The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-02-06

with q quick smile, s'the wasse-papef
basket, and that is empty. You can
sector yourself"
"Ah," said Agatha, "here is cook, as
q heavy breathing became audible in
the passage. Cook" her voice trew
bling at sight of the sympathetic face,
your master has not seen the baby
ct least, he thinks not. He was very
busy. but he heard her cry, and he may
have taken her up and forgotten. We
are looking for her"
Which you won't never find her,
then" said cook, in q broken voice. "In
my last place but one, where I was gen
eral cleaner in Mrs. ALPS family, there
was a child disappeared, as it might be
this, and it was never found-gypsies
or not, it was come across again"
ooh don't, cook!" cried Agatha, plain
lively. "And Emmy coming this. eve
ming! Your master thinks he may have
put her somewhere and forgotten. He
remembers hearing her"
(Which he might" said cook, not be-
ing deaf. Which I don't mean no dis
respect, Sir, but she was roaring aw-
full, and I says to Mary, saysI, MAS
teru never know 'ow to quiet that
child, 30 I'll run up and bring her down
a bit and / stops to change my apron,
and l ups, as it might be here, and the
cradle, as it might be there, and no
sound, and the cradle as empty as it is
this minute"
Cook turned dramatically, and point.
ed one stout arm to the little cradle in
the sunlight. Mrs. Nicholson's tear
full eyes followed the hand, and her hus-
band stood uneasily in the centre of the
group, with an anxious frown upon his
face.
(Which" added cook scornfulIy, I
think a baby-and such a one, bless
her!-is more vally than all this rub
bish." She waved her hand over the
table on which lay the neat manuscript
and the rows of mended pens; and Mr..
Nicholson moved i%nstinctively a step
backward, as if she had an evil eye and
his writing would shrivel up at her
scornful gesture.
"Cook," SAID Mrs. Nicholson with dig
nifty, marred a little by the culver of her
voice, you don't understand. Your
master is very clever, and his writings
are of great value. OF course" with q
pleading look upward, "baby is our
first thought just now. There are no
wild beasts here SO she cannot 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 ex-
ceeding gentleness. "We will begin
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 q silence that
Mrs. Nicholson broke.
cts no Use John; I cannot bear it
any longer. She is lost!"
She flung out her empty hands with
a despairing gesture, but her husband
caught and held them.
Don't give up, Agatha; it will all
come right. If l search the world
through, I will find her"
Cor the body" said cook.
Mrs. Nicholson shuddered.
The minutes silence was broken BY a
sound of merry laughter and the tram
ping of feet. For a minute Agatha
raised her head, listening %intently, and
then she dropped it with a sigh.
st is only the rectory boys, John"
she said; they have been in the hay
field all day, and 1 asked them to tea.
l can't speak to them, l am too anxious"
She would have moved away, but the
noise and laughter were in the hall al
ready, and the boys stumbling up to-
ward her in the darkness, over the rugs
and skins. Something white was being
showed from n to the other, and was
pushed into Agatha's arms at last, and
held there by pair Of rough sunburned
hands.
"What is it? Oh, Jack, what is it?
she cried, bending down and kissing,
to their owners surprise, the boys
rough hands.
Don't I say said Jack, drawing
them away with q curious, shamefaced
look. cts 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 a jolly little thing.
Did you miss her?"
eyes, I thought she was lost" said
Agatha gently.
Lost" with a roar of laughter.
well that is good! May we wash our
hands for tea? I'm not SO dirty, I've
been holding her; but Jim's simply
mud all over. Here, have you got her ?
it's SO dark I can't see."
The turbulent tide swept away into
the dim distance of stairs and passages,
leaving a little group in the twilight of
the hall; a tall, dark figure, against
which a golden head was leaning, and
two arms with q white bundle folded in
them.
kiss her, john" came a soft voice
out of the darkness. 81 know you
would rather not, she's only q baby, not
o star; but just as a punishment, be-
cause you were so stupid"
The tall figure stopped aud laid a
dark mustache against the little bundle.
"She's very SOFT" said another voice;
II don't think I ever knew so much
about a baby before
There was, after q moments silence,
q movement on the mans part, as
though he we're drawing himself up to
his full height, with a view to reassert-
ing his dignity. He cleared his throat.
After all, Agotha," he said stifay,
II did not lose the baby"
II never said you did" said Agatha;
II only asked you and you couldn't re-
member"
"Another time,' with az evident
effort, 81 suppose I shall be condemn
ed unheard."
"Another time" scornfully. "You
may set your mind at rest. Neither I
nor Emmy is in the least likely to trust
you again, at least not with anything of
value"