The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-01-30
CHAPTER III.
.,,,, condemn thot helpless thing to the
t""' 1rorkhouse.

made his way to the adjutant's quarters,
where be found Mrs. Gray playing with the
mysterious baby.
" Soh, IS that you, Capt. Ferrersr she
exclaimed. "Come and see your waif. She
IS the dearest little thing. Why, do be-
leye she knows you"
Bottles whistled to the child, which
promptly made a grab at his chain, and
rhen be sat down on the sofa on which it
was sprawling, tried very hard to get at the
gold badge on his collar Shoulder badges
had not then come in.
0Mrs. Gray" Boobies said, "shs's very
well dressed, is she nots'
"Oh, very" Mrs. Gray answered, smooth.
jue out the child's skirt SO as to display the
fine and deep embroidery. "Unusually so.
All its clothes are OF the finest and most ex.
peasive description"
Il thought so: it doesn't look like com.
mon child, eh?'
Not at ALL" replied the lady, promptly.
WELL" Bottles told her. 'spve been most
numerically chaffed, which was only to be
expected; but the colonel takes my word
about it, and Of course the others don't mat.
ter. lcan't think, though, why the mother
hos chosen me-"
"Ah, well, you see, Capt. Ferrers," said
tue adju,Ant's wife, with smile, "it is
raiaer inconvenient sometimes to have
character Cor great kindness of heart
should say you are the greatest fevorite in
the regiment, and, naturally enough, the
officers speak of it sometimes in society.
On. Bottles is this. and Boobies is that;
'Bootles wouldn't turn dog from his doors
Beetles would share his last sixpence witt.
apoor chap who was down. and SO on.
have heard, Capt Ferrers, of your empty
ing your pockets to divide among three poor
tramps who had begged no more than pipe
Of tobacco. Ihave heard Of your standing
up for'-w!th a deeper smilc-"the poor
devils OF casuals; and if hear it, why not
otherss why not the mother Of this child.
True. But think you all overratc my
character" Bottles replied, modestly. "You
Know don't go in for being sanity at ALL"
That is just it. If you did you would have
no more influence than !laj Allardyce,
snom every one laughs at. But you don't;
you are one OF themselves, and yet you will
a'"a's help man who Is down; you will do
any any unfortunate creature good turn. Oh,
near q good deal, though you choose TO
ma make hight Of it. And you know, Capt.
fetrefs, we ore not told that the good Sam
alltan made great spluttsring about what
~ aia; but the professional saints, the priest
anu the Levite, passed by on the other side
1ou are very complimentary" Roorles
sa4u, oiushing little; '.nuch more than I
ses,rve, I'm sure. The fellows" laughing
AZ Tue remembrance, ''were much less merci-
~. Then about the child. Dawson sug-
sests sending it to the police station, the
e va 20 the workhouse; and ono means the
other, OF course"
Mts Gray caught the child to her breast
"i uI, a cry CT aisnay, and Bottles went on:
;. tes, ieel es YOU do about it. can't
oN' am that's all about it. It would be
W. my Conscience all my life Besides, some
10y Tue mother might come back for 1t, and
;taousn' OF course, as the colonial saws, there
s nv claim upon me, yet if for tho SAX, Of a
20" pounds l had turned the Door ltd, beg
cur 'aarlit, ruined its life-why simply
NvuI'nt face her, and that's ell abou0 it.,
tnl' besides thai, Mrs. GRAY, have a lurk-
~. Ls suspicion that tia lette:. is genuine, and
,n aS' ~ was not written to or intended fo.
~e. II reads to me like the letter of a
"V ,1t Who was despecate.'
i,aoes' woman must have been desperate
.hass 10 willingly part with such child as
Sas,, ssia Mrs. Gray, smooth nc the gold
'Soy curlS.
,,o. 80 think, for nature is nature all the
s;S 1.1" over BOTTLES answered, "A,.i be.
rosa. 20 tel! You the hone { truth. there is a
k n.,l i'll the child to some one l
Ane" once-"
aes:' eagerly.
so, % no, not that! She is dssa. She was
fon es es TO fellow I knew, desperately
.e, VI n.m and he-jiltel he,. "
..Ha stared. "Who told you4'
mind !, e C. me himself, think to ease bis
"Ah, She M answered, quietly.
hear..huo, wen, it killed her. She diel
and so;,' l saw her." h. said, rising
stsr; long to the window, whence he stood
after 81. out over the square, "a few hour:
lock ,; sue died. That child's mother may
turn i .A e, That now, and I can't and won,
one siso adr'ft, whatever the fellows or any
ali about it,; W '"'i'A CT say anu that's
eyes "o or bright tears gathered in Mrs. Gray's