The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-07

Inc sunshine seemed 70 leeYe the room
with the sweet, bright presence and hover
over the pretty cradle, among the sounds
and scents of the midsummer day. In the
library there was only one shaft Of light that
came through the high windows and fell
across the old veiveteen coat, and the tidy
manuscripts, and the open books, and left
the handsome, clever, refined face in
shadow.
cHAPrER II
II might have been two houra afterward-
painful after events created confusion in
Mr.. Nicholson's mind, and the two hours
might have been two days-when he be-
came aware Of a laugh in the passage By the
door. His hand had grown tired with
writing, but the pen travelled steadily on;
bis eyes hsd grown a little tired; and it
was great relief to raise them for 8 minute
to the locked door, behind which he heard
the laugh. He rose with halt smile on his
grave face and ipaused, struck by sudden
presentment. Something came back to him,
as he stood in the dali light of the dull
room; was it dream or memory, or was
1.-THE baby? BE pushed his papers hur-
riedIy 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 her lips.
In the room beyond there was more SUM-
light and the cradle.
John" cried Mrs Nicholson, laughing
again as il she could not help it, what
have you done with herr GiYer her to me.
You are earning your title to the best OF
husbands"
He looked up in quick perplsxity. "Whst
is ii, Agatha? What do you wanti have
nothing to give you"
'Oh, don't, Johnl" she cried, impatiently;
tf0Oit fooSci / want hahVO
"WelI"-the same perplexed look creep.
ing over his face, and softening its sternness
take her" stretching out his hand to the
cradle in the sunlight
Agatha's eyes were turned on him for
minute with look of contempt before
which he positively qusiled. Then she
swept over 20 the cradle, and tossed out the
little pillow, and the sheets with their lace
edges, snd the pale-blue satin coverlet on to
the floor in soft heap, and stood looking
down upon the empty cradle as il she would
ccniTre I'D the pink face and the haxen head
INFO heir accustomed places.
M Nicholson had folio we'd her on tiptoe
and vas stirring the softly shining heap on
the floor with bis patent leather shoes, as If
he half imagined that she had tossed the
baby out among chem.
"Well?" said Agatha sharply.
"WenT' he echoed feebly.
do you mean to say" she sand, putting
tsarfully, with her gray eyes turned up to
his: "Oh, John, do You mean to say that you
have lost her?'
"I never touched her." he cried hastily,
ST never -" heard her, he would have ad-
ded, but sgsin that faint memory, that
Agatha" he said abruptly, leaning down into
the cradle, and pokiDg ut the mattress with
bis thin fingers, upon my honor can't re-
member"
yet you can't remember!" said Agatha,
with slow scoTn. why, John, she roaredl
Cook beard 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,"
my dear" he 81 d. shaking himself to-
getber, and speaking more lightly, who
would steal her2-a baby roaring, as you
cay" He shuddered. "Why surely no one
in his senses would do such thingl'
"Emmy's baby" cried Agatha tearfully,
land that is how you speak OF her; didn't
you hear her? Perhaps you have forgotten
perhaps you have put her somewhere and
she has gone to sleep. Sit down, John, and
think-perhaps you have puther somewhere
and forgotten"
Mr.. Nicholson sat down on the window
sill and covered his face with his hands.
He tried to think, bat whenever he con-
centrated his mind on the baby he was dimly
conscious of that fading fancy that he could
not grasp-thst dream OF cry. 1t had dis
turbed him, he remem beTed, that loud,
painful, jarring cry, but it had died away;
surely il had died into peace without his
interference? Agatha" he said, lifting up
his face shsrpened with the effect Of thought,
81 do remember omething-somebody cry
ing; II must have been the babe"
Yes" said Agatha eagerly, Ego on You
beard herr That is right Cook ssys you
must have heard her, she rosred So Well,
and them You"
81 can't remember, Agatha. ] may
have gone on writing; that seems the most
likely, think; but may have gone to the
door. No" shaking his head. 'I can't get
beyond the cry. j do remember that now
distinctly"
perhaps said Agatha hopefully,
through her tears, you have put her some
where in the library. What have you been
dOiDgor using this afternoon2"
AIr. Nicholson followed hambly as she
swept in before him, and flung open the
great curtains 80 that the light rushed in on
TO his table strewed with plans and manu-
scripts. Even then he spread out his hands,
almost unconsciously, to defend his precious
papers from her light, scornful touch; but
she stood in the center OF the room, looking
into every corner with her quick, soft eyes
"What have you used, JohD--thiy chair?
W uaNC HOt DcCl ~ lA4o OupOunAUA W.
peeping into dark recess musty with pa
pers- "Wha. else2'
Nothing else, Agatha, here, except" with
quick smile, "the vsste-paper basket, and
that is empty. You can see for yourself"
All" said Agatha, there is cook" as q
heavy breathing became audible in the
passage. Cook" her voice trembling at
sight Of the sympathetic face. your master
has not seen the bsby-et least, he thinks
not. de was very busy, but he heard her
cry, and he may have tsken her up and for
gotten. We are looking for her."
Which you won't never find her, then"
said cook, In broken voice in my last
place but one where was general cleaner
In Mrs. 'AlPs family there was q child dis
appeared, as il might be this, and 1t was
never found--gypsies or not, it was never
come across again"
"0h don't, cook" cried Agatha, plsint-
lively. And Emmy coming this EVENING"
Your master thinks be may have put her
somewhere and forgotten. he remembers
hearing her"
(which he might said cook, mot being
deaf. Which l don't mean no dIsrespect
sir, but she was roaring awful, and says to
Mary, says l, 'Mastsr'n never know 'ow to
quiet that child, 50 Pll run up and bring
her down bit;' and stops to change my
apron, and ups, as it might be here and
the cradle, as il might be there, and no
aoupd and the cradle as empty as il is this