The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-10

Mr. Nicholson had followed her on tiptoe
and was stirring the softly shining heap on the
floor with his patent-leather shoes, as If he half
imagined that she had tossed the baby out
among them.
"Wel2" said Agatha sharply.
"Well2" he echoed feebly.
ado you mean TO say" she said, putting aside
| her angry vehemence and speaking tearfnlly,
with her gray eyes turned up to his-"Oh,
John. do you mean 10 say that you have lost
herr"
al never touched her," he cried hastily; 81
never heard her he would have added. bnt
! again that faint memory-that dream--stirred
! him. Upon my honor, Agatha" he said alb
| ruptly, leaning down into the cradle and polk
ing at the mattress with his thin fingers, upon
my honor ] can't remember"
"NOu can't remember!" said Agatha, with
slow scorn. why. John, she roared Cook
| heard her in the kitchen. She came rushing
up, and found the cradle empty and baby gone.
! She thought you had taken her into the study;
! she told me so but oh. John, it was somebody
else and they have stolen her"
my dear" he said, shaking himself together
and speaking more lightly, who would steal
her2-a baby roaring, rs you say!" He sbud-
dered. "Why, surely, no one in his senses
would do such thing!'
"Emmys babyl" cried Agatha, tearfully,
and that is how you speak of her! Oh. John,
dear John, think again; didn't you hear her
! Perhaps yon have Orgotten-perhaps you have
put her somewhere aud she has gone to sleep.
| Sit down, John. and think; perhaps you have
| put her somewhere and forgotten"
Mr.. Nicholson sat down on the window sill
and covered his face with his hands. He tried
! to think but whenever he concentrated his
mind on the baby he was dimiy conscious of
| that fading fancy that he could not grasp-that
dream of a cry. IL had disturbed him. he re-
membered, that loud, painful, Earring cry. but
| it had died away: surely it had died into peace
without his interference Agatha" he said
lifting up his face, sharpened with the effect of
thought " lido remember something somebody
/ crying; it must have been the babe"
Yes" said Agatha eagerly, "gO onl You
heard her That is right. Cook says you
must have heard her, she roared So Well,
and then2 You
IL can't remember Agatha ! may have
/ gone on writing; that seems the most likely, i
| think but may have gone to the door. No."
shaking his head 81 can't get beyond the cry.
| / do remember that now distinctly"
Perhaps" said Agatha hopefully, through
/ her tears, "you have put her somewhere in the
4 library. What have you been doing or using
this aftcrnoon?"
| Mr. Nicholson followed humbly ms she swept
/ in before him. and flung open the great cur
tains, so that the light rushed in on TO his Ia
/ bic strewed with plans and manuscript. Even
then he spread out his haeds. almost uncon-
sciously, 10 defend his precious papers from her
/ light, scornful touch; but she stood in the
center of the room, looking into every corner
/ with her quick, soft eyes
what have you used, John-this chair?
/ You have not been to the cupboard? No."
| peeping into a dark recess, musty with papers.
| "What else?"
Nothing else, Agatha, here, except" with n
quick smile, i" the wastc-paper basket, and that
is empty. You can see for yourself"
"Ab," said Agatha. there is cook" as n
| heavy breathing became audible in the passage.
Cook" her voice trembling at sight of the
sympathetic face, your master has not seen
the baby-at least, he thinks not lie was very
| busy, but he heard her cry, and he may have
taken her up and forgotten. Weare looking for
her"
(which you won't never find her. them
1 said cook, in broken voice +" In my last place
but one, where ! was general cleaner in Mrs.
| ALPS family, there was child disappeared rs
it might be this, aud il WAS never fOuud-gyp-
sizes or not, it was never come across again"
"Oh, don't cook :" cried Agatha, pantively.
"And Emmy coming this EVENING" Your
master thinks be may have put her somewhere
aud forgotten. He remembers hearing her"
Which he might" said cook, not being
| deaf Which ] don't mean no disrespeet. sir,
/ but she was roaring awful, and / says 10 Mary,
says /, Masier'll never know iow 10 quiet that
/
and stops to change my apron. aud ! ups, as ii
! might be here. aud the cradle, as il might be
/ there, and no sound, and the cradle was empty
as il is this minute"
/ Cook turned dramatically. and pointed one
/ stout arm 70 the little cradle in the sunlight
| Mrs. Nicholson's fearful eyes followed the hand,
and her husband stood uneasily in the center
| OF the group, with an anxious frown upon bis
face.
Which," added cook scornfuIly, "I think q
baby-and such a one, bless her!-is Of more
valley than all this rubbish" She waved heI
hand over the table, ON which lay the neat
manuscript and the rows Of nended pens; and
| Mr. Nicholson moved instinctiyely step back
| ward as IL she had an evil eye and his writings
would shriycl up al her gcornful gesture
Cook. !" said Mrs. Nicholson. with dignity
| marrcd little by the culver ia her voice, you
don't understand. Your master is very clever
and his writings are Of great value OF course, .
/ with pleading look upward, baby is our frat
thought just now. There are no wild beasts
here, SO she cannot be eaten. But she hai
gone, aud before Emmy comes this evening she
must be found"
"of course she must" said her husband
plucking up courage from her exceeding gentle
ness. We will begin systematically, and IL
through every room in the house"
So the search began. that ended an hour later
IN the great hall with three pcrplcxcd face
| meeting each other at the loot oil the Stairs, ~
a silence that Mrs. Nicholson broke.
It's no use, John; | cannot bear II an,
longer. She is LOST"
She flung out her empty hands with despair
ing gesture, but her husband caught and hel,
them.
Don't give up, Agatha; 1t will all COM
right. III i search the world through, vii
find her"
Or the body" said COOK.
Ars. Nicholson shuddered.
The minutes silence was broken by a SCUM,
Of merry laughter and the trampling Of feet
For minute Agatha raised her head listeninj
intently, and then she dropped il with a sigh
" II is only the rectory boys. john" she said
they have been in the bayfield, all day aud
asked them TO tea. i can't speak TO them, an
, too anxious"
She would have moved away, but the nois
and laughter were in the ball already, and til
boys were stumbling up toward her in TIA
darkness, over the rugs aud skins. somethin
white was being showed from one 10 the othei
and was pushed into Agatba's arms at last an
held there by pair Of rough, sunburne
hands.
What is it2 Oh, Jack. what is it2" sh
cried. bending down and kissing TO their own
er's great surprise. the boys rough hands.
Don't, / say" said Jack, drawing ther
{ away with q curious. shameful look at
only the baby, Mrs. Nicholson. She was CRY
ing in the cradle, SO / jast got into the ROOF
aud bagged her. She's been playing in tli
r hay she nearly got jabbed with rake bu
, Jim got IL instead. She's jolly little thinl
: Did you miss herr"
: Yes, / thought she was LOST said Agath