The state journal., 1885-01-24

(Which you won't never find her,
then, SAID cook, In broken voice. 'Tn
my last place but one. where I was gen.
eral cleaner in Mrs. Ais family, there
was child disappeared, as it might be
this, and it was never found-gypsies or
not, it was never came 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, mot
being deaf. Which l don't mean no dis
respect, sir, but she was roaring awful,
and l says to Mary, says l, 'Master'll
never know 'ow to qriet that child, so I'll
run up and bring her down bit; and
l stops to change my apron, and | 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 pointed
one stout arm at the cradle in the sun
light. Mrs. Nicholson's fearful eyes
followed the hand, and her husband
stood uneasily in the center of the
group, with an anxious frown upon his
face.
which" added cook scornfully, II
think baby-and such one, bless
her lis of more vally than all this rub
bish." She waved her hand over the
table. on which lay the neat manuscript;
and Mr.. Nicholson moved step back
ward, as if she had an evil eye and his
writings would shriveI up at her scorn-
ful gesture.
Cook" said Mrs. Nicholson with
dignity, marred little by the quiver in
her voice, 'you don't understand.
Your master is very clever, and his
writings are of great value. Of course"
with 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
ceedlng genLleness. eve must begin
Systematically, and go through every
loom in the house"
So the search began, that ended an
hour later, in the great ball, with three
perplexed faces meeting each other at the
foot OF he stairs, in a silence that Mrs.
Nicholson broke.
Its no use, John: cannot bear it any
longer She is lost T.
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 I search the world
through. will find her."
"Or the body" said cook.
Mrs. Nicholson shuddcred
The minutes silence was broken by a
sound OF merry laughter and the tram
pling of feet. For minute Agatha raised
her head, listened intently, and then she
dropped it with sigh.
Its only the rectOry boys, John, she
said; they have been in the hay field all
day. and 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 were stumbling up
toward her in the darkness, over the rugs
and skins. Something white was being
showed fEpm one 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 2"
she criedf bending down and kissing, to
their owners great surprise, the boys
rough hands.
Don't, l say" said Jack, drawing
them away with e curious, shame faced
look IT'S only the baby Mrs. Nichol-
son. She was crying in the cradle, so l
just got into the room and bagged
her. She's been playing in the hay; she
nearly got jabbed with rake, but Jim
gotit instead. She's jolly little thing,
Did you miss herr"
Eyes, 1 thought she was lost, said
Agatha gently.
'LostP 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 oyer. Here, have you got her it's
so dark | 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; tall dark figure, against
which a golden head was leaning, and
two arms with white bundle in them.
kiss her, John, came soft voice out
of the darkness. II know you would
rather not, she's only baby, not star;
but just as punishment, because you
were so stupid.
The tall figure stopped and laid dark
mustache against the little bundle.
SHE'S very SOFT" said another voice;
Il don't think ever knew so much about
baby before"
There was, after moments silence, q
movement on the mans part, as though
he were drawing himself up to his full
height, with view to reasserting his dig
nifty. He cleared his throat.
After AL, Agatha" he said stifly, II
did not lose the baby"
"Inever said you did, said Agatha; Il
only asked you, and you couldn't remem-
ber"
Another time" with an evident effort,
Il suppose shall be condemned un-
heard"
Another time r. scornfully. "You
may set your mind at rest. Neither nor
Emmy is in the least likely to trust you
again, at least not with anything Of
value"
"Then, how about -o baby'" with a
laugh.
''That," said Agatha nrmly. "includes
the baby, "-LOndon Society.
As Canada a Winter Resort.