Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-01
Vales aud Sketfhts.
From the London Society.
HOW Mr.. NICHOLSON MISLAID THE BABY.
CONTINUED from yesterday

CONTINUED from yesterday
81 never touched her," be cried hastily.
Il neyer''-heard her. he would have
added, but again that faint memory-that
Idream-stirred him. Upon my honor.
Agatha he said abruptly. leaning down
and poking at the mattress with his thin
fingers, upon my honor | can't remem-
ber''
.You can't rememberr' said Agatha,
with slow scorn. "Why, John p 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
so. But, oh. John, it was somebody else,
and they have stolen her."
INV DEAR he said, shaking himself
together. and speaking more lightly, who
would steal her pa baby roaring, as you
sayv' He shuddered. 'Why, surely. no
one in his senses would do such thing"
..Emmy's baby - cried Agatha fearful
lly, land that is how you speak OF her! U
John, dear John, think again; didn't you
hear herp Perhaps you have forgotten
perhaps you have put her somewhere, and
She has gone to sleep. Sit down. John,
and think-perhaps you have put her
somewhere and forgotten"
Mr.. Nicholson sat down on the window
sill and covered his face with his hands.
He tried to think, but whenever he con-
cen,rated his mind on the baby, he was
dimly conscious of that fading fancy he
could not grasp-that dream OF cry. 1t
had disturbed him, he remembered, that
loud, painful, jarring cry, but it had died
away surely il had died into peace with
{ ut bis interference?
"Agatha," he said, lifting up his face,
sharpened with the effect of thought, 81
do remember something-somebody cry
| ing: it must have been the babe"
Yes" said Agatha. eagerly, Ego on !
You heard her That is right. Cook
SAYS you must have heard her. she roared
So Well, and thenp YOU"
IL can't remember, Agatha. | may
have gone on writing; that seems the
more likely, think but may have gone
to the door. No." shaking bis head. 81
can't get beyond the cry. do remember
that now distinctly"
Perhaps" said Agatha hopefully,
through her tears, "vou have put her
somewhere in the library. What have
you been doing or using this afternoon ?"
Mr. Nicholson followed humbly as she
swept in before him, and flung open the
great curtains, so that the light rushed in
on to his table strewn with plans and man.
uscripts. Even then he spread out his
hands almost unconsciously, to defend his
precious papers frem her light, scornful
touch; but she stood in the centre of the
room-looking into every corner with her
quick. soft eyes.
| What have you used. John-this chair?
Yon have not been to the cupboard? No."
peeping into dark recess musty with
papers. what else ?"
"Nothing else. Agatha, here, except"
with quick smile, ''the waste paper bas-
ket, and that is empty. You can see for
yourself"
"Ah." said Agatha. "here is cook" as
a heavy breathing became audible in the
passage Cook" her voice trembling
at the sight of her sympathetic face,
"your master has not seen the baby-at
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.
them" said cook. in broken voice. "In
my last place but one. where was gener
al cleaner in Mrs. Ais family. there was
a child disappeared as it might be this
and it was never found-gipsies or not, it
was never come across again"
"Oh, don't, cook !" cried Agatha
plaintively. ''And Emmy coming this
evening! Your master thinks he may
have put her somewhere and forgotten
He remembers hearing her."
(Which he might" said cook. ''noI
being deaf Which don't NEAR
no disrespect, sir. but she was roar
ing awful, and | says to Mary
says |, Master will never know
'ow to quiet that child. so III run mp an(
bring her down bit = and | stops t.
change my apron, and ups, as it nigh
be here, and the cradle as it might b.
there, and no sound, and the cradle a
empty as it is this minute"
Cook turned dramatically and pointed
one stout arm to the little cradle in tn,
sunlight. Mrs. Nicholson's fearful eve
followed the hand, and her husband stoot
uneasily in the center of the group, will
an anxious frown upon his face.
which" added cook. scornfully, {"
think a baby-and such one. bless her
is of more vally than all this rubbish"
She waved her hand over the table. or
which lay the neat manuscript and thu
rows of mended pens; and Mr.. Nicholson
moved instinctively step backward, a.
if she had an evil eye and his writings
would shrivel up at her scornful gesture
Cook" said Mrs. Nicholson, with dig
nifty. marred little by the culver in he
voice, you don't understand Your mas
ter is very clever, and his writings are o
great value. OF course" with pleading
; look upward. "baby Is our first though
: just now. There are no wild beasts here
so she cannot be eaten. But she is gone
and before Emmy comes this evening, sh'
: must be found
"Of course she must" said her hus
band, plucking up courage from her ex
ceeding gentleness. 1--WE will begin sys
tematically. and 60 through every room
in the house,
So the search began, that ended an hou
later in the great ball, with three per
picked faces meeting each other at tn
foot of the stairs, in silence that Mrs
Nicholson broke.
| oIt's no use John. I canno. hear II a N,