The Washington critic., 1885-08-11
HAL AND THE BABY.
How AN ANGRY TRAVELLERS HEART
WAS SOFTENED.

1t was a bleak December night and
the wind blew gale. Hal and [
boarded The limited express for New
York at Chicago and were enjoying q
cigar IN the smoker. Hal had fallen
asleep and I was busily absorbed
In my own reflections. glanced
casually and with little interest at the
scenes through which 1 was being
rapidly whilled. 1t was only when
twilight shut out visible objects and the
lowering clouds grew black | awakened
TO the consciousness that it was night
and that HI had been sleeping an
hour.
"Come old fellow" said, shaking
hin, "wake up!"
"lIellor' he exclaimed, rousing him
self aud looking little stupid.
Mice sociablo chap for a companion;
must say"
"IIow long have | been asleep" sit
ting upright aud looking around him.
"About all hour, should Judge"
'Well, between you and me, viii, |
needed it. ! didn't go to bed at all last
night; so much to be done, all at the
last moment"
"rhat's fine excuse for you to give, e"
| said, dryly. Hi laughed. He was
the bcst-natured chap in the world, A
big, strapping fellow, standing six feet
high, with merry blue eyes, clear-cut
features aud fair almost to womanli-
ness. He was n great swell, too, and
a universal favorite.
"Abominable night" he muttered, q
little irritably for him, sand confound-
edly cold, too. had just about hall
enough sleep, Will, and If you don't
mind, III get to bed"
"That suits mc,"I replied. 81 am
with YOU"
We crossed the platform and stepped
into the other car. A gust of wind and
snow whizzed past as we opened the
door, which called forth another grumb
| ling imprccation from Hal relative t
the weather. Decidedly he was sleepy
There were not many passengers or
board, and these, the invariable trav
elers, one is sure to encounter. FRS
came garrulous old gentleman, very
thin, with white hair, who occupied
four seats and essayed TO read by the
uncertain light OF the railway lamp
which was OF no more use than those
lamps usually are, and quite as orna
mental. Then came the commercial
traveller, who was disposed to TAXI
things us he found them, and wore al
expression rather bland than other
wise.
A portly old lady with bird Gag
and several bandboXes next attracted
my attention. A spinster who sat up
right in most rigid position, and an in
sipid miss of IL or Whereabouts traveln,
in care of the conductor, together witt
a short, stout, thck.set man of uncer
tain age and occupation, made up TIN
list Of passengers. No, there was an
other; had quite overlooked him. Ill
came on the train while we were in TIN
smoker. A tall, dark man of about A
years, with pale, haggard face an,
hollow, sunkcn eyes. His berth ha,
been made up aud he was seated on on
side Of it, his head resting on his hand
when Hal and | entered the car. /
shrill little voice which echoed through
the silent car caused every Que to turf
round in the objection whence it came
"By all that's unlucky," groancc
Hal, "a baby"
mot doubt Of it," agreed.
"And good lungs it has, too" h.
went on, pettlshly. 81 wish it woul'
be quiet"
But the baby hadn't the slghtes
notion Of this. To speak the truth,
had not begun yet. The shrill CT.
continued growing louder and louder
the passengers commenced starin,
hard ut the berth and harder at on
another. The garrulous old gentleman
laid aside his magazine and remarked
sarcastically, "rhis is pleasant"
The portly lady opened her water,
eyes as wide as she could aud cx
claimed, "Dear mel"
The spinstcr wore an air of virtuou
triumph and said nothing. dare sa
she congratulated herself upon he
lucky escape. The commercial trayelc
looked wicked. Hal, | am sorry to say
swore and tumbled into bed In no yer
envable frame Of mind.
Presently everyone sought his OF he
resting place, the lamps were lowered
and the porter made hmsctas comfort
able rs the rules OF the company woul
permit. But through it all that bah
cried. The storm raging without wa
mild in comparison with the storm rag
ing within.
"By Jove ~ exclaimed Hal, bed is
mockery. OF all the nuisances | eve
came in contact with this takes tn
palm. What do the parents mean b
letting it scream like that? Why dom
they attend properly TO their business?
AT this he opened The curtains, lool
cd out, and calling to me, said
"Will, the father has it, and he S hole
ing it upside down."
The tall, dark man was slridiDg Il
and down carrying, and most clumsil
at that, the child, who appeared 20 b
about two years old, and who beat hin
with her little fists and struggled I
get on the floor, all the while cryin
Justify. The dark gentleman was pc
fectly unmoved; he paced the car in
mechanical way, paying not the Sigh
> est heed either 10 the baby or the man
uncharltable remarks he could not in
TO overhear. An hour passed, aud sli
the night was made hdeOus 10y tho'
piercing screams.
: "Thunderationn roarcd Hal, "wi
the little beggar never have done!