The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-04-16

aimoss disappsarsd around ths deos. Can
back and leaned against ths worn vslvss
cen Of The astronomss's cost; for no
nsst The lips prssssd 70 i. thss lifted
Kiss me. John. you are dear Old islIcs
after Ill. and - 6snd"
The sunshins seemed 70 leave the room
With the sweet. bright prsssncs. sad hove
Over the pretty sssdls. smosg ~ sosud'
aud scsuts Of ths uidssmmee day. i
the library there vss only - shaf o
light that came through tbe hiet window,
and fell aeross ths old velvstssa ccat. aad
the tidy nannscripts and ths cpsa books
and left the handsome. clever, rsAned he
10 shadow.
cHApTxn H.
II might have been two hours aiisrvsrd
painful gfssr events created : oonfusieu
10 Mr. Nicholson's mind. and The swc
hours might havs been twc dsys-- whss
be became aware Of laugh in The pes-
sags By the door. Hi hand Ia Gpouu
tired writing. but ths hand srsvslst 49,.
lily on; bis eyes had grown littis tited'
and n gAs rslisf TO raise them 1os min.
.te 70 lbs locked door. behind vhish hs
heard Tho laugh. lIs ross, with bali
smile on bis grave fsos. and paussd,
struck BY soddsp prsssntimsnt Some
thing came back To bin, ~ bs stood 10 ths
dull light Of the dpll room; ras Il .
dream. or memory. or rs t--ths baby :
He pushed his papers rapidly aEay and
walked over to the door ssd unlocked Il,
throwing II vide open. There ~ poth-
ing in the passage but the yellow ssnlight
now upon tho 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 tho room beyond there was more
sunlight and the cradle,
John" cried Mrs. Nicholson, laugh
isg as II she could not help 1t. "what have
yox done with her? Give her to me.
You ne earning your title to the best Of
He looked up in quick perplexity.
'What is il Agatha? What do you want?
! have nothing to give you"
"Oh, don't, Johni' she cried imratient
ly; don't tease! I want baby"
"Wsll"--the same perplexed look Sreep-
ing over his face. and softening It's stern
ness -"take her, stretching out bis hand
10 the cradle in the sunlight.
Agatha's eyes we're turned on him for :
minute with . look Of contempt before
which he positively quailed. Then she
swept over to the cradle and tossed out
The little pillow. aud the sheets with their
lace edges. and the pale blue satin covsrlet
,n to the floor in a soft heap, aud stood
looking down upen tho empty cradle ~
i she would coniure up the pink face and
he flaxen head into their accustomed
place.
Mr.. Nicholson had followed her on tip
zoe and was string the soft shining heap
IN the floor with bis patent leather shoes.
IA II he half nmagined that she had tossed
he baby out among them.
"Well. !" said Agatha. sharply.
Well he echoed feebly.
'sDoyou mean n say, she said putting
lside her augry veLemsnce and speaking
'earfnlly. with ,har gray ages turned up to
lis-"Oh. John. DO SoR lnesn to say that
rou have lost here'
II never touched her" be cried hastily,
4 never" heard her. he would have
ldded, but again that faint mAmory- that
lream stirred him. Upon my honor,
agatha. he said abruptly, leaning down
md poking At the mattress with bis thin
ingers. upon ny honor can not remem-
Der
"You cant remember?' said Agatha,
xith slow scoru. why, John! she
.oared. Cook heard her 10 the kitchen.
She came rushing up, and found the era
lie empty and cradle gone. She thought
ron had taken her into the study; she told
ne so. But. oh, John, 1t vas somebody
,lse. aud they hsve stolen her."
my dear" he said shaking himself
and speaking more lightly, "who
would steal hers laby roaring. ss yon
'ayr He sbuddered. "Why. surely. m
me in bis senses would think Of doing
Iuch thing.
"Emma's babyr cried Agatha tearfully,
and that is how yon speak Of berl Oh.
John. dear John. think again; didn't you
lear herr Perhaps you have forgotten
perhaps yon have put her somewhere. aud
'he has gone 10 sleep. Sit down. John,
~" ADHA Pc'"sP1 5Ou "Avo fuS "Ss
aud forgotten"
Mr. Nicholson sat dowa On the siudow
ill aud covered his face Nth his hands.
ae tried 10 think. but whenever lie con-
,eptraied his MUD on the baby. be was
limly conscious Of that fading fancy be
,ould not graap thss dream Of cry. II
had d'starbed bin, be remembered. thst
oud, paioful jsrring cry. bnt il had died
'way; surely il had died into peace With
,ut his interferencc.
Agatha" be said. lifting mp bis face,
'harpened With The effect Of thought, Il
10 remember something somebody cry.
ng; it must have bssn THE babe /"
Yes said Agatha. eagerly, ''ge onl
You heard her! That II right Cook says
rou must have beard her. she roarsd 20.
Well. and thcn3 You -"
Il cant remember. Agatha. may
aAye enna on writing; that seems the more