The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-27
THE GOLD BABY.
By lone L Jones,

In a small room on the third floor of d cheap boarding house in front of "a stand on which was piled d glittcring heap of gold. sat d lean. awkward-look ing young man of about twenty eight years of age
 His small gray eyes were fixed greed ily en the coin before him. the result of his la>t investment. He presently arose and moved about the room in a state ef ners ous eNhilaration pausing now and then la cast a loving glance al hiS yellow idols on the table
 Yes, said he chuckling worth if. teen thousand dollars, made every cent ] of it myself l.cit school carly- com mcnced aS poor aS q church-rat, worked night and day and now count my money hN the thousands
 Quite rich enough to get married continued he laknsly, as he shrugged his shoulders and smiled romplaisantly at his reflection in the cracked looking glass that swung in crooked fashion 1 from the sloplng wall ot the iorlnru lit 1 tie room
 Thc town clock struck eleven His musings ceased The hoard an the tahie was lovingly gathered up. aud i cousi sued tu thu custody of a small iron safe in the corner of the room , The door wns locked and within half an hours time could have been heard the regular breathing of a man heavily aslerl The mscr was building fort unes III dreamlaud
 Ideas of matrimonS that had been vaguely tluttering through SilaN Mug get brain for d wear past now resolved themselves into a settled determination to takr to himself a wife
 The quest for a partner commenced almost immediately That h" aspir"d to the hands of the richest the most beautiful and the most highly cultured ladies uf his natiV" town lid nat Sur pris, those who we're acquainted with the assurance ot th, man That he succeeded in gaming the affections nt Il young and lovely girl with d sweet face and small fortune ot her own, called forth their well-n"rlted surprlse nnd sympathy Cupid betrayed her into the arms ot llsmen, and both laughed heartily over the joke at thcir next an bros t;tl feH~t
 Sia~ Nuggets wifu was an orphan. and hnd for several years before her marriage. resided with her mother si,. ter, a iady ot many pcculinritI"- of tenn per Nunt and nicc" were totally un- conpcuial The place had never seemed like home to tn" young girl. and sh" now looked forward with the trucst happiness to th" posseSsi"n of r"nl home of her own What though the house was small nnd lingv, and situated on one of the back streets Of thc town, did not love enter the unpnIntrd door by her side? The walls were bare and cold the furniture plain and stiff but what are bare walls and hard furniture tn d homc-makIng woman with hnry - hIAin- and two loving hand- She would transform the place into ap"ri"ct paradise of comfort
 One evening as they were sitting by tn" fire. Dorctt" coniid"d to her bus band these littl" plans for h"nuiifyinR their small dwelling
 Why" said he, "th" hous" i~ good enough as 1t is for all can Pie. turcs and knlck- knRc ks are well enough for those who can afford them, but you must remember that y"u are the wife of poor man Dorcttc, and you must mol get foolish notions into your head and now that l think of II, don't you think we can dispense with the girl in th" kitchen2 My mother always did her own work when was at home, and you seem strong and we'll and We want to be aS saving and careful a= wc can. you know
 Tn" small servant was diHchareed and little Dorrtt" commenced th" hrst real work of her If" Sllas invested his young wifi. s money to the beet adyau- tage He generously favored her with hi- experienced advice about financial matter- II" kept the strict"rt account of all the household rxpen-e- and his honeymoon ki-soz were luxuriantly fla yorcd with lengthy di.s"rtntion- oii economy
 Dorrtt" did her utmost to pleas" her ruoney-loying hu4band The more she rinched and planned the more she was expected to du so Live close now and we will be rich rorfr. day. wife. wns constantly diunrd into her ears Her own principal wa- investcd and a~ often d. the interest became due ], ehared the -nine iat" so the little wo- man was a- dep"ndcnt a. though shc had not q cent in the world She grew c. hate the word economy
 All remon.trance with her htshand was in vain lii- passion for money get tIng grew stronger upon him day by day L. the exclusion of all other sentim"nts and sad look came into the eyes of the lonely wife Time pas-"d on and nj the end of two years child WAS born bat what wae the surprise of the nur.e when che discovered that the little one was entirely of old-beautfully formed with a sweet get smiI" on his lipn. and two bright giittering eyes silas Mug get who wa- not fond of children and had looked upon the advent of the little stranger a- an additional expense. evinced no particular disappointment when the fact was announced to him In fact as the nurse aftrrward related.
 auare light came into his eyes when he looked at the gold baby"
 Dorette vas inconsoiabie; her mother .f.