The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-16
CHAPTER III.

shadow.
CHAPTER H.
It might have been two hours after
ward-painful after events created a
confusion in Mr.. Nicholson's mind, and
the two hours might have been two
days-when he became aware of a
laugh in the passage by the door. His
hand had grown tired with writing. but
the pen travelled steadily on; his eyes
had grown little tired; and it was Il
relief to raise them fer minute to the
locked door, behind which he heard the
laugh, He rose, with a half smile on
his grave face, and paused, struck by a
sudden presentimcut. Something came
back to him, as he stood in the dull
light of the dull room: was it a dream
or a memory, or was 1.-THE baby? He
pushed his papers hurr;edly away and
walked over to the door and unlocked
it, throwing it wide open. There was
nothing in the passage but the yellow
sunlight now upon the walls and on the
old prints, and Mrs. Nicholson standing
in her pretty gray dress. with her slim
hands stretched out and TIE laugh that
had disturbed him still upon her lips.
In the room beyond there was more
sunlight and the cradle.
John" cried Mrs. Nicholson, laugh
ing again as if she could not help it.
s.what have you done with here Give
her to me. You arc earning your title
to the best of husbands
He looked up in quick perplexity.
what is it, Agatha? What do you
want? have nothing to give you"
s1Oh don't. joint" she cried, i'm
patiently: don't tease! 1 want baby"
"Well"-thc same perplexed look
creeping over his face, and softening its
sternneSs take her." stretching out
his hand to the cradle in the sunlight
Agatha's eyes were turned on him for
minute with look of contempt be-
fore which he positively quailed. Then
she swept over to the cradle and tossed
ont the little pillow, and the sheets with
their lace edges. and the pale-blue satin
coverlet on the floor in soft heap, and
stood looking down upon the empty
pink face and the flaXen head into their
accustomed place.
Mr.. Nicholson had followed her on
tip-toe and was stirring the softly shin
ing heap on the floor with his patent
leather shoes, as if he half imagined
that she had tossed the baby out among
them.
"Well?" said Agatha, sharply.
'.Well?" he echoed, feebly.
..Do you mean to say" she said.
putting aside her angry vehemcnce and
speaking tearfully, with her gray eyes
turned up to his-.'Oh. John, do you
mean to say that you have lost her?''
81 have never touched her." he cried,
hastily, Il never" heard her, he
would have added. but again that faint
memory that dream - stirred him.
Upon my honor, Agatha" he said,
abruptly, leaning down into the cradle.
and poking at the mattress with his thin
fingers, upon my honor can't re-
member"
..You can't remember said Agatha,
with slow scorn. why, John she
roared! Cook heard her in the kitchen.
She came rushing up, and found the
cradle empty and baby gone. She
thought you had taken her into the
study; she told me so; but oh, John, it
was somebody else, and they have stolen
her."
MY dear" he said, shaking himself
together, and speaking more lightly,
"who would steal her?-a baby roaring,
as you say!' He shuddered. why,
surely no one in his senses would do
such a thingr'
"Emmy's baby!" cried Agatha, tear
fully, land that is how you speak of
heri 0 John, dear John, think again:
didn't you hear her? Perhaps you have
forgotten-perhaps you have put her
somewhere, and she has gone to sleep.
Sit down, John, and think-perhaps you
have put her somewhere and forgot
teu."
Mr.. Nicholson sat down on the win
dow sill and covered his face with his
hands. He tried to think, but when
ever he concentrated his mind on the
baby he was dimly conscious of that
fading fancy that he could not grasp
that dream of a cry. 1t had s.
turbed him. he remembered, that loud.
painful, jarring cry. but it had died
away; surely it had died into peace
without his interference? Agatha" he
said. lifting up his face, sharpened with
the effect of thought, Il do remember
somebody crying; it must
have been the babe"
..Yes," said Agatha, eagerly, Ego on!
You heard her! That is right. Cook says
yon must have heard her, she roared so.
Well, and then? You -"
al can't remember, Agatha. /
may have gone on writing; that seems
the most likely, think; but may have
gone to the door. No" shaking his
head. 81 can't get beyond the cry. l
do remember that now distinctly"
Perhaps, said Agatha, hopefully.
through her tears, you have put her
in the library. What have
you been doing or using this after
noon?"
MIR. Nicholson followed humbly as
she swept in before him, and flung open
the great curtains, so that the light
rushed i'm On to his table strewed with
plans and manuscript. Even then he
spread out his hands, almost uncon-
sciously, to defend his precious papers
from her light scornful touch; but she
stood in the center of the room, looking
into every corner with her quick, soft
eyes.
ssWhat hare vou usad Johu-fhiS