The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-20


itaiing way to the door, i am satisfied,
am trying to be satisfied don't forget
No. cheerfuly, L will take a leaf from
Chsrles's book, the best OF husbands.
oh the gray glove had closed on the
handle of the door, but released it again
the Payutrrs are coming 10 night, so YOU
must not 60 out star-uaziug.'
All right Obedently: good bye
'Guod-bye.' The bright face that had al
most disappeared ~ound the door came bach
again, ana leaned against ;he worn vel
veteen Of the astronomers coat. for min
ute the lips were pressed to it. then lifted.
Kiss me. John you are a dear old fellow
after all and 1 am a G-nd.'
The sunshine seemed TO ieaye The room
with the sweet bright presence and mover
over The pretty cradle among the sounds and
scents ot the mid summer dav. Ii the IL
bIary there was only one shaft uf light that
came through the high windows and fell
across the old veiveteen coat, aud the tidy
manuscripts, and the open books. and iefj
the handsome, clever, refined face in shadow.
1t might have beeu two hours afterward-
painful after events created confusion in
Mr. Nichols on'S mind, and the two hours
might have been two days --wnen be became
aware of laugh ia a passage by the door
lIIs hand had grown tired in writing, but
the pen had travelled steadily on his eyes
had efown a little weary and it was a relief
to raise them for minute TO the locked
door, behind which he heard the laugh lie
rose, with a half smile gu his grave face, and
paused, struck by sudden presentiment.
Something came back to him, as he stood in
the duh room, was it a dream or memory,
or was 1.-THE baby lie pushed his papers
hurIiedy away and walked over 10 the door
and unlocked IL, throwing It wide OpeE. -
There was nothing in the passage but the
yellow sunshine now upon tie walls and
upon the Old prints, aud MIS-. Nicholson
standing in her pretty gray dress, with her
slim hands stretched out and the laugh that
had disturbed her was stIIl upon her lips
In the room beyond there was more sunlight
and the cradle.
john, cried Mrs Nicholson, laughing
again as if she couid not help IL. what have
you done with Ter. Give her to me You
are earning your title to the best Of hus-
bands.
He looked up in quick perplexity. WHAT
was it Agatha? What do you want7 l have
nothing TO give
Oh don't John " she cried impatIeutly;
don't tease. l want baby
'WelP-the same perplexing look creeping
over his face-'take her stretching ont his
hand to the cradle in the sunlight
Agatha's eyes turned on him for a minute
with a look of contempt before which he
positively quelled. Then she swept over 10
the cradle. and tossed out the little pillow,
and the sheets with their lace edges, and the
pale blue satin cover-let on to the floor in a
soft heap, and stood looking down upon the
empty cradle as if she would couiure up the
pink face and the 1axen head into their &C.
customed place.
Mr.. Nicholson had followed her on tip toe
and was stirring the softly shining heap on
the floor with bis patent-leather shoes, as if
he had tossed the baby out among them.
'WeH?' said Agatha sharply.
'Wen?' he echoed feebIy.
DO you mean to say she said, putting
aside her angry vehemeBce and speaking
tearfuily, 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.
i never heard her, he would have add
/ ed, but again that faint memory-that dream
stirred him. Upon my honor, Agatha he
said abruptly leaning down into the cradle
and poking at the mattress with his thin fin
gers, upon my honor, can't remember
You can't remember said Agatha with
scorn. why, John, she roared Cook
heard her in the kitchen. She came rusbfnp
up, and found the cradle empty and baby
gone. She thought you had taken her into
.he study she told me so; but oh, John, it
was somebody else, and they have stolen
her
MY dear, he said. shaking himself togeth-
er, and speaking more lightly, who would
steal her "a baby roaring as you say2' He
shuddered. why, surely no one else in his
senses would do such thingl'
'Emmy's baby Z cried Agatha tearfuIy
! and that is how you speak of her o John,
dear John, think again, didn't you hear her?
Perhaps You have furgotten-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 cOucentra-
ted his mind on the baby he was dimlv con-
scious of that fading fancy that be could
not grasp-the dream of a cry. 1t had dis
turbed him, he remembered that loud.
painful, jarring cry, but it had died awav;
surely it had died into peace without his in
reference? Agatha, be said, lifting up his
face sharpened with the effect of thought,
& do remember sOmething-somebody cry
ing it must have been the babe
Yes said Agatha eagerly, go on! You
heard her That is right Cook saws YOU
must have heard her. she roared so. Well.
and then You
II can't remember, Agatha. | NAV
have gone on writing that seems the most
likely, I think; but may have gone to the
door. NO, shaking his head J can't get
beyond the cry. ! do remember that now
distinctly
Perhaps said Agatha hopefully, through
her tears, you have put her in the library.
What have you been doing this afternoon p
Mr.. Nicholson followed humbly as she
swept in before him, and flung open the
great curtains, so that the light rushed in on
his table strewed with plans and manu-
script Even then he spread out his hands
almost unconsciously, to defend his precious
papers from her scornful touch but she
stood in the centre of the room, looking into
every corner With her quick, soft eyes
What nave you used. Johu-this char
You have not been to the cupboard ? No.
peeping into a dark recess, musty with pa
pers. What else .
Nothing else, Agatha, here, except with
a smile, the waste paper basket. aud that is
empty. You can see for YOURSELF
'Ah,' said Agatha here is cook, as a hea-