Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-24
T0PSY.

| with which l have introduced myself, and
are forthwith ready to declare you will not
read anything that such heartless wretch
would write. But beg of you to withhold
| your indignation till qualify my remark by
| further declaring that the antipathy which
exists in my breast for these necessary MEM
bers of society is for babies per Sc. and does
not at all apply to those useful but noisy
young persons into which they subsequently
develop.
We have had several babies come to our
home at various times with somewhat alarm
ing frequency and l have been a martyr to
their despotic sway many cold and stormy
night the which were l to relate an army of
heroic brothers would at once rise up and ex-
tend the sympathetic hand, with the cheerful
and consoling invitation to put it there"
But this was not the cause of my peculiar
dislike for babies | always submitted cheer
fully to their demands with becoming grace,
being melted thereto by sense of paternal
interest in my offspring and the constant adj
monitions of my respected wife.
1t was baby that nearly wrecked my hap
piness for life; a baby that fell like bomb,
as it were, into our peaceful home, spreading
fear and CONSERVATION among its unsuspect-
ing members and nearly destroying forever
our happy little household, and it was not our
baby, either.
It was before the advent in our family Of
any of those little responsibilities, which lat
terly have not been as dilatory in their arri-
walls as l would like, that the incident oc-
CURED l am about to relate
Louisa and had been married about two
years and were living contentedly in a nice
little house in quiet and refined neighbor-
hood. l had an Office down town where l
conducted real estate agency, giving par
ticular attention to letting houses for my pa
irons, who for the most part lived out of
town and paid me to look after their proper
ty, from which l derived comfortable in
come.
One afternoon l entered my office, after
having been to inspect some houses for which
I was endeavoring to obtain desirable ten
ants, and discovered lying on my desk little
note hastily written with pencil across a
tablet where could scarcely fail to see it. It
read thus:
DEAR GEORGE have come to town to shop to-
day. Louisa and have gone to a matinee. Please
take care of Topsy. Afectionately,
ARABELLA.
Arabella was my wife's sister, who, being
young widow, lived out of town with her
mother. She rarely visited us, and when
she did it was only for few hours at a time,
as she did not like to leave her mother, who
was in feeble health, for any length of time.
"Who in thunder is Topsya'' l mentally
calculated, turning around to see if l could
find anything to which that appellation might
properly be applied. l did not have long to
look. As my eyes glanced toward the lounge
on which was wont to lay my weary frame
after exhaustive arguments with unreasona-
BILE tenants, saw a red faced, pudgy looking
baby, which had been carefully deposited in
the comfortable nook made by the back and
one end of the cushioned lounge. Affecting of
distrust at once seized me, but ! felt greatly
relieved when discovered that the little in
truder was asleep.
81 hope they'll get back before it wakes,nI
said, as turned to my desk and buried my
self in my work The clock struck 5, re-
minding me that it was my usual time of
closing. l put away my books with a sigh
Of relief, and prepared to leave the Office,
when suddenly l remembered the baby. 1t
Yves still asleep, but was annoyed that Lou
lisa and Arabella did not make their appear
ance. The matinee certainly over, and
they would be back directly 1 sat down and
waited. Picking up newspaper l read
awhile till became aware that it was grow
ing darker. I jumped up; it was nearly 6
and Louisa and Arabella not come yet /
wondered if they intended me to carry the
baby home myself Horrible thought l
would wait a little while longer.
The minutes seemed like hours as l still
sought of my having to carry that frightful
burden home with me- The thought had an
awful fascination about it, which l vainly
strove against What would my acquaint-
ances think to see me Juggling about such an
uncouth burdenl
l could not help it. Like one who is
strangely impelled to cast himself headlong
from some lofty precipice over whose brink
he gazes, l was irresistibly moved to seize
that innocent looking child and rush forth
into the street. never pausing till could drop
it safely in the confines of my own home. l
did not know which end to take it BY but /
took it, fortunately, by the proper one, for it
did not awake, closed the door and went out
| Islipped around corner into a side street
| and made my way homeward, making many
| strange turning for | sought the most I'M
frequented thoroughfares hoping not to meet
any one who might chance to recognize me.
In this was fortunate, and was nearing
my own home with feelings of thankfulness,
when, as | turned tho last corner into nv
| own street. heard little scream and al
most ran into two ladies who were crossing
the street, just as came up. | stopped at
once and looked up much relieved when l
recognized my wife and her sister.
"Oh, George!" exclaimed Louisa, show you
frightened usa What on earth have you
gotg' she asked with open eyed wonder, dis
covering the baby.
1t made me angry to see their astonish-
ment, which thought was assumed
''It looks like baby" l said, in tones l
meant to be severe.
"Why, it is baby, Bella, lookr' she said,
unmindful of my sarcasm. "Whose ever is
it2 and where on earth did you get it?" she
went on, looking at it with much curiosity
Arabella looked at the baby with evident in
terest though | saw from her manner that
she did not recognize it as hers.
Were they trying to play off a joke on me?
They did not seem SO. 1 was nonplused at
their manner.
''Why, it's Belas baby" said, somewhat
nettled
"Bella'sl Why, George! How could youa"
exclaimed my wife, reproachfully.
"But it is" l persisted. "What do you
nlean7 l wish you'd take it. This has gone
far enough"
| II should think so,n said Arabella, in dis
sanf,ll voice l saw her turn red. then wA;+e
ps she looked at me coldly There was de-
c:ded sheer on her face as she stepped back
and looked at Louisa.
eff it isn't yours, then whose is ita' spoke,
angrily
She SIMPLY lifted her head, turning 1t aside,
the sheer more decided.
"But, George dear, Bella hcs no baby!"
said Louisa with surprise.
Arabella would not look at me. but OBJ
served my wife with look of pity.
Come, Louisa" she said, "this is an INSULT
not only to me, but to you'll l never could
| have thought it Of him He can tell whose
it is if he will" in a deep, significant tone.
"Reing caught with it in his arms, and stand
here trying to brazen it outl | never saw
such shameless brutality in my lifel"
"What do you mean, Belas" cried my wife,
very much excited by Arabella's manner.
There surely was some horrible mistake. I
sa4ght to have remen bered that Arabella had
no children, but | saw little of her, and
one woman, find, was as much as could
! keep Up with how could be expected to