The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-09-17

Will, what are we to say to Mr..
Jay?" l cried, as the door closed upon
him.
sit will be n case of doing, not say
ing, / fancy" he returned; Though she
may be al right again by then-children
often are. :"
But she was not Mr. Jay came in
with the doctor about FIVE, and there was
no need to tell him; he saw it for him
self. DR.. Ford stayed q little while,
then he told us he could do nothing fur
ther-it depended en- the child's strength
and he left us to our vigil. 1t was the
first time we had ever seen baby suffer.
Hour after hour the old church clock
down the street tolled out the long
night, while we watched the futtering
little life that had been SO bright and
vigorous only yesterday-only yester-
day, and it seemed almost lifetime.
The far spring morning was breaking
across the houses, when at last the
hoarse breathing grew soft, and the
tired baby's limbs relaxed into a quiet
sleep. Wills eyes were suspiciously
bright, and my tears fell like rain in the
blessed relief. Only Mr.. Jay stood over
her without word, and yet | think we
both felt that his silence was deeper
than our tears.
Theodore seemed the right name for
her atterward; we never gave her any
other.
That summer was very happy one to
him. The blossoming time, we used to
say, of little Mr. jays life; his treasure
lourished like rose in June. She was
fn hipo
creep across the floor after him, baby
first pair of little blue shoes; Mr. Jaw
brought them back with him that even
ing, and proudly fitted them on. Will
laughed at their unserviceablc appear
ance.
"She will cost you small fortune in
shoes alone, Jay, if you are going to
keep Der in that sort of thing"
Mr.. Jay lift his radiant face from the
contemplation of them.
"Ah, if you had had only your own to
buy for as long as have, you would un-
derstand the difference of these"
cali right; only there is such an in
stitution as the workhouse She ought
to be running to meet you in them in a
few more MOUNTS"
Mr.. Jay looked down at the tiny feet
Ill his hand.
81 don't know; if L could, 1 would
keep her always just as she is now-my
little Theodore"
Yet there were not many days that he
did not bring back some remarkable ar
ticle that would be of little use till she
had reached far more advanced stage;
the extraordinary toys ard books and
little garments that were laid up ready
for her at some distant day; the contrast
between the worn, middle aged face and
the bonnie golden head, always in such
close lu1taposition-it is coed many
summers ago now, but it comes back as
freshly as yesterday.
The first little cloud came with the
shortening days. It was an advertise
ment in one of the morning papers, that
Wild suddenly read out one day at break
fast:
IMPORTATION IS EARNESTLY REQUESTED
L Of the whereabouts of Jane Dawson, late of 81
Chamber Street, last the evening of the 10th
of October, having in charge young baby five
months old.
A description of her dress and appear
ance followed
He dropped the paper, and we looked
at each other in sore dismay
"Oh, Will, [ hope Mr.. Jay has not
seen that, [ broke out.
"Jane Dawson's friends should have
looked for her sooner if they wanted her
SO earnestly" was his comment. cts
late III the day to begin now. We are
not obliged to help them, at any rate "
And with reprehensible want of prin-
ciple we put the paper in the fire, and
preserved discrete silence about it.
Two days later, sitting by the open
window, we saw policeman come down
the street aud knock at Mr.. jays door,
Will put his head out
"There is no one there; what is IL ?"
! The man leisurely descended the two
steps, and took a position whence he
could survey our interior.
| GIVE come about that baby, sir, as
your neighbor got from us last year"
! "What about it 2" said Will, abruptly.
eve think the lawful owners has
! turned up. They WIS in Australia and
left the baby out atnurse; we sent round
to them yesterday; they were advertising
! for it. Maybe you've seen 1t he added.
els it the mother = [ asked, quickly,
without going into that last item.
"No, mum; a haunt, or something In
that line"
"Then she cannot have it," | decided
promptly. " No aunt can take better
care Of it than Mr.. Jay has; it would be
cruel to take it away now"
every sorry, mum, but rights right,
and he cant expect to keep other
peoples children if they wants them;
perhaps I'd better come when he's at
| home"
Will shut down the window sharply.
"Kste, I'm afraid poor jays is a los
ing game"
She was lying cooling to herself in the
corner, and ] took her up with a pitiful
sob for the little man, whose one eve
lamb she was in very truth. He came
in an hour after, and she gave a merry
little crow at sight of him; he took her
almost jealousy out of my arms.
"Come, my blossom! say goodbye
till after ten, and with her on his shout
der, her basket under his arm, and the
drab hat very much on one side, he dia-
appeared into his own premises.
AS we sat at our little tea-table, we
saw the dreaded policeman go past again
and knock at Mr.. jays door, and the old
housekeeper admitted him. He was
there about half an hour, and Mr.. Jay
let him out himself. We waited up till
late, thinking he would come in and tell
us, but we heard nothing more of him
that night.
I slipped in at o'clock the next morn
ing. He was sitting by his untouched
breakfast, little Theodore on his knee.