The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-05-31
THE wEATHERBY awAvE.n

tfng-a-fing-a-ffng. rang the doOr-bcff
at Captain Weatherby's.
The Captain and his wife were sit
ting in front of the coal fire in the back
parlor, waiting till it should be safe to
leave, and seeing many queerthings in
the glowing ashes. The ''help"--they
do not keep servants bad 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 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 aling!
1t was really quite ghostly; Mrs.
Weatherby said: mercy me, who
is there, do you suppose sand the Cap
tain replied: Like as not it's telly-
gram,
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 n soul was visible.
The soft, light flakes of the last snow of
the season drifted into his face, and fell
cold and wet on his checks. Mrs.
Weatherby was close behind him, and
exclaimed:
'.Mercy me, II was nobody!''
Not even the cat" said her hus-
band. ''Old Prim can do sight of
mischief, but she can't ring door-bells.
Itwas some pesky boy, suppose, who
thought he'd play smart and then run
for it,
whats that on the door step?"
asked Mrs. Wcatherby. suddenly.
''It's drift" said the Captain. Il
tell You what, Mary, there'll be nor
easter tonight, nor east by nor, with
wind that'll make the sails rattle. It's
gettin' up now," and he drew in his
uncovered 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.n
The Captain peered out again.
Its right you are. my hearty. Sure
rs you live lisa basket" and he
touched it with his foot.
80, it's the groceries for tomorrow:
that careless boy forgot them. No
wonder he ran away when he rang the
bell! Fetch 'em in, Silas, and leave
them in the back parlor tonight.
Hannah will see them first thing in the
morning.
'Better take them into the caboose-
Imcan the Kitchen" said the Captain.
'sNo; it's locked up. Put 'em on
that chair by the door. Ugh! I'm
shiverin' with the cold air." and the
good woman sat down in front of the
comfortable Goals again.
We've heap to be thankful for,
Mary" said the Captain, thoughtfully.
''Y-e-s. 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 a queer little wailing
cry rang through the room. The two
started and looked at each other.
''Sakes alive. What was it?n asked
Mrs Weatherby.
lit came out of that basket" said
the Captain; shat fool of boy has
slowed hand in the fo'castle i mean
Kitten and he stalked over to it and
jcrkcd OF the cover.
"By the great horn spoon!" he ex-
claimed, as he jumped back about four
feet; ''it's a baby"
"Mercy me!'' said lis wife; where
did it come from?'
..From the skies, should say; that's
what the bell rang for. Well, l must
say this Is an imposition
Mrs. Weatherby was looking curl
ously into the basket: all she saw was
rags, two bright, smiling eyes, and a
little round head covered with dark
hair-a wee bit baby, deserted and
alone.
''l'll go for the police" said the Capt
ain, angrily; ''shiyer my timbers if I'm
going to have people starving their ba-
bies on my doorstep when there's places
provided for them as are destitute, The
police will make short work of it,
Mary"
'sfhey won't kill it. win theyPn
asked Mrs. Weatherby, in Mortified
tone.
well. no. wife,; that's against the
law. But they'll take it where such
waves Che meant waifs) belong. II
You amt afraid to stay alone III ruin
on. 10 the next corner end fetch one, "