The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-05-24


do not even know where my landlady has
moved to; and one couldn't take baby
/ out in this storm. IL is hard to decide just
what can be done with her.
BY this time Rand had so far recovered
his self-possession as to hand his card "a
Mr.. Adams, and that gentlemnn's grim
couptenance relaxed visIbly at sight OF the
well-known and honorcd name.
perhaps, as Mr.. Kennedy lives so near,
he suggested, more courteously than he had
vet spoken, tive might go over, and you
could fix the-it, somewhere, and then II
would give no more trouble, and tomorrow
il will be easy enough to find an asylum. .
| 40, IL YOU would be so kind" cried
Rand, beseechingly, once more rescued
from the brink of despair at the Thought OF
being left with the child upon his hands
again.
IL was not until baby was well wrapped
mn, the house-doOr locked and the muddy
| street re-crossed that Rand bethought MN.
| self Of his position as host. In his delight
at being relieved from his troublesome
charge, he had quite forgotten the fact OF
his aversion TO other companionship than
his own meditations. However, there was
little time for reflection. They reached the
gate, and his guests followed him with I'M
certain steps along the stone walk which
led to the mansion. Here they found the
outer door wide open and the hall nooden'
In his haste Rand had forgotten to close 1t,
and the rain had been pouring in. Then
the library fire had burned low, and, to add
| to the general discomfort, the innocent
cause of all this extraordinary commotlon
awoke from her nap, and announced in I'M
mistakable tones that she was hungry. =,
| 1.-THE poor child must be half-starved,'
said Miss Bertha compassionately. "Mr.
| Kennedy, will you please bring some milk
| and sugar and water"
| Had she asked him to produce the sacred
| COW of India, Rand could hardly have been
more at loss what to do. But there was a
| goodly supply of pluck under his mid,
| elderly exterior; moreover, something In
the quiet, pleasant, decided tones COM
PEELED obedience to their requests. so,
after moments indecision, he picked up
the lantern, and left the room quite as II 1t
had been his nightly task for years to fix
baby's milk.
"Well, Bertha" remarked Mr.. Adams,
after silent survey of the musty old
| library, "yOur love Of the antique seems
in fair way to be gratified Everything
appears to have come down from Methu-
selah-not excepting the queer old cove
himself"
FLUSH, George" said Miss Bertha reprov-
ingly. "He has a kind heart, and"
"Judging from the remarkable way he
stuffed that child into the basket, think
he has myself" interrupted George grave
ly. 1.-The only thing to be regretted is that
it did not succumb to treatment"
"George!" again cried his sister, though
she could not help smiling at the remem-
brance, you are incbrrigible." Then, after
long silence, during which the young man
took another journey around the room and
baby manifested much impotence at the
long delay of her supper. " Do you sup
pose you could find the kitchen"
And leave you here to be carried off by
nobody knows what ghosts and COLLINS?
No, thank you. Of the two, prefer to lose
the infant if either must be sacrificed. But
starvation is not imminent, my best of
sisters. Such vigorous lung-powers testify
to abundant vitality"
This time Miss Bertha laughed outright,
hearty, sweet little laugh. And she made
no more suggestions to her brother, but de-
voted herself to quoting the baby.
In course of time Rand was heard return
ing, and an extraordinary appearance he
made as Mr.. Adams opened the door for
him. His clothes were covered with cob
webs and dust, a dozen or more straws
stuck at all angles in his hair, and one
cheek was ornamented with long smut
mark. That he had been prosecuting his
quest under difficulties was evident; but it
was also to be seen that he had come off
victor, for he carried an immense tin pail
holding about three quarts of milk and one
nearly as large filled with water. These he
gravely deposited on the floor at Miss Adj
ans side and then produced a small box Of
sugar from his pocket and laid it on the
table.
1t required all Bertha's self-control to re-
press a smile as she glanced at the bOunti-
full supplies and their bearer, particularly
as she saw her brother apparently examin-
ing a cabinet, but really shaking with
laughter.
Thank you. Now, shall have to trouble
you for cup and spoon," she said pleas
antly, after a minute.
Rand turned to the cabinet, and, after
np "a 70 nd AraX OIL
forth cup of dainty egg-shell china, of
veritable baby blue, with large gilt X del
icately traced upon it; also a case of gold.
lined spoons with the Kennedy monogram.
by Jove, Mr.. Kennedy" cried the IT.
repressible George, drawing near" you
don't do things by halves, do you? That
set out is fit for Princess ~
Rand glanced up in surprise.
at is for my guest" he began, with some
haughtiness; and then, with sly twinkle
in his eyes and broader smile than his
face had known for years, he added dryly:
Zone visit to the lower regions is enough"
By this time baby's supper was ready
| for her, and as she was quite ready for it.,
the meal was soon dispatched. But she
did not to go to sleep again, as Bertha had
expected. She seemed restless and fever
ish, and required constant soothing. So an
| hour passed, and it soon became evident
that the little thing was very ill. Once
storm to bring a doctor, who pronounced
the trouble scarlet fever, aggravated 10y
| exposure and the milk to which it was un
| accustomed. 1t was not until the next
afternoon that the weather allowed of the
| baby's being taken to the hospital. Rand
accompanied Mr.. and Miss Adams and saw
that every possible care should be given tt
the little waif. Then, having expressed
anew his obligations and gratitude to botf
brother and sister, he babe them adieu anc
took his way back to his home.
1t was not yet twenty-four hours since
that ringing peal of the bell had startled
him, but it seemed lifetime almost, Sc
much of new emotion and experience haC
been crowded in. He could define nor ex
plain nothing; he did not even attempt tC
philosOphiZe on the matter; he only knew
that he seemed to be living in a dream,
pleasant, alluring dream, and he dwell
again and again upon each little inciden
of the lately passed hours.
In such mood he reached the house anC
entered the library. His glance resteC
upon the deep old rocker which had beer
brought down from some long unused
chamber, and in which Bertha had sat with
the child upon her knees; at the screen
which she had made of some shawls which
had been his mothers; but the memories
they awoke in him extended no farther
back than that very morning when BERTHA.
hands had pinned them there; at the cups
and bottles which disordered his writing
table; at the pillows heaped upon the
!, lounge; at the tiny sock which must have
been dropped from baby's foot at the last
minute. | think the master of Kennedy
Park had never before seen Just such 8
looking room, but he made no attempt Il
arrange it. He put Oh his dressing gown
and drew his own easy-chair nearer the fire
and sat there irving i'm vain to cOnyincs