Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-03-27
A i" Wave" T"


AAbR Aelh NaO oSOh 49, ~ |
Captain Wstherby's
The captain and wis wife were sit |
ting In front Of the coal fire in the back
parlor, waiting till il should be safe u
leave, and seeing many queer things
in the glowing ashes, The "help"-i
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
O 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-ling-lingl
1t was really quite ghostly; Mrs.
Weatherby said, Mercy me, who is
there, do you suppose?' and the cap
tain replied: Like as not it's tele-
gram
Then he went to the door. The
wire of that indignant bell was still
vibrating ami the tongue itself had
Just stopped wagging, and yet when
the captain opened the door not a soul
was visible. The soft, light flakes OF
the last snow of the season drifted in
to his face, and fell cold and wet on
his cheeks Mrs. Weatherby was
close behind him. and exclaimed:
Mercy me! 1t was nobody'
Not even the cat said her hus.
band. Old Prim can do sight of
mischief. but she can't ring door bells.
1t was some pesky ooy, suppose, who
thought he'd play smart and run for
it.
whats that on the door step?"
asked Mrs. W eatherby suddenly.
Its a 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 rat
tie. It's getting 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 step. Looks
like a bundle.
The captain peered out again.
Its right you are, my hearty.
Sure as you live it's basket, and
he tobched it with his foot.
oh, it's the groceries for to-mor-
row; that carless 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 morningp
Better take them into the caboose-
I mean the kitchen, said the captain.
No; it's locked up Put 'em on
that chair by the door. Ughl I'm
shlveriu' 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 es, s'pose SO, sighed his wife;
she was thinking just then of two lit
tie graves at Marblehead. They had
been made nigh onto twenty years
ago, and the vacancy in her heart and
life had never been filed.
At chat moment queer little wall,
ing cry rang through the room. The
two started and looked at each other
.Sakes alive! What was it? asked
Mrs. Weatherby.
1T came out of that basket, said the
captain; that fool of a boy has slowed
hand in the fo'castle-I mean kit
ten and he stalked over to it and
jerked off the cover.
BY the great horn spoon! he ex-
claimed as he jumped back about four
feet; 'It's baby.
Mercy mel said his wife; where
did it come from?'
From the skies, l should say; that's
what the bell rang for. Well, insult
say this is an imposition.
Mrs. Weatherby was looking curl
ously into the basket; all she saw was
rags, two bright, smiling eyes, and
little round head covered with dark
hair-a wee bit of baby, deserted and
alone.
Ill 90 for the police, said the cap
tain, angrily; 'spiver my timbers il
I'm going to have people starving thei1
babies on my doorsteps when there's
places provided for them as are desti
tute. The police will make short wol /
of it, Mary
They won't kill it, will they?' asked
Mrs. Weatherby in a horriied tone.
We'll, no, wife; that is agai nst th'
law. But they'll take it where sucf
waves (he meant waifs) belong. |
YOU amt afraid to stay alone III
run out to the next corner and fetcl
one.'
When the captain returned with th'
policeman he had to stop to explain
the exact spot where they found th'
basket, how the bell had rung, etc.
and so it was half hour or more be-
fore they got back into the parlor
There Mrs. Weatherby sat with th'
object rolled up in table cloth, lying
in her lap and basking contentedly in
the rays Of the fire.
Here we are, said the captain in 1
brisk tone. Now, Mr.. Policeman, yo'
can take the youngster off in the baske
it come in, can't your
It's nice boy, said the policeman
looking down on the tiny head bask
A. Grol;~b+