite my husbands loving word.
and constant help, for he took 0ne.hal
the household labor on his own hands, !
continued to murmnr at my fate, and on
morning the crisis came.
Breakfast was unusually late, Little
Pearl cross to absolute fretfulness, and tn,
sick laborer up stairs in need OF constan'
attention, Philip obliged to leave carly
and after Goaxing and hushing Pearl L
sleep, | laid her in her dainty it'll
crib and went about my morning
work.
/ felt wronged and injured, and while
worked away busting of the SCOT AM
ashes and scrubbing up the mud, the no
tears fell so fast as almost 10 blind me
Nv husband had been cruel, heartless,
thought, to take me from a home wher
all was beauty and pleasure, and brin
me out to that dreadful place to wear ~,
life out in hateful drudgery. I woult
sooner be in my grave than to live on 5
from year to year.
In the midst OF this despair heard III
sick man calling from above, and hurrie
TO him. His fever was rising again, h
needed cooling draughts and Ice cloths
his head. went to work to prepar
them with nervous haste, for the mornip
was slipping by, and the noon meal mu.
be in readiness for the farming hands. |
the midst OF my work and hurry, Littl
PEARLS sharp, imperative cry came pipin
IEQW uSlUN' Nunt 9lSutu uO1 l uu
Just spent oyer half an hour lulling her I
) sleep, and here she was on my hant
again.
81 won't go down." 1 cried In real a,
. ger. "She may have her cry out. Ol
dear, l wish l had no baby!"
But TIE instant the unwomanly wis
had passed my lin, ] repented Of havir
uttered it. No baby, no Little PEARL tt
bare thought filled me with shudderil
terror. HurriOdIy administering the sil
mans potion, l hastened down eager
compensate for my unmotherly words |
: fond caresses.
There stood the little cradle in Its accu
toned corner, the dainty lace covert
thrown back, the pillow still damp al
warm from the impress Of the curly hea
but Pearl was gonel
For an instant ! stood dumh-hreat
less; then in frantic i~oolishness, | scare
ed the rooms, the yard, calling upon d
s. child's name, as II she could hear and a
swer me. And then, at last, a han
Iknt,nhk brokalikas unIf1Ik unnn 49, 4