The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-02-04

Ways linen be felt Kind Of msIaa-
choly with the idea that somebody
might come IatsI and claim the child.
Bill had never read . story book In his
life. so no romance Of rich father and
mother coming in q carriage to demand
their lost baby presented itself to his
imagination.
Bill became parsimonious, and that
week saved almost every cent Of his
wages. He begrudged himself even
the tobacco he chewed. he only kept
sufficient money for his most neagro
wants. He never took drink aud de-
ciined being treated. To Molly he gave
his money.
Sure enough. the little boy, when.
Bill next saw him, had on Bow frock.
and with what pride Molly exhibited
him to her brother!
He Just looks like daisy, Molly.
Isn't be prettyI Kind Of sleepy, amt
lie. Molly"
He does sleep > good deal. but
t.iat's natural. Bill Much you know
:.oout babies! But, Bill what's this
pie of money fora ! amt spent all
you gave me yet I don't want il and
las child don't. His cost for keep is
and now and then You can give him
bit of clothes. As you say. when Win
Ter comes the poor little lamb will want
thicker thinSs, and they cost more
money. Here. amt going to take
lis, depriving you Of your hardearned
wages"-and Molly made q motion as
| If to return the handful Of silver.
But, Mol, just hold hard minute.
lie mayn't want it now. SuPposin'
work was slack and didn't earn moth
ing. You have got to keep the cash
Tor the time the boy grows Has got
10 go to school, and has got to look as
nice as any other boy. He's to be he'd
dicated-knoW something more nor
handling bricks Don't be do Lot Of
sleeping. Molly?" inquired Bill Anx-
iously.
oh! don't you keep worrying about
him. He's been playing ever so sweet.
Maybe he's one Of them children what
:alks late in life, and they, so hear
tell, is always the smartest in the long
run. Fact e, Bill, have Q surprise
for you. He never said word before
yesterday. Twas afraid myself he was
kind of dumb"
Bill aVerted his face and then looked
out on the water. for the brother and
sister were talking on the dock.
'But-but. to-day, Bill he said mud
der so sweet, and then he said il over
and over again. and held out his pretty
little mouth to be kissed. Oh. Bill. his
senses is coming back to him, slow, but
sure;" and Molly cuddled the sleeping
child closer to her breast.
Bill kept right on in the good way
he had planned for himself and never
swerved hairs breadth. Molly was
his savings bank. Brother and sister
contributed to the child's support. In
= month Bill was richer than he had
; ever been in his life. Then he insisted
: that Molly should rent better room.
The one she lived in. he said. looked
/ out on u dingy, dreary back yard.
, Stands to reason" said Bill. THAT
t baby should see horses and trucks and
j things a-moving about in the streets.
D Il makes 'em lively"
, Little Bill'-so they called him
{ (MoIly insisting that her brothers
1ame should serve for tho child)-
l proved, but too slowly for big Bill.
' The police surgeon was called in, Bill
s Forster insisting on paying him fee-
: The opinion the doctor gave was a
7 guarded one. There is manifest inn
. pruv"ment-not, perhaps. as rapid as
( / shou.d wish. You are capital nurse.
= ma am, an, ! am sure your kindness
0 and attention " III help the child. Ho
8 | will come round, ! believe"
t The cool weather came, and viii
. lowering temperatures the doctor hoped
. the child would gain strength. The
8 cicatrice on the head had quite healed.
d | Slowly the little boy seemed to acquire
b | new words. Molly wondered at them
. at times, and thought that she had
d taught them TO the child; but then again
y the little fellows adopted mother was
startled by words she felt quite certain
n the child had picked up somewhere
o else. These new words came to the
. child at first vaguely. He would re-
Is peat them over and over again, at first
d hesitatingly. then giving them = slight
II emphasis, as if to fix them on his mind
Is something like little bird that pipes
i she first faint tune 1t has heard.
I, The child was moro awake Row.
q This change delighted Molly. 1t never
l. was fretiuI The child would lay quiet.
d with its blue eyes wide open for hours,
d without q whimper.
Il the dock. Bill WAS busy with the
hawser, but at once he saw that his
/, sister did not have the child in her
u arms; more than that, she was crying
e Bill choked down his grief-he seem
d ed to know at once what had happen
'. ed. One last hope there was. Maybe
b it was so cool that Molly had been
y afraid to bring the child with her.
3 Bill" said Molly. sobbing. ''th'
- poor IlLt1e IelIOW mas SOno SO-SO noAf
" On. 1t was last night He called Il
), me and said: Goodnight, mud-der
70 goodnight, far-der-noW l am coins
u walking in gsrden-goOd-goOd night!
It | Oh, Bill, he had never spoken 50 Ionl
e string of words before-then he play
ed for q moment with ring on my I'm
d ger, and then he added. God blesi
Le far-der and mud-der, and then he look
1t ed so lovingly at me, and around thu
ID room as If Searching for you-and thel
DO he died-so quiet! Bill! Bill! don
e you take on SO! 1t was an accident
10 and God and his little child have ~
et fault to find with you"