Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-01-06


gown. and tI,c little 1eet yvsle shoeie
and stocking ess.
DADDY lip me! Daddy 'ip mel.
sobbed the poor little wall. IS she chung
trembling to Ida's skirts.
"a Ted-faced, blOway man staggered
from the hut, braDdishiDg . billet Of
wood in his unsteady grasp, and. after
looking vainly for the child, his ears too
dulletl with drink to hear her suppress
ed sObs, he uttered an oath, and stag
Kered back into the cabin.
A.Be quiet, my poor, baby! No one
shall hurt you again, y eaid Miss North
rup, sootningly; and, putting up her
sketch-book (for the ruined dwelling
had lost its picturesqueness, and be-
come hateful in her sight), she took
the little creatures hand and fastened
back to the farmhouse.
Mrs. Morgan, her landlady, was vol
uble in explanation. IT. -. -.
Lands sake! It's Lol Reese, old |
Sol Rcese's youngster! He's the shift |
lpssest, drunkennest old scamp out of |
States prison. The poor little cree
tur mother died of broken heart !
nigh on to two years ago, and old Soils |
that tormented ugly he won't let none !
O. the neighbors do for the child,
though, goodness knows, we do all we |
can, on the sly She's as pretty little
youngster, when she's clean, as there
is anywhere around-if she could only
be KEEP nice.''
lis there no law to protect her from
his drunken fury?' questioned Ida,
Indignantly. why don't the select
men of the next town do something's
She had begun to wash the tear
stained face, and to smooth the tangled
curls; and Mrs. Morgan paused in her
| task of sliclng cold potatoes for frying,
as she answered, witt q c0ntemptuOus
laugh:
| 1.-The s'lectmen are all afraid to med
die with old Sol for fear he'll set their
| fine houses atirt!' =.
''And meanwhile this poor baby must
run the risk of beirg beaten to death,
said Miss Northrup, with flashing eyes.
"With little assistance from you,
Mrs. Morgan. l shall take the law into
my own hands, selectmen or no select
men,"
After plentiful supper of bread and
milk, Miss Northrup's little charge
was robed in an improvi<ed nightgown,
made of dressing-sack with the
sleeves turned back, and laid to rest in
such bed as her baby fancy had new
or been bold enough to picture; while
her new-fonnd benefactor started
across the fields in company with MI.
Morgan, to interview old Sol.
A few resolute threats on Miss
N"rthrup's part, reinforced by Mr..
Morgan with an occasional drawing,
That's so. Sol! You'll get yourself
into trouble. if the lady takes them
bruises into court. "a string of oaths
from old Sol, who was almost too
drunk to understand what was being
done, and the guardianship of Laura
Henrietta Reese was informally made
over to Miss Ida Northrup, who
omitted her contemplated temperance
, lecture, from sheer disgust, and ,e-
+ turned to her sleeping charge, thank
full that the affair had been so easily
managed.
: The laws of hereditry troubled her
t not. She knew, also, that there were
laws of eradication and pruning; and,
rs she gazed into those innocent blue
.. eyes that opened at her approach, and
+ stroked the silken curls, the coming
E days seems to be full of promise-full
of work and worthiness, She had
''eliminated'' Haines Leavenworth.
She had ''substituted' Sol.
CHAPTER Iu.-sOLUTION.
1t was fatal winter in the great
city where Ida Northrup lived. The
pestilence which brootls in filthy
courts, and dens of moral and physica,
3 uncleanliness. bad struck at the
stron, yholds of aristocracy as well; and
= mourning and desolation were II
!. wealthy homes. where dra:nage-pipes
y were defective, and skill, money anc
devoted love powerless to save.
= Ayoung physician with few patients
e was sitting in his uptown Office talk
= ing with a college friend, when he re
J.. ceived a hasty summons to the house J."
Y Miss Ida Northrup, block or two
distant. "Child very i'll with the pest
s Hence" the message ran.
: His friend started at the name.
o do you know Miss Northrup
Charley?' he inquired, nervously.
s II have met her at old DR.. vii
8 lard s." was the young physicians re
d ply. "She is intimate with hi
q daughter Mary. l believe she ha'
lately adopted u child-some poor lit
tie waif whom she picked up las
t summer in u farming village.
J, He went on hurr;c''''; collecting
d phials and powders, and was donnine
his street coat, when lis friend ex.
claimed:
J. Charley, for old friendships sake,
8 listen to me a minute, and don't thwar'
e me, l beg of you. 1t is matter OF
:, life and death with me!''
When DR.. Bruce entered the room,
: where Ida Nor,hrup's little charge lay
e stricken with the fever, he was followed
s by grave. professional man, wearing
: green glasses. and grizzled beard.
whom he introduced as "'nurse,' y
. Robert Stafford. He had providentially
;. met him and brought him along, as il
; was almost impossible to procure q
$ lady nurse at present, so great wa3 the
D demand. Miss Northrup was SO ab'
D sorhed in her adopted child. SO anxious
r for the doctor verdict, that she scarce