The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-13
dated condition; so her conducts doubly bad.


why one stocking of either pair should wear
out before its fellow, and many other fanciful
combinations were forming themselves in his
subtle brain, when the interest in the mended
or unmended stockings was extinguished by
looking man-servant. He informed his mas
tiers that the man had brought the child.
What mani What childF asked Horace.
500 you expect a man or child HerbertT
Certainly not. What do you mean, Whit
takerf'
"A railway man has brought child, sir.
He says it is to be left here"
"There must be some stupid mistake"
"No doubt, sir,n said Whitaker, respect
fully, but showing that his opinion quite coin
cided with his masters"
"Where is the manf' asked Horace.
"In the hall, SIR"
"Did he wipe his shoesT" asked Herbert, tn
dread.
Certainly, sir; Il insisted upon his doing So"
eve had better see the stupid man and set
the matter right" said Horace. Excuse us
| for moment, Mr.. Mordle."
The two tall men walked into the hall, leav-
ing Mr.. Mordle to chuckle at his ease. Halle
wood House was certainly most interesting
tulS tNeullS. ~ Ndo iuChy III Ouo
curate that he INDUCED in his merrment
with his face turned from the door, as in a
minute the respectable Whitaker entered
the room. That functionary was most ten
acious that due respect should be shown to
his masters. Most probably the look Of
vivid amusement on Mr. Mordle's features
would, had he seen it, have made an enemy
for life of the faithful Whitaker.
1
glad if you would step out for moment, sir"
Thereupon Mr.. Mordle went into the hall
and saw a most comical sight-the solemnity
of the actors concerned not being the least
comical part Of it. Standing sheepishly on
the door mat, " rather on one of the legion
of door mats, was a stolid-faced porter in his
uniform of brown fustian, velveteen, or
whatever they call the stuff On either side
of the massive, oblong hall-table stood one 81
the Talberts, while between them, ON the
table itself, was child with a mass of tum-
bled, floSsy, golden hair streaming down from
under a natty little cap. Horace and Her
bert, each armed with his horn-rimmed eye
glass, and with looks of utter CONSERVATION
and bewilderment upon their faces, were
bending down and inspecting the child.
To Mr.. Mordle's imaginative mind, the
group suggested a picture he had once seen
of the Brobdignagians taking stock of Gull
liver; nor could the picture have been in any
way spoiled when he himself, tall man,
went to one end of the table, while Whit
taker, another tall man, stood at becoming
distance from the other end, and joined in
the scrutiny of the diminutive stranger
This is most extraordinary thingw
said Horace. 1.-The child is sent by rail
addressed here"
Mr. Mordle read the ticket: "H. Talbert,
Esq, Hazlewood House, Oakbury, near Black
town"
Where did you say it came fromp asked
Herbert, turning to the stolld-faced porter.
'Let us hear all about it again."
Guard of five o'clock down, gentlemen he
says child was left in first-class carriage.
Mother got out at Didcot, and missed the
train OF didn't come back. Guard told me to
get cab and bring the child here. Said I'd be
paid well for my trouble. Cab was three and
six, gentlemen"
"There must be some mistake. What are
we to do!" asked the brothers.
"Don't expect any visitors, l suppose"
asked the curate.
None whatever. You must take the child
away again." said Horace, turning to the por-
ter. The man gaped.
"What am l to do with it, sir?" he asked.
Lost parcels Office" suggested Mr.. Mordle
quietly Whitaker gave him reproachful
look The matter was too serious a one for jest.
"Cut the label off, )" was the curate's next
piece of advice. There may be letter under
it."
They took it off, The label was a piece Of
writing paper gummed on to a plain card
which had been torn or cut irregularly. No
letter was concealed beneath it. Then they
searched the pockets of the child's little coat,
but found nothing Their perplexity in
creased.
'Ill wish you good evening, gentlemen"
said the porter. Cab was three and SIX"
The ''Tabbies" were on the horns of diem
ma. The eyes which could detect the discrep-
ancy in the unfortunate Mrs. jenkins stock
ings were able to see that the baby was
well, even very well, clad. 1t was just posi-
BILE that letter had miscarried-possiblet that
some one was coming to Hazlewood House
without invitation or notice-that she had
really missed the train at Didcot that she
would arrive in the course of an hour or two
and explain matters. The safest plan was TO
keep the child for a while.
Having settled this, Horace fshed five
shillings out Of his pocket and sent the porter
away happy. Thereupon Herbert produced
half crown which he handed to his brother,
who pocketed it without comment and as
matter of course. They were not miserly
men, but made point Of being Just and ex-
act in their dealings with one another down
to the uttermost farthing. Much annoyance
would he saved IL all men were the same as
the Talberts with respect to small sums. New
ertheless, this rigid adjustment Of matters
pecuniary was a trait in their characters
which greatly tickled Mr.. Mordle.
All the while the little boy, with fat sturdy
legs placed well apart, stood upon the great
oak hall table. The lantern Of many colored
glass over his head threw rich, warm tints on
his sunny hair. He seemed in no way shy or
terrified; indeed, if any fault could be found
in his bearing, it was that his manners were
more familiar than such short acquaintance
justified AS the digniied brothers once more
bent over him to resume their examination,
he seized Mr. Herbert's watch chain In his
chubby fist and laughed delightedly-a laugh
which Mr. Mordle echoed. He had long looked
for suitable excuse for expressing his feel
ings in this way. The situation was so funny.
An unknown child foisted upon his friends at