Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-04-10
The Weatherby "Wave."
BY MRS. n. L. RAYNE.

Ting ga-ling-a-ling, rang the door-bell
at Captain Weatherby's.
The captain and his wife were sitting
in front of the coal fire in the back
parlor, waiting till it should be safe to
leave, and seeing many queer things in
the glowing ashes. The "help they
do not keep servants-had gone to bed
and the house was shut up for the night.
No one was expected, and it was too late
for callers so there was a mutual start
of alarm on the part of the pair when the
front door-bell rang in that sudden way.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling a-ling-ing- lingl
It was really quite ghostly; Mrs.
Weatherby said: "Mercy me, who is
there, do you suppose7n and the captain
replied: "Like as not it's Telegram.
Then he went to the door. The wire
of that indignant bell was still vibrating
and the tongue itself had just stopped
wagging and yet when the captain
opened the door not soul was visible.
The soft, light flakes of the last snow of
she season drifted into his face, and fell
cold and wet on his cheeks. Mrs.
Weatherby was close behind him. and ex-
claimed:
Mercy mel 1t was nobodyw
Not even the cat, " said her husband.
"Old Prim can do a sight of mischief,
but she can'tring door bells. 1t was some
pesky boy, suppose, who thought he'd
play smart and then run for it."
whats that on the door-step2n asked
Mrs. Weatherby, suddenly.
It's drift" said the captain. II
tell you what, Mary, there'H be a nor
easter tonight, nor'east by nor, with
wind that'll make the sails rattle. It's
getting up now" and he drew in his un-
covered head, and was about TO shut the
hall door.
'There is something there, silas, " said
his wife, fright on the top step. Looks
like bundle
Inc captain peered out again.
'It's right you are, my hearty Sure
as you live its basket, and he touched
it with his foot.
"Oh, it's the groceries for tomorrow;
that careless boy forgot them No won
der he ran away when he rang the bell
Fetch 'em in, Silas, and leave them in
the back parlor to night"
'Better take them into the caboose-I
mean the kitchen, said the captain
mo; it's locked up. Put 'em on that
chair by the door. Ughl I'm shiverin'
with the cold air, " and the good woman
sat down in front of the comfortable Goals
again.
We've a heap to be thankful for,
Mary" said the captain, thoughtfully.
Eyes, l s'pose so" sighed his wife;
she was thinking just then of two little
graves at Marblehead They had been
made nigh ON TO twenty years ago, and
the vacancy in her heart and life had
never been filed
At that moment queer little wall
ing cry rang through the room. The two
started and looked at each other.
'Sakes alivel What was it ~ asked
Mrs. Weatherby.
at came out of that basket, said the
captain; "that fool of boy has slowed
a hand in the fo'castle-I mean kitten, J,
and he stalked over to it and jerked off
the cover.
E'By the great horn spoon" he ex-
claimed as he jumped back about four
feet; tits baby"
'Mercy me' said his wife; ''where
did it come from ~
''From the skies, | should say; that's
what the bell rang for. Well, / must
say this is an imposition.
Mrs. Weatherby was looking curiously
into the basket; all she saw was rags, two
bright, smiling eyes, and little round
head covered with dark hair-a wee bit
baby, deserted and alone.
''I'll go for the police, /" said the cap
tain, angrily; "shiver my timbers if I'm
going to have people starving their
babies on my doorsteps when there's
places provided for them as are destitute
The police will make short work of it,
Mary