The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-19

rung dat do'-bell dat way such dub'us
night as dis is! Don't yer go, honey,
DON'T" he pleaded, his toothless old voice
growing strangely tremulous as hand,
humoring the superstitious fear OF his aged
servitor, had himself arisen to answer the
summons. His only reply was TO take tne
lamp from the table and proceed toward
the door; and 'Demus, bravely resolving
that his beloved master should meet neither
man nor spirit alone, followed closely after,
rolling his great eyes and quaking in every
limb.
ceeded in unfastening the bolts. At last
they yielded to his efforts and the door
swung open, only to admit dash of ram
and a gust of wind which nearly blew out
the light.
"Wbo's there? ~ asked Rand, peering forth
into the darkness. "Who's there" he cried
in louder tones as no answer came. Still
no one replied.
81 dun top yer, Massa Rand" whispered
'Demus; "tain't muffin dat kin speak wild
mouf and tung. Ole 'Demus amt live all
desc years fur muffin. Come in, honey, out
de wet"
But Rand was not yet satisfied. He took
step forward, and his foot struck against
| something. Looking down, he saw dark
object lying on the porch. Bending lower,
he discovered it to be basket covered with
a thick shawl
"Set itinside out of the rain, 'Demus, and
I'll call again for the owner. Some miser-
able fellow who wants a nights lodging
suppose"
'Demus obeyed, grumbling audibly, in no
wise pleased with the whole matter. But
| in a moment or two he had the satisfaction
! of seeing Rand come in from the porch,
wet and blown, and close the door behind
| him.
ats as dark as Egypt" he said, catch
| ing his breath between the words. LET
I AZ L l. IL
will call for it by-and-by, perhaps" And
they returned to the dining-room.
An hour or more later, as Rand was COM
| fortably. seated ia his big leather seilaif~be-
fore q f-athe1 aim IRE IN the library, he was
again startled by an unusual sound. This
time it was not pealing bell nor any
| ghostly call, but the unmistakable cry of
baby. And it did not come from any of the
houses across the way, where babies grew
and multiplied, but from some place very
near the amazed and mystified gentleman.
For an instant he listened incredulous;
then he sprung to his feet irreSolute; then,
as the cries grew louder, and evidently
came from the hall, he went quickly
thither. There could be no doubt of it--a
| baby was crying Justify in the old house
where no baby had been for thirty-five
long years, and Rand by instinct under
stood that language of imperative demand.
Hastily returning for lamp, and looking
| y
fell upon the forgotten basket.
A long, low whistle escaped him as he
gingerly lifted the noisy burden and de-
posted it upon the floor before the library
fire. Awkwardly throwing back the vari-
| Gus wrappings which covered it, he came at
length face to face with his unlimited guest,
and it would be difficult to tell which of the
two regarded the other with the greatest
curiosity and wonder. Quite treasured by
the evidence that measures were being
taken for her relief, Miss Baby had ceased
her cries and lay calmly looking up at her
new-found friend with the brightest of blue
eyes. Presently there was dimpling of
the round cheeks, upon which the tears
were not yet dry, and the rosy lips curved
into confident smile as she stretched out
her arms with the mute invitation: Take
me-"
But Rand was not yet prepared to extend
Inequalities so far as that. He had never
to his recollection, held baby in his arms,
and knew about as much of their ways and
wants as he did of the habits of young
penguinS.
Slowly the bright expression faded; this
time the lips curved sorrowfully, and the
blue eyes were overlooked again. And
very soon, finding that her neglectful at
tendant was not to be moved by pathos,
the wee damsel brought temper to bear up
on the vexed question, and long and loud
were the screams, which at last aroused
Rand from his contemplation of infantile
beauty, and brought him to his feet.
Acting upon the principles of homeo-
pathy, in which he was firm believer he
seized the poker and tongs and beat live
ly tattoo upon the coal-scuttle. This pro-
duced temporary lull, but baby soon dis
covered that she was still upon her back,
and began again more vehemently than
ever.
Then bright idea occurred to him.
The basket is too small, i" he reasoned,
with an air Of conviction. "No wonder the
child cries"
SO he took hold of the basket and pro-
ceeded to roll Miss Baby out. 1t was not
until he succeeded and she lay, silent for
the moment with establishment at this new
experience, in aqueerly tumbled heap upon
the floor, that he remembered how hard
and uncomfortable such a bed might be-
And the young lady herself seemed to
think of it at the same moment, Judging
from the decided way in which she gave
vent to her feelings His next move was
to pick her up very hesitatingly and at
arms length and set her up in his arm
chair. But that being covered with very
smooth leather, and baby having no
strength to speak of in her back, she i'm
mediately slipped down and would prob
ably have prevented the finishing of this
narrative by the breaking of her neck if
Rand had not caught her just in time.
For minute or two he held her by her
| clothes and gaZed ather helpleSSly over the
top of his gold-bowed spectacles. Could it
be possible that this kicking, squirming,
screaming, scarlet bit of humanity was the
same innocent, lovely little creature who
had looked up at him so smilingly but a
| short time before?
And, still more startling question, could
| 1T be that he, a man in his prime, fairly
well endowed with good sense and ability,
was puzzled out of his wits to know what
| to do with a specimen of flesh and blood
that he could crush with his hand? Rand
was fond of philosophizing in his own way
and the present problem seemed an inter
esting one, both from it's novelty and its
Importance, too. But he soon decided that
it were wiser to discuss it at some future
time. The query of the moment was:
"How shall l stop this Internal racket"
He dropped the baby, face downward, in
the basket, put his hands over his ears and
tried to think. Strange to say, it never oc-
CURED to him to rouse old Aunt Cleo In
deed, nothing seemed to occur to him. He
sat in despair, half deafened by the still
continuing cries. Then he grew excited
The perspiration stood upon his forehead.
He pulled out his handkerchief to wipe
wipe away the drops.
"Eurekap' he cried, as a crumpled paper
fell to the floor, and he recognized it as an
advertisement a boy had handed him, which
he had read and mechanically placed in his
| pocket. 1t was notice of a lecture to be
/ given in day or two for the benefit of a
| IL lrNagr1 dc al L.