Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-01

takcrN
"A railway man has brought child sir.
He says it is to be left here"
"There must be some stupid mistake
"No doubt, sir" said Whitaker, respect
fully, but showing that his opinion quite coin
cidcd with his masters"
"Where is the manN asked Horace
"1n the hall, sir"
"Dd he wipe his shoesr asked Herbert, in
dread
Certainly sir; Il insisted upon his doing So"
I'VE had better see the stupid man and set
the matter right" said Horace. Excuse us
for moment, Mr. Mordle"
The two tall men walked into the hail. leav-
ing Mr.. Mortlle to chuckle at his case. Halle
wood House was certainly most interesting
place this evening. 1t was lucky for the
curate that he INDUCED in his merriment
with his face turned from the door. as in a
minute the respectable Whitaker entered
the room. That functionary was most ten
acious that due respect should be shown to
his masters. Most probably the look of
vivid amusement on Mr.. Mordles features
would, had he seen it, have made an enemy
for life of the faithful Whitaker.
"Mr. Talbert and Mr.. Herbert would he
glad if you would step out for a moment, sir"
Thereupon Mr.. Mordle went into the hall
of the actors concerned not being the least
comical part of it. Standing sheepishly on
the door mat, or rather on one of the legion
of door mats was a stolid-faced porter in his
! uniform of brown fustan, velveteen, or
whatever they call the stuff On either side
of the massive oblong hall-table stood one of
| the Talberts, while between them, on the
table itself, was a child with a mass of tum-
bled, hossy, golden hair streaming down from
under natty little cap. Horac and Her.
BERT each armed with his horn-rimmed eve
| glass, and with looks of utter CONSERVATION
and bewilderment upon their faces, were
bending down and inspecting th" child.
To Mr. Morde's imaginative mind, the
| group suggested picture he had once seen
of the Brobdignagans taking stock of Gull
liver; nor could the picture have been in any
way spoiled when he himself a tall man,
went to one end of the table, while Whit
taker, another tall man, stood at a becoming
distance from the other end ard joined in
the scrutiny of the dminutive stranger.
This is most extraordinary thing!n
said Horace. 1.-The child is sent by rail
addressed here"
Mr. Mordle read the ticket: "H. Tabert
Esq, Hazlewood House, Oakbury, near Black
| town"
Where did you say it came FROM" asked
Herbert, turning to the stolid-faced porter
Let us hear all about it again"
Guard of five o'clock down gentlemen; he
says child was left in first-class carriage
| Mother got out at Ddcot, and missed the
train or didn't come back. Guard told me to
get cab and bring the child here. Said I'd be
paid well for my trouble. Cab was three and
six, e ntlemen."
''There must be some mistake. What are
we to do!" asked the brothers.
Don't expect any visitors l supposer
asked the curate.
None whatever. You must take the child
away again" said Horace turning to the por-
ter. The man gaped.
"What am / to do with it, sir?" he asked
Lost parcels Office" suggested Mr.. Mordle
quietly. Whitaker gave him reproachful
look. The matter was too serious one for jest.
Cut the label off, was the curate's next
piece of advice. There may be n letter under
| it."
They took it off The label was a piece Of
writing paper gummed on to plain card
which had been torn or cut rregularv. No
letter was concealed beneath it. Then they
searched the pockets of the child's little coat,
but found nothing Their perplcxity in
creased.
'I'll wish you good evening, gcntlrmcn,"
said the porter. Cab was three ami SIX
The "Tabbies" were on the horns of Il diem
ma. The eyes which could detect the dscrep-
ancy in the unfortunate Mrs jenkins stock
ings We're able to see that the baby was
well, even very well, clad 1t was just posi-
bic that a letter had mscarried-possblet that
some one was coming to Lakewood House
without invitation or notice-that she had
really missed the train at Didcot; that she
would arrive in the course of an hour or two
and explain matters. The safest plan was to
keep the child for while.
Having settled this, Horace fished five
shillngs out of his pocket and sent the porter
away happy. Thereupon Herbert produced
a half crown which he handed to his brother,
who pocketed it without comment and a
matter of course They were not misery
men, but made point of being just and ex-
act in their dealings with one another down
to the uttermost farthing Much annoyance
would be saved if all men We're the same a.
the TabertS with respect to small sums New
ertheless, this rigid adjustment of matters
pecunary was trait in their characters
which greatly tickled Mr. Mordle.
All the while the little boy, with fat sturdy
legs placed well apart, stood upon the great
oak hall table. The lantern of many colored
glass over his head threw rich warm tints on
his sunny hair He seemed in no way shy or
terrified: indeed, If any fault could be found
in his bearing it was that his manners were
more familiar than such a short acquaintance
justified. As the dignifed brothers once more
bent over him to resume their examination
he seized Mr.. Herbert's watch chain in hi>
chubby fist and laughed delightfully."- laugh
which Mr.. Mordle echoed He had long looked
for suitable excuse for expressing his feel
ings in this way. The situation was so funny
An unknown child foisted upon his friends al
this hour of the night No dirty beggar'
brat, but pretty, well-dressed little boy, ole
enough to possess a row of tiny whit, teeth
but not it seemed, old enough to give any
explanation of this unwarrantabe intrusion
The child had such large, bright blue eyes
such wonderful golden hair, such fearless anC
confident ways, that Herbert, who was fonc
of children, patted the bright head and pulled
out his watch that the little rascal might
hear it tick; while Mordle slipped back to the
dining room and returned with couple OF
unwholesome macaroons
Nearest way to a child's heart through the