The Cecil Whig., 1883-03-10

away over in Turkey Bottom nigh onto
three months ago. It's six miles from
here"
Moved -
The young man seemed thunderstruck
Good heavens. what a fix" he NUT
tered, very much annoyed.
But the lady looked bewildered.
What does she mean, Lenox, aud
where is my baby - she cried anxiously.
:" Be still, whispered the young man.
Its all mistake, of course. Baby S
all right. Would you be kind enough to
bring the child, Ma am ." he asked,
turning to the housskeeper with a per-
suasive smile.
But Mrs. Flint stared back at him in
round eyed astonishment.
s. What on airth do you mean?' she
demanded. There amt no child here
hot one."
Lenox, o, Leno1, what have you
done with my baby! Where is he ~
cried the mother, frantically. :. You
told me you left him with Father Gran
ger. Where is he, Lenox?'
I'm soon find out-only be calm
pleaded Lenox. But the truth is,
told you little fb about seeing father.
| was in such a hurry to get back to you
that | didn't want to stop and explain
the situation, and so-baby WAS asleep.
and | just laid him on the porch, and
knocked on the door. Then | hid be
hind cedar tree and when a tall gentle
man opened the door and took him III, |
thought it was father, of course
"Oh, Leno1," sobbed the woman.
AS you had written them you were
coming, | thought of course they would
know it was one of my foolish jokes, >
added Lenox. penitently.
But my baby-my baby cried the
mother, hystericaly.
| Now look here. ma am, don't YOU
take on so," urged Mrs. Flint. sympa-
thizingly. Come right into the stlin'
room and warns yourself, and I'll find
out what's become o that baby" And
leading the way, she stirred up the fire
and slipped quietly upstairs
In the meantime, baby had walked up
and displayed an alarming tendency to
cry.
Mr.. Polypod was trotting it persever-
ingly on his knee, and dangling his gold
watch and chain before it's blinking eyes:
when suddenly he was startled 10y a
sharp knock on the door.
! Thunder" he gasped, starting up as
if he had been shot through the back.
Mr.. Polypod," cried shriIi voice
and Cyrus felt that his doom had come,
and that the sword was about to fall.
What-who is i.?" he gasped. family
why. it's me, of course. | want tc
speak to YOU" was the sharp reply.
but I'm in bed, - tibbed the doom
ed man, desperately.
"S'pose you air. Can't you get up and
dress?'
"I-Tn sick-I don't feel well. That
the truth, anyhow" he muttered to him
self, "for l never felt worse in my life. .
"Sick? Nonsense.' declared the house
keeper, energetically rafting away at
the door-knob. "Iou amt no sicker' l
l be. If you'd a;lost your baby, now
you might talk
"Baby-' stammered the guilty man
"Bu. II havn't got any baby
"Well, who said you had? OF course
an old bachelor like you wouldn't he,
one," snapped the widow, losing all pa
tience. "There's a.
Before she could utter another word
a cry-the loud, long, unmistakable or,
of chld-smote her ears, coming Iii
rectly from Mr.. Polypod's room.
"Sakes alive. he has got it. sur,
enough" cried the housekeeper.
Suddenly the door opened, and Mr.
Polypod appeared, with very red face
holding the baby in his arms.
"I-found it on the doorstep" he ex
planned sheepishly, land if you'll opl,
take it, and do something with it, II
| Ill
Found it on the doorstep? Who'll
believe that? Humph, give it to me,
cried the widow, striving to hide he
amusement.
With the words sIic took the baby anC
tripped down stairs with it. Cyrus wa
now desperate.
How on earth did she find out abou
it ?" he said to himself. And what i
she going to do with it, | wonder?' Art
he followed her
The happy mother was hugging he
restored treasure to her breast, the chest
nnt-gold of her hair locking scarcely les.
bright than baby's.
Mr.. Pelypod gazed, transtixed Will
astonishment.
Was he dreaming? o. was that
: could it be--she? He pincned hmsel
to see if he was awake. Then, as TIL
golden head was lifted, and lie caught
glimpse Of the fair face, he started for
ward.
Leah" he said. Leah
The blue eyes were raised to his wit!
a startled look, then dropped shy!y uEde
the golden lashes.
"Yes, Leah" she answered, he
checks growing pink as 4 mountain daisy
"Ieah GRANGER. but a widow now: ant
this" turning to Lenox, is my 5rothe l
nlaw, Mr.. Granger
Mr. Polypod insisted upon keeping hi
guests over night; and in the mornin!
drove them himself over to "Turke
Bottom"
"Sakes alive" cried Grandma Gran
ger. "And SO you didn't get our lette
atellin' you we was a goin' to move owe
here? And to think of Lenox a-playin
off sech Il prank rs that. He'd ought t
hev had his ears boxed good
"Well, you see," explained Lenox
"Leah was determined to come las
night, as she tholght you would be ez
pecting her. 1t was nine O'Clock wheI
we got to the station, and there was H.
conveyance to be had, SO we had to foo
it, or stay on the platform all night; for
as you know, there isn't a single hablta
tion there. Well, we reached the creek
but Leah could not walk the plank, aus
|, could not we'll carry Leah and the bab