The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-03
THE WEATHERBY "WAyE."

Ting-a-ling-a-ling, rang the door-bell
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 queer things 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
Tor 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 a-ling!
1t was really quite ghostly; Mrs.
Weatherby said: mercy me. who
is there, do you suppose ''and tls 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 a 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 cheeks. Mrs
Weatherby was close behind him, and
exclaimed:
"Mercy me! 1t was nobodyr'
''Not even the cat" said her hus-
band. "Old Prim can do a sight of
mischief, but she can't ring door-bells.
1t was some pesky boy, suppose, who
Thought he'd play smart and then run
for it
Whats that on the door-st3psn
asked Mrs. Weatherby, suddenly.
''It's drift" said the Captain. Il
tell you what, Mary, there'll be a nor
easter tonight, nor east by nor, with
wind that'll make the sails rFttla. 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"
The Captain peered out again.
''It's right you are, my hearty. Sure
as you live it's a basket" and he
touched it with his foot
30, 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-
mean the Kitchen" said the Captain.
.'No; it's locked up. Put EN- 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.
Eyes, 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 filled.
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?" asked
Mrs. Weatherby.
at came out of that basket" said
the Captain; that fool of a boy has
slowed hand in the castle-I mean
a kitten" 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; tits baby"
mercy mer' said lis wife; "where
did it come from?'
From the skies, l 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.
III 90 for the police" said the Capt
ain, angrily; "shiver my timbers if L 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. H.
''They won't kill it, will they?"
asked Mrs. Weatherby, in a horriied
tone.
'.Well, no. wife; that's against the
law. But they'll take it where such
waves Che meant waifs) belong. If
Won amt afraid 10 stay alone I'll run
ont TO the next corner and fetch one.
When the Captain returned with the
policeman he had to stop to explain the
exact spot where they found the basket,
how the bell had rung. ETC., and so it
was half-hour or more before they got
into the back parlor. There Mrs.
Weatherby sat with the object rolled up
in a table cloth, lying in her lap and
baskinc contentedly in the RAYS of the
fire.
Here we are" said the Captain. in
q brisk tone. Now. Mr.. Policeman,
you can take the youngster off in the
basket it come in, can't you?"
''It's a nice boy" said the police,
man, looking down ON the tiny head