The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-01-16

.Master'n never know 'ow to quiet that
child. so I'll run up and bring her down
a bit;' and / stops to change my apron,
and [ ups, as it might be here, and the
cradle, as it night be there, and no
sound, and the cradle as empty as it is
this minute.
Cook turned dramatically and pointed
one stout arm to the little cradle in the
sunlight. Mrs Nicholson's fearful eyes
followed the hand, and her husband
stood uneasily in the center of the
group, with an anxious froWn upon his
face
(Which" added cook, scornfully. Il
think a baby-and such one, bless
her!-is of more vally than all this rub
bishr' She waved her hand over the
table, on which lay the neat manuscript
and the rows of mended pens, and Mr..
Nicholson moved instinctiyely step
backward, as if she had an evil eve and
his writings would shriyel up at her
scornful gesture.
Cook" said Mrs Nicholson, with
dignity, marred little by the culver
in her voice, ''you don't understand
Your master is very clever, and his
writings are of great value. OF course,
"with pleading look upward, "baby
is our first thought just now. There are
no wild beasts here, so she can not be
eaten. But she has gone, and before
Emmy comes this evening she must be
found"
"Of course she must" said her hus-
band, plucking up courage from her
exceeding gentleness. 1--WE will be-
gin Systematically, and go through
every room in the house."
So the search began that ended an
hour later, in the great hall, with three
perplexed faces meeting each other at
the foot of the stairs, in silence that
Mrs. Nicholson broke.
"It's no use, John; lean not bear it
any longer. She is lost"
She flung out her empty hands with
despairing gesture, but her husband
caught and held them.
Don't give up, Agatha; it will all
come right. If | search the world
through, will find her.'
"Or the body" said cook.
Mrs. Nicholson shuddered.
The minutes silence was broken by
q sound of merry laughter and the
trampling of feet For minute Agatha
raised her head, listened intently, and
then she dropped it with a sigh.
sit is only the rcctory boys, john
she said; "they have been in the hay
field all day, and / asked them to tea
l can't speak to them, I am so anx.
ious."
She would have moved away, but the
noise and laughter were in the hall al.
ready, and the boys were stumbling up
toward her in the darkness, over the
rugs and skins. Something white was
being showed from one to the other, and
was pushed into Agatha's arms at last,
and held there by a pair of rough, sun
burned hands.
"What is it? Oh, Jack, what is itP''
she cried, bending down and kissing,
to their owners great surprise, the
boys rough hands.
'Don't, [ say" said Jack, drawing
them away with a curious, shamefaced
look. Its only the baby, Mrs. Mich
olson. She was crying in the cradle,
so [ just got into the room and bagged
her. She's been playing in the hay;
she nearly got jabbed with a rake, but
Jim got it instead. She's q jolly little
thing. Did you miss her?"
Eyes, thought she was lost" said
Agatha, gently.
LOST" with roar of laughter.
"Well, that is good! May we WASH our
hands for tea? I'm not 80 dirty, been
holding her; but Jim's simply mud all
over. Here, have you got her? it's so
dark can't see"
The turbulent tide swept away into
the dim distance of stairs and passages,
leaving little group in the twilight OF
the hall; a tall, dark figure, against
which golden head was leaning, and
two arms with white bundle folded in
them.
kiss her, john" came g soft voice
from out of the darkness. 81 know you
would rather not; she's only baby, not
star; but just as punishment, be-
cause you were so stupid"
The tall figure stopped and laid a
dark mustache against the little bundle.
''She's very soft, said another voice;
81 don't think l ever knew so much
about baby before"
There was, after moments silence,
a movement on the mans part, as
though he were drawing himself up to
his full height, with a view to reassert-
ing his dignity. He cleared his throat.
'After all, Agatha he said, stiffiy,
81 did not lose the baby"
81 never said you did" said Agatha;
II only asked you, and you couldn' re-
member.
another time" with an evident eff
fort, II suppose | shall be condemned
unheard."
another time!" scornfully. "You
may set your mind at rest. Neither ]
nor Emmy is in the least likely to trust
you again, at least not with anything OF
, value"
"Then how about the baby?' with a
laugh.
''That," said Agatha, firmly, Gin
| IL, IL H. l., L Y