The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Mr.. P0LYP0D,
And How Tie Came to Engage a New
HOuSekeeper.
TBy Helen Wlincy Clark.l

pod, as he leaned back in his bachelor chair, IN
front Of the bright wood-fire. Here's another
year gone around. I'm thirty-fve; all alone
in the world: nobody 10 give New Years gift
to, or receive one from.
He stopped. with a sigh There had been
one dream in his life; but when Leah Maver-
ick married, the dream went, lie never had
another
Even Mrs. Flint has gone out" he resumed,
half pcevishly. Mrs. Flint was his house
keener There's rot a soul to talk TO. Harh |!
what was that? 4 knock at the door at nine
o'clock ut night. What can it mean? There's
nobody at home, so l must 90 myself Confound
it."
As he spoke Mr.. Polypog arose, Grossly, and
wrapping his dressing-gown around him, took
the lamp in his hand and went to the door.
he opened ii and looked out, but saw no one.
The night was a dark one, however, and 10
make sure, he took d step forward to peer out
Hello" he cried, IS his foot came IN con-
tact with something on the moor OF the porch.
"What's this? s New Years prcsent?" and
he picked up large package, or bundle
:" Bless my heart he cried, almost dropping
1t again, d" it's baby"
And so If was; live, laughing, rolliclzing
year-old baby, thar kicked UP It's heels, grabbed
at his whiskers, and laughed in his face.
Bless me, bless me- quCth Cyrus, stagger-
ing into the sitting-rOOm with hls unwelc0me
burden. What on earth will 5ITS. Flint say,
when she comes home?" And q cold sweat
broke out on his forehead, at the bare idea
"She-she mustn't see it, he declared, to
himself But what to DO with it?
a might carry it TO somebody else's door
and leave it," he thought, meditaGyely. But
then, somebody might catch me at it, and
that would look worse yet. And l can't lock
itup in the pantry or the cellar; ltwould be sure
TO suuall But / must do something with it,
for Mrs Flint viii certainly be here before ten
o'clock" And the poor man racked his brain,
and wrinkled his forehead in desperate en-
deavor to solve the difficulty.
u know what III do," he said, at last, with
the calmness of despair. "In take it up TO
my room Mrs Flint won't find it there. And
tomorrow, at peep of day, I'll put II in the
big market basket, and carry it-s0mewheTe;
TO the hospital. or the poor-hOuse; OF, / Il take
the first train to ST. Louis-nobody knows me
there-and leave it at the Police Station.
Probably it's been Kidnapped, anyway. But
III take it to my room now. stop, thought:
il may get hungry; badies are always wanting
mush and milk, or something. But / can't
carry everything at once so I'll take thc-the
baby up and lock it in my room, and come
down again for the refreshments"
Mr.. Polypod evidently labored undera vague
suspicion that the little castsway might get
out if the door was not locked, and might fol-
low him downstairs.
With the light in one hand, and the baby
held gingeriy in the other, he proceeded eau
cent in bed.
Somehow. it looked so sweet and rosy, with
its dimped cheeks and blue eyes-biue was Mr..
Polypods favorite color for eyes-that our
bachelor could not resist the temptation Of
kissing the tiny mouth, though lie colored
guiltily at it.
Carefully locking the door, he crept stealth
lily down stairs, feeling more like burglar
than the master Of his own house Finding
the coast clear, he proceeded 20 the pantry,
whence he presently emerged with a plate of
cold mush and gOOd-sized pitcher Of milk.
He was congratulating himself on the sue
cess OF the issue OF his forging expedition,
when the dining room door flew open, and Ire
stood covered with confusion, Ike detected
culprit: for there was Mrs. Flint.
"Salcs alive how You startled me, Mr. Poly
pod ! thought it was burglar" she cried.
The siriil voice Tasped every nerve in 8iT.
Polypoa's body. But he kept on his way in
sheer desperation.
"Ahgm! / was a little hungry, and
and
Hungry? But why on airth didn't you
get some doughHuts, or pie, instead Of that
cold mush: let NE get some fur We now"
No-no-l amt haugry-Hot for dough-
nuts. It's tae coiic--I mean DYSPEPSIA and
the unf4rtunate man fed up stairs as rapidly
as possible, leaving his landlady staring affJ-f
him. wondering ii he really had taken TO drink
at last. Ter / never hesrd him complain Of
=
head.
81 polvpod reached his room in q state bcr-
deriEc Oh distraction.
u wonder If she suspects anything" he
mu.tCred. "She looked so queer. Suppose she
should come up TO bring nc the d1ughnut- after
all" md the poor mans hair almost stood On
end with terror. But gradually his fears sub
sided, as no high heels were heard clicking M
the stairs; ana 50 he once more gave his atten-
tion TO the baby.
II had dropped asleep now with one chubby
fist cramaed INTO its rosy mouth; and some
how, in spite OF the trouble il had caused him,
Mr. Poypod caught himself half wishing that
the little stranger belonged 10 him.
In the meantime, Mrs Flint had seated her
self before the fire, to give her feet good
warming.
IL wanted to speak to Mr. Povpod partikler.
tonight" she sOliloQuized; but he acted so
uncommon quare, / clean forgot It. ! s'pose
it'll do jest as well tomorrow. But I wanted
it OFF my IniId fur / kind 0 hate to ten him
Tn a-goin' 10 marry Deacon Bcllpepper in six
weeks. He'll hev trouble a-cittin' house
keeper. I've s0rter THOUGHT Mr.. PoIypod had
kind O hankerin' a3tcr ne himself, and
wouldn't be SURPRISED if he should pop the
question any time, ike the Deacon did to-
night, s-comin' home from meetin' So
better tell him at once. might a-took him If
he'd a-asked me first; though since Deacon
Bellpepper's been lcoI,in' this way, It's differ
ent; fur he's pIoas-Or and a stiGay church
foer, and Nr. Polygod ain't-marcy on us il
thar amt 2 ran On The door. Who kin he
a-comin at this time ouightt"
ARD il her turn, 1ir5. Flint took up the
lamp, hurried through Tie hail, and opened
the door.
No baby this time, But gcntlemanly-
looking young man. with blonde mustache and
imperial, and a slender woman, robed in deep
black, clasping his ann. She was pretty
woman, with ripe, mature beauty, more at
tractIye than that Of extreme youth Her
complexion was still bright and unfaded. and
the chestnut-gold OF her hair shaded brow as
fair and low as Clytie's.
Mrs Flint was surprised, but hospitablc
Good-eyenin'-walk in. Who might YOU
be a-lookin' for?' she enquirad gazing from
one 70 the other. 'Granger-Squire Granger?
Bless your heart, why Squire Gr5ugers folks
moved away over in Turkey Bottom, nigh
onto three months ago. Its SIX miles from
here"
"Moved?'
The young man seemed thunderstruck.
Good heavens what q Tx" lie muttercd,
very much ANNOYED.
But the lady looked bewildcred.
What does size mean. Len0x and where is
M baiy? she cried auxiOusly.
=" Be Still whispered the young man. "Its
all n mistake. OF course. Baby's all right.
Would You be kind enough to bring the child,
na'am,' he asked, turning TO the housekeeper