Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-11-06
CHAPTER Ill.

AS soon as bOOUloS Haul spare IlOll1etlt LIZ
made his way to the adjutant's quarters,
where he found Mrs. Gray playing with the
mysterious baby.
exclaimed "Come and see your wa'f. She
is the dearest little thing Why, do be-
lieve she knows you"
Bottles whistled to the child, which
promptly made a grab at his chain, AMI
when he sat down on the sofa on which it
was sprawling, tried very hard to get at the
gold badge on his collar. Shoulder badges
had not then come in.
'sMrs. Gray" Boobies said "she's very
well dressed, is she nots"
Goa, very" Mrs. Gray answered, smooth
ing out the child skirt so as to display the
fine and deep embroidery. Unusually SO.
All its clothes are of the finest and most ex-
pensive description.
81 thought so; it doesn't look like COM
mon child, ehg'
'Not at ALL" replied the lady, promptly
'sWell," BOTTLES told her, GIVE been most
numerically chaffed, which was only to be
expected; but the colonel takes my word
about it, and Of course the others don't NIT
ter. can't think, though, why the mother
has chosen me-"
"Ah, well, you see, Capt. Ferrers." said
tie a1jd.a1Jis wife, with a smile, sit is
rather inconvenient sometimes to have
character for great kindness of heart
should say you are the greatest favorite in
the regiment, and, naturally enough, the
officers speak of it sometimes in society.
Ch, Bottles is this. and Boobies is that;'
Bottles wouldn't turn dog from his door,
Beetles would share his last sixpence with
poor chap who was down, and so on. /
have heard, Capt. Fe1Ters, of your empty
ing your pockets to divide among three poor
tranps who had begged no more than apipe
of tobacco. I have heard of your anding
up for''-with a deeper SIN le-"the poor
devils of casuals; and if I hear it, why not
others? why not the mother of tbs child?'
''True. But think you all overrate my
character Bottles replied, modestly. ''You
know don't go in for being sanity at all"
THAT is just it. If you did you would have
no more influence than Maj Allardyce,
whom every one laughs at. But you don't;
you are one of themselves, and yet you will
always help a man who is down; you will do
any unfortunate creature good turn. Oh,
i hear a good deal, though you choose to
make light Of it. And you know, Cap.
Ferrers, we are not told that the cool SAM
aritan made great spluttering about what
he did; but the professional saints the priest
and the Levite, passed by on the other side :"
'You are very complimentary" Boobies
said, blushing a little; 'much more than
deserve, Pm sure. The fellows" laughing
at th< remembrance, ''were much less merci-
full Then about the child. Dawson sug-
gests sending it to the police station, the
colonel to the workhouse; and one means the
other, of course"
Mrs. Gray caught the child to her breast
with a cry CT iismay, and BOTTLES went on:
eyes, 1 feel as you do about it. can't
do it, and that's all about it. 1t would be
on my conscience all my life. Besides, some
day the mother might come back for 1t, and
though, of course, as the colonel saws there
is no claim upon me, yet if for the sake of a
few pounds had turned the poor littlla-1,,sryr.
gar adrift, ruined its ife-whS-T simnlv
couldn't face her, and that4a ali abou6 Ii.
And besides that, Mrs. cray, have lurl-
ing suspicion that the ley,6e is o,nuine and
that it was not WRITTEN to or intended for
me. It reads to ne like the letter of a
woman who was desperate"
Yes, Woma1 must have been desperate
indeed to willingly part with such child as
that" said Mrs Gray, smoothing the gold
baby curls(
80 think, for nature is nature all the
world otver," Bottles answered. "And be,
sides, rs tell you the hone5t truth, there is a
resemblance in the child to some one
kneW once"
Hes" eagerly.
}Oh no, not that! She is dead. She was
Engaged to a fellow I knew, desperately
fond of him. and he-jilted her,"
''Mr. Kerrg'
| Bottles stared ssWho told your
'iHe told me himself, 7 think to ease his
mind" she answered, quietly.
''Ah! Well, it killel her. She died
heartbroken. 1 saw her." he said, rising
and going to the window, whence he stood
staring out over the square, "a few hours
after she died. That child's mother may
| lock like that now, and I can't and won't
turn it adrift, whatev 7 the fellows o.. any
| one else chooses to think or say, AMI that's
! all about it,
| Two bright tears ga herel in Ms. Gray's
eyes. and falling fell upon the babys curls
of gold, two priceless damon IS from the
unfathomable and exhaustless mines OF pity
For moment or two there was silence
broken at last by the ehild's laugh as ray
of sickly winter SUNSHINE fell upon the gilt
tering chain in its little hanls. The SOUND
recovered Boobies, who turnal from tbs
window.
| ANU ~, NIS OTaY, Ho oeiu, eell oIuii
avoiding the gaze of her wet eyes, 81 have
determined to keep the little beggar: bu
Hardness, who's no fool you know, has con
WINGED me that it wol't do to trust to any Of
the barracx women to look after her. There
fore, if you won't mind undertaking it for q
few days, will advertise for respectabl;
elderly nurse to take entire charge of tn
creature. / dare say can arrange will
Smithers for an extra room, and you'll lei
me como to you for advice now and then
Il wort you9n
\ Mrs Gray rose and went close to him, lay
| ing her hand upon his arm. Capt. Fer
reEs," she said, earnestly, you will hav'
YOU = reward. God Till bless you for this.
oh, please don't, Mrs, Gray Bootle
stamn tered. Really, I'd rather you'd chat
me-"
Mrs. Gray laughed outright. swell, yol