Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-25
THE LOST BABY.
CLondon Society,"
CHAPTER |.

London Society,"
CHAPTER l.
Mrs. Nicholson was standing in dubi'
Gus attitude, with the study door hall
opsn, and her eyes turning from the quie'
hgnrs in the arm chair by the table to an
other open door in the passage behind her,
through which she could see food Of sun
shine, and in the sunshine q cradle.
81 don't feel quito easy" she said; 81
am 10 afraid she should cry and no one heal
her. / wish had not let nurse 90 out
with all you have to do" coming into the
room and speaking impressivsly. tall yos
have to do il to ring the bell violently
violently, remembsr-for cook. Fol
heavens sake, John,' leaning on the table
and stretching ont pretty hand to attract
her husbands attention, s1ook up, OF
speak, or answer me, or you will drive me
madr'
"What is 1t all about Agatha?" The
calm, placid, intelligent face opposite wal
lifted gently, and the thin finger was slip
ped on to the page to mark pause.
SIT ID baby, John, said Mrs. Nicholson
in faltering voice, and with idle, angry
tears rolling down her cheeks. "Her'
have !, for the last ten minutes, been beg
ging and imploring Of you to remember
baby; not to nurse her, wouldn't trus
you, but only to ring the bell i she cries. ;
docs that stop her? It seems simpl,
snough. think even / can do that
But Mrs. Nicholson shook her head, still
weeping.
"You may laugh At me or snesr if yor
like. If it were my own baby would "a.
nothing, I would bear it all; but EN-
ny's"
With patient sigh the gentleman at th'
writing-table pushed the book away ans
lost his place. He looked at her in be
wildsred way.
"what is it. Agathaf babys o, EN-
my's baby, of coarse."
"And not one-half, one-hundredth part
one-thousandth part, AZ valuable in you
eyes" broke in Agatha, With impetuosity
ssas the smallest, the most unknown, th
most undiscovered starl You need no
tell mo; know it,
''Of COURSE" frowning gently, 'sevsr.
one knows that star, however small
stars are not famous according to thei
sixs, my dear-is of infinitely more valu
than one hair Of bsby's head. I mean
hastily speaking from the entirely sei
sntifc point Of view; but - you were say
Iing-you were saying, were you notf"-
little doubtful something about that un
fortunate babe Of Emmy's?''
| Mrs. Nicholson had dried her eyes, AM
was confronting him in all the cool splsn
dor Of pretty summer dress, and with d
the calm determination of woman VIII
has made up her mind.
Eyes, / was" she said; ''only, once 70
all, John, if you call it a babe will leav'
your house at once and never come back; ant
II you call it unfortunate, Ishall take tha
hateful manuscript W tn me and burn it =
the kitchen fire. fit were yours"- i'm
passionate irony-'it might indeed be do
scribcd AZ unfortunate; but Charles is the
best of fathers, and he has always been tn
best Of husbands"
Eyes, yes, of course, my dear. sale
nothing against Charles; I did not know
We we're talking about him. We can fin
ish him up tonight" cheerfully. "If tina
il all you had better 60 out now, while it il
hne," turning his eyes to the dazzling sun
Hight for an instant and then back to hi
tpage. "You can tell me about Charles
Iyou know, whom you como in. The best o.
husbandsI don't know much abou
them, fear, but know little about th,
best of wives.'
He rose and laid his hand on the long
slender, soft gray glove that was leaning
with discrimination on his neat manuscript
The gray glove closed around his han,
gently and clung to him almost a. if i
were 10th to leave the thin worn fingers
but he patted it gently and laid it aside
Mrs. Nicholson gave faint sigh, but whel
she spoke again she spoke with less decis
ion and more pleading.
"It il not Charles, indeed, it il not; it il
the baby. Nurse has gone out, and hav'
put her cradle in the morning room by tn
window. john" suddenly, '.ars you list
sning? What did / say lastf"
"The morning room, Agatha"
| SWELL" with sigh Of relief, 81 sec 20,
are taking in and forgetting those horribl
stars; and how you can compare = star t,
. baby" parenthetically, Sis past me-"
"I am sure never did," he said gently
s'Well, don't interrupt me, John, or
ishall never get out. What was I saying
Oh, baby is in the morning-room, and
she cries-make one sound : you are :
ring your bell--this bell, John-for cook
do you understandr'
/ "YsA I believe 20. am to ring the bel
this bell-for cook"
| "Oh, ! hops you will" after pause
"Fancy," her eyes filing with tears again