Little Falls transcript., 1885-01-30

| with quick smile, "the ,wassc-paper
basket, and that is empty. You can
see for yourself"
"Ah," said Agatha, "here is cook" as
heavy breathing became audible in
the passage. Cook" her voice treu,-
bling at sight of the 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,
then" said cook, in broken voice. "In
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-gy
or not, it was never come across again. !"
ooh don't, cook! !" cried Agatha, plain
lively. "And Emmy coming this eve
ming! Your master thinks he may have
put her somewhere and forgotten. He
remembers hearing her"
(Which he might said cook, not be-
ing deaf. Which don't mean no dis
respect, Sir, but she was roaring aw-
full, and [ says to Mary, says !, Mas
ter'n never know 'ow to quiet that
child, so III run up and bring her down
bit and I 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 point.
ed ono stout arm to the little cradle in
the sunlight. Mrs. Nicholson's tear
full eyes followed the hand, and her hus-
baud stood uneasily in the centre of the
group, with all anxious frown upon his
face.
"Which," added cook scornfully, I
think baby--and such one, bless
her lis more yally than all this rub
bish." She waved her hand over the
table on which lay the neat manuscript
and the rows Of mended pens; and Mr..
Nicholson moved instinctively step
backyard, as if she had all evil eye and
his writing would shrivel mp at her
scornful gesture.
"Cook," SAID Mrs. Nicholson with dig
nifty, marred a little by the culver of 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-
ceeding gentleness. "We will begin
systematically, and go through every
room in the house"
So the search began, that ended an
hour later, in the great hall, with three
perpleXed faces meeting each other at
the foot of the stairs, in silence that
Mrs. Nicholson broke.
TITS no Use John; I cannot bear it
any longer. She is lost!"
She flung out her empty hands with
desj2airing gesture, but her husband
caught and held them.
Don't give up, Agatha; it will all
come right. If I search the world
through, I will find her"
"Or the body" said cook.
Mrs. Nicholson shuddered.
The minutes silence was broken by a
sound OF merry laughter and the tram
pling of feet. For minute Agatha
raised her head, listening intently, and
then she dropped it with sigh.
1T is only the rectory boys, JOHN"
she said; they have been in tho hay
field all dav, and I asked them to tea.
] can't speak to them, l am too anxions.'
She would have moved away, but the
noise and laughter were in the hall al
ready, and the boys stumbling up to-
ward her in the darkness, over the rugs
and skins Something white was bein,
showed from one to the other, and was
pushed into Agatha's arms at last, and .
held there by pair Of rough sunburnsd !:
hands.
What is it? Oh, Jack, what is it?"
she cried, bending down and kissing,
to their owners surprise, the boys /
rough hands.
Don't I say said Jack, drawing !
them away with curious, shamefaced
look. *sIt's only the baby, Mrs. Mich j,
olson. She was crying III the cradle, SO
I just got into the room and bagged her. :
Shes been playing in the hay; she ,
nearly got jabbed with rake, but Jim .
got it instead. She's a jolly little thing. !
Did you miss her?'
Eyes, thought she was lost" said
Agatha gently.
'Lost!" with 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 Jims simply
mud all over. 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 little group in the twilight OF
the hall; tall, dark figure, against !
which golden head was leaning, and
two arms with white bundle folded in |
them.
kiss her, John," came soft voice
out Of the darkness II know YOU
would rather not, she's only 3 baby, not
, star; but just as punishment, be-
cause you were so stupid"
The tall figure stopped and laid a
lark mustache against the little bundle. !
'She's very soft, said another voice;
II don't think I ever knew SO much
about baby before"
There was, after moments silence,
, movements on the mans part, as
though he were drawing himself up to ;
bis full height, with view to reassert-
ing his dignity. He cleared his throat.
''After all, Agatha" he said stifly, !
II did not lose the baby"
II never said you did," said Agatha;
II only asked you and you couldn't re-
"Another time," with an evident
effort, II suppose I shall be condemn
ed unheard"