The Dillon tribune., 1885-06-06

itself airs and decline stopping more 'nan
twice in a hundred miles. Near Reading tne
speed s!ackenetl. The gentleman with the
book breathed an inward prayer that ne
might not be disturbed He did not notice
that, as the train drew up at the PLATFORM,
the woman half rose from her seat. as II her
journey was at an end; then. after q mo-
nent's hesitation, reseated herself IN her
former attitude. The travellers were nos
disturbed. The train shot On once more.
still the gentleman read his hook-st!I ih'
silent woman held the sleeping child
In less than halt an how p'dcot "s'
reached. The woman, after qu,c> glance
to assure herself that the reader '1s intent
upon his book, pressed her lips upon the
childs golden head, and kept them ther"
until the train stopped For minute ''
two she remained motionless then, lav1l.
the child on the seat, rose quickly and opened
the carriage door, The reader looked up a.
tho cold, damp air rushed into the hrated
compartment.
"You have no time to get ''ur," h~ said
1--WE are Off in a minute
II she heard the well-,neant caution she
paid no heed to it. She made no reply, but,
stepping on to the platform, closed the car
riage door behind her The young man
shrugged his shoulders, and re>n,ed his in
ter,upted paragraph. 1t was NJ business OF
bis if stupid woman chose to risk missing
the train.
Although, two minutes afterwards, when
he founl the train in rapid motion, and him
self and the sleeping child the only tenants OF
the compartment he saw thit. after all. lie
was primarily concerned in the matter. In
spite of his warning tho mother had been left
behind and he was in the unenviabe position
of having Il child thrown upon his haills until
the next stoppage.
Although he was q bachelor and one who
knew nothing Of the ways Of children. he
scarcely felt justified in pulling the elner
ge,lcy cord. Swindon would be reached in
less than an hour-t:iere b" would be re-
lievetl. S., h. could do no more than an
etherlatize the careless mother. and pray that
the child's slumbers might be unbroken
Whatever effect the ohjurgation may have
had, he soon saw that his prayer was not to
be granted. The child. no doubt missing its
protectors embrace, opened its eyes and be-
gan to struggle. 1t would have rolled OFT the
seat had not its enforced guardian, who was
a good-neturel, kinL-hearted young fellow.
picked it up and transferred it to his knea.
He meant we'll, although he did not ,lnndle
Y u
courS' Of painful experiences before ko learns
how to dandle a child properly. Our friend
did his best, but so clunsily that the wooden
shawl fell from tho child, and disclosed
large ticket sewn on to the dress beneath. o.:
it was written, III. Talbsrt, Esq, Hazlewom
Ho.Se, Oaktury. near Blacktown' The
young man applauded the good sense which
had provided for u contingency which had
70 hos $1.n} t,,
do the best he could towards supplying the
place Of the missing woman until the stoppage
at Swindon might bring deliverance
Swindon av last. Here the il.-,,sel traveller
called the guard, and, as that official is of
course paid to undertake all sorts of delicate
and unforeseen duties, with perfect fairness
shifted all further responsibility Oh to his
shoulders, resumed the perusal Of his book
and troubled no more about the matter.
The guard, without disputing his position
of guardian to all unprotected travellers,
hardly knew what to do in the present ener-
gency. The hope that the foolish mother had
managed to get into another carriage was
dispelled by her not making her appearance.
He was also puzzled by the careful way in
which the child was labeled. This guard had
seen some curious things in his time, and, as
the missing woman had left not scrap of
luggage behind thought it not improbable
that the desertion Of the child was due to in
tention, not accident At first he thought of
leaving the tiny derelict ut Swindon, on the
chance that the mother would arrive by tho
next train from Dilcot. But the more he
Thought the matter over the more convinced
he f%lt that no mother would arrive by the
ncSt or any following, train. Rein. himself
family man, and feeling most kindly disposed
towards the little golden head which nestled
III the most "o,lii'l!ns way against his great
brown beard, he decided to take the child on
to s'!arGtown. and thence forward it as ad-
dressed, He pulled couple of cushions out
OF tir>t-class carriage. put them in one
corner ct his van, and tucked ND littl. Golden
head as sl,ugly as any mother could have
done: :" snugly AMI comfortably that the
child at once closed its blue eyes and slept un-
til the train reached Blacktown
There the guard carried the little fellow
INFO the rstre>l.nent room, and leaving him
in charge Of the pleasant young ladies, went
to look for sober Yet speculative man who
would take the child to Oakbury Oh the
chance of Icing paid for his trouble He even
gave this man half crown-to be re,,aid out
vi his prospective reward-for cab hire.
Then, after another look at the little waif.
who was drinking milk. munchns biscuit.
and being made Very .in!ch of by the refresh
nent room y"dng ladies. our guard rushed
back t" his somewhat neglected duties, and
was Scon spinning down West ut tue rate Of
thirty five ,ni,cs an hour
CHAPTER II.
\ FAMILY OF POSITION
BE It remembered that Oakbury is not
RlacktHwn. Many 0, its inhabitants ar,
greatly annoyed when they hear it called q
suburb OF Blacktown. Oakburv is near the
large city, hat not OF it. Although the fact
cannot m ignored that the existence of the
many charming country houses which adorn