Little Falls transcript., 1885-01-30


tie sarcastic smile, "that You may dis.
miss your fears; they are quite ground.
less"
every we'll, said Agatha, moving il
hesitating way to the door. ''I an
satisfied, am trying to be satisfied
don't forget"
"No," cheerfully, II will take lea
from Charles's book, the best of hus
bands"
I "Oh"-the gray glove had closed OF
the handle of the door, but released
it again" -"the Paynters are coming to-
night, SO you must not go out star gaz.
ing" -
"All right" obediently; "good- bye.
"Good-bye." The bright face, tina
had almost disappeared round the door
came back again, and leaned ags ms
the worn velveteen of the astron omer':
coat; for minute the lips were pressed
to it, then lifted. "Kiss me, John; yor
are dear old fellow after all, and I ar
fiend."
The sunshine seemed to leave the
room with the sweet bright presence
and hover over the pretty cradle, among
the sounds and scents of the midsum-
mer day. In the library there was
only ono shaft of light that came through
the high windows and iel] across the
old velyeteen coat, and the tidy manu-
scripts, and the open books, and lef,
shadow.
| CHAPTER II.
It might have been two hours after
ward-painfula after events created con-
fusion in Mr.. Nicholson's mind, and the
| two hours might have been two days
wheD he became aware of a laugh in the
passage by the door. His hand had
grown tired with writing, but the pen
travelled steadily on; his eyes had grown
little tired and'it was relief to raise
them for a minute to the locked door,
behind which he heard the laugh. He
rose, with half smile on his grave
face, and paused. struck by sudden
| presentiment. Something came back
to him, as he stood in the dull light Of
the dull room; was it dream or mem
ory, or was 1.-THE baby. He pushed
his papers hurriedly away and walked
over to the door and unlocked it. throwing
it wide open. There WAS nothing in the
passage but the yellow sunlight now
upon the walls and on the old prints,
and Mrs. Nicholson standing in her
pretty gray dress, with her slim hands
stretched out and the laugh that had
disturbed him still upon hey lips.
In the room beyond there was more
sunlight and the cradle.
"John," cried Mrs. Nicholson, laugh
ing again as if she could not help it,
"what have you done with her? Give
her to me. You arc earning your titlo
to the best of husbands!"
= He looked up in quick perplexity
"What is it, Agatha? What do you
want? l have nothing to give you"
"Oh don't, john" she cried impa-
tientlv; don't tease! + want baby"
"Well!" !"--the same perplexed look
creeping over his face, and seftening its
sternness--"take her," stretching out
his hand to the cradle in the sunlight.
Agatha's eyes were turned on him for
a minute with look of contempt before
which he positively quailed Then she
swept over to the cradle. and tossed ont
the little pillow, aud the sheets with
their lace edges, and the pale 1ue sat-
in coverlet on the floor in q soft hemp,
and stood looking down upon the emp
ty cradle az if she would conjure up the
pink face and the faxen head into their
accustomed place.
Mr.. Nicholson had followed her on
itip toe and was stirring the softly shin
Ing heap on the floor with his patent
feather shoes, as if he had imagined
them. y
"Well?" said Agatha sharply.
"Well?" he echoed feebly.
"Do you mean to say" she said, put
ting aside her angry vehemence and
speaking tearfully, with her gray eyes
turned up to his-''Oh, John, do you
mean to say that you have lost herr"
II never touched her." he cried hast
lily. II never heard ber, he would
have added, but again that faint mem~
ory-that dream--stirred him. Upon
my honor, Agatha" he said abruptly,
leaning down into the cradle, and pok-
ing at the mattres with his thin fingers,
upon my honor can't remember"
You can't remember!" said Agatha,
with slow scorn. "Why, John, she
roared! Cook heard her in the kitchen.
She came rushing up, and found the
cradle empty and baby gone. She
thought you had taken her into the
study; she told me 50; but oh, John, it
was somebody else, and they have
stolen her"
My DEAR" he said, shaking himself
together, and speaking more lightly,
"who would steal her "a baby roaring,
as you say" He shuddered. "Why,
surely no one in his senses would do
such a thing!"
"Emmy's baby" cried Agatha tear
fully, "and that is how you speak of
her 0 John, dear John, think again:
didn't you hear her? Perhaps YOU have
orgotten-perhaps You have put her
somewhere, and she has gone to sleep.
Sit down, John, and think--perhsps
you have put her somewhere and for
COTTON"
Mr. Nichslson sat down on the win
dow sill and covered his face with his
hands. He tried to think, but when
ever he concentrated his mind on the
baby he was dip1ly conscious of that
fading fancy that he could not grasp
that dream of cry. It had dlstur bed
him, he remembered, that loud, pain
ful, jarring cry, but it had died away;
surely it had died into peace without
his interference? '<Agatha" lie said,