Morris tribune., 1883-07-07

do you think 1 look like man for any
woman TO fall in love with2" he asked.
could not conscientiously say that he
did. But il you" began. hesitatingly.
l had read or heard it somewhere that any
man not absolutely deformed might win q
woman II he wished, and wanted to put it
as politely as possible.
| hat but was over long ago for me-
he interrupted. "That is why wanted
| the baby.
And that's all we have ever learned, then
or later, of his past.
| We might tend the little child in his alb
sence and he was grateful for it; but once he
reached home, he seemed to prefer that she
should be left entirely to his care. 1t was
q curious mixture of the pathetic and ridic-
| ulous, to see the methodical little man
promenading up and dow before the wood
yard with his treasure, when the early
spring evenings began to lengthen out, to
give it the benefit of the fresh air, and the
saell of the pine boards, which it was one
OF the articles of our creed to believe had
genuine country fragrance.
she always reminds me of the old para
bic OF the poor man and his one eve lamb,
WIN once remarked, looking after him as he
tutionals.
"Don't you think it's time she had
manner what are you going TO call herl-
he asked. as Mr.. Jay suspended his pilgrim
age moment to tell us OF another tooth
that was shortly to make its appearance. 1t
was profound mystery to me in those
days-it is still, for that MATERNITY babies
are not sent into the world ready furnished
IN that particular. So many of this ones
grievances seemed to be connected with
the getting them.
Mr.. Jay rested his arm on the window
ledge and looked down at Wills cushion.
Theodore" he said briefly.
''Theodora," echoed VIII, est sounds
quite impressive. Is it after any one you
know"
NO" he answered slowly, and little
unwillingly; it wasbecause-it means some.
thing, you know"
A little silence fell upon Us, and he went
back to the neighborhood of the pine
boards.
Il rather think, +" observed Will meaita-
lively, after long pause. that, Jay was
originally intended for q great man-it
comes out in strange things occasionally,
but unfortunately he has not the slightest
capacity for either looking or expressing
the character
Early the next morning Gt was Saturday,
MIR. Jay came in. There was something
wrong with the baby, he thought-would ]
come and look at herr She was lying in
her basket flushed and heated, and when
Mr.. Jay had reluctantly gone away to btisi-
ness put blanket over it end carried
the whole concern back with me. The
morning vote on and brought no change,
aad at noon We sent for DR.. Ford. His
face grew serious as he listened to her
breathing.
Keep her in one room and have plenty
of steam and hot water about; there are
symptoms of Group"
Our hearts failed within us at the word.
Group was a fell destroyer we had heard
of and read about in books, but we had not
counted uron finding it ut our own gates.
Mr.. Ford gave us some flu rther directions
and went, promising to look in again in the
course of an hour or two,
Twill, what are we to say to Mr.. Jay?"
l cried, as the door closes upon linn.
1T Will be a case Of doing. not saying, I
fancy" he returned; though she may be
all right by thsn-chlldren of.eil are."
But she was net. Mr.. Jay came in with
the doctor shout 5, and there was no need
TO tell him; he saw it for himself. DR..
Ford stayed little while, then he told us
he could do nothing further-it depended
on the child's strengthened he left US to
our vigil. Is was the first time we had seen
baby suffer. Hour after hour the old
church clock down the street tolled out the
long night, while we watched the fiuttering
little life that had been so bright and vigor-
GUS only yesterdsy-only yesterday, and it
seemed almost lifetime. The fair spring
morning was breaking across the houses,
when at last the hoarse breathing grew soft,
and the tired babys limbs relaxed into
quiet sleep. Willis eyes were srspicioilsly
bright, ard my tsaa5 fell like rain in the
blessed sSlief. Only Mr.. Jay stood over
her without one word and yet think we
both felt that his silence was deeper than
our tears.
Theodore seemed the right name for her
afterward; we never gave her any other.
That summer was very happy one to
him. The blOssoming- time, we used to say,
of little Mr.. Jaws life: his treasure flourish
ed like rose in June. She was beginning
to recognize him now, and creeps across
the floor after him, baby fashion Mid
summer day she had her first pair of blue
shoes; Mr.. Jay brought them back with him
that evening and proudly fitted them on.
Will laughed at their unserviceeble appear
ance.
She will cost you small fortune in shoes
alone, Jay, if you are going to keep her in
that sort of thing"
Mr.. Jay lifted his radiant face from the
contemplation of them.
''Ah, if you had only your own to buy
for as long as have you would understand
the difference of those"
All right; only there is such an institu-
ton as the workhouse. She ought to be
running to meet you in them in few more
months"
Mr.. Jay looked down at the tiny feet in
his hand.
81 don't know; If could I would keep
her always just as she now is-my little
Theodore,
Yet there were not many days that he did
not bring some remarkable article that
would be of little use till she had reached
far more advanced age; the extraordinary
toys and 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, al
ways in such close juxtaposition- is a
good many summers now, but it comes
back as freshly as yesterday.
The first little cloud came with the short
enlng days. 1t was an advertisement In
one of the morning papers, that Will sud
denly read out one day at breakfast:
Information is earnestly requested of
the whereabouts of Jane Dawson, late of 81
Chamber street, last seen on the even.
Tag Of the 10th Of October, having in charge
young baby I'VE months old"
A description of her dress and appearance
followed.
He dropped the paper. and we looked at
each other in sore dismay.
"Oh, Will, l hope Mr.. Jay BIAS not seen
that" broke out.
Jane Dawson's friends should have |
looked for her sooner If they wanted her SO |
earnestly" was his comment Its late in |
the day to begin now. We are not obliged |
to help them at any rate"
And with reprehensible want of principle |
we put the paper in the fire and preserved
discreet silence about it.
Two days later, sitting by the open win.
dow, we saw policeman come down the
street and knock at Mr.. jays door. Will
put his head out.
There is no one there; what is it?"
The man leisurely descended the two
steps and took a positisn whence he could
survey our interior.