Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-24
Keep track OF all her relarlonss

My wife looked from her sister to me with
tear filed eyes of inquiry.
''Meanl" Arabella almost shouted SIS it
possiblea Louisa, you are that stupid you
can't understand thingl Your husband"
ironically, "has submitted to you the basest
insult conceivable" She seized my wife by
thearm and began to hiss something in her
ear that did not catch. My wife hid her
crimson face in her hands and began to weep.
A horrible suspicion now seized me. Ara
bella's significant looks and words, my
wife's anguish-did they think-good gra-
ciousl No; it could not bel There must be
some explanation about this awful affair. A
cold trenor ran through my frame-my
clothes felt mile too big-a prickly heat
attacked mel broke out in a profuse per-
spiration as realized the view of the situa-
ton which they had taken.
"Arabellal Louisal' | cried, desperately,
there's some COMPOUNDED mistake about
this; found the baby in my Office and your
note" but they swept past me, unheeding
my voice, Louisa with head bowed on her
sisters shoulder, Arabelia with chin aloft in
naughty disdain. l thought of following
them and compelling them to listen to me,
but little crowd of passers by had gathered,
some of whom were curiously making inquiry
of their neighbors as to the cause of the ex-
cltement, who answered in whispered re-
marks with leers and knowing looks cast at
me.
Wishing to avoid repetition of the scene,
rushed down the side street from which I
had come, bearing the baby, the innocent
cause of tine tumult with me. What could l
do with it? AS | rushed headlong down the
street racked my brains in vain to think of
the location of q founding asylum. There
was no river near into which could pitch
it. A sudden impulse seized me to knock its
head against stone, and throw it over a
wall. My innate pity checked my madness
would lay it on the low stoop of one of the
houses and run off as fast as could. No;
big policeman just then doomed up in the dis
lance He would see me, give chase, would
be captured, hauled up before the police
courts for desertion, it would all get into the
papers, my reputation, my business would be
ruined How the reporters those soulless
vultures, would gloat over my unfortunate
predicament With what fiendish avidity
they would run over all the town to
gather up every scrap of my past history,
how came by the mysterious baby. Strange
~ enough, the idea that somebody would find
out where the baby belonged gave me a
sense Of relief during these distracting
thoughts.
The policeman approached He seemed to
be kind looking parsonage l determined
tol throw myself on his mercy and implore
his protection When | met him, | stopped
and told him my story with fear and trem-
bling Hi listened with interest, and was
moved with compassion but whether toward
me or toward the baby could not determine
He suggested taking it to the station house.
which we did and there we left the trouble
some little intruder, mentally wishing it
might be committed for disorderly conduct
and disturbing the peace.
l rushed back home only to find the door
locked in my face. l rang the bell violently.
Arabella opened window, looked out, and
seeing me, disdained to answer, drew her head
in and closed the blind with bang. rang
again and called to them to let me in. A voice
inside-it was Arabella's-informed me, in
no uncertain tone, that couldn't come in
till they got ready to leave"
Louisa is going home with me tonight
and leave the house to you and your friends
forever"
She said this very tragically, with an idea
of stirring me to abject contrition.
There was no help for it. l had to wait till
they were ready to depart, and it took them
an unreasonably long time to get themselves
and Arabella came out, accompanied by my
wife, deeply yelled. l seized Louisa by the
arm and said: 'This foolishness has got to
stop. You are not going to leave this house
tonight till this business is cleared up"
"Oh, no doubt you can explain it all per-
fectly satisfactorily to yourself" said Ara
bella sneeringly.
would not notice her, but spoke to my
wife, who began to weep. At this moment
some one rushed up the steps to where we
were standing, and decidedly Hibernian
voice franticalfy began to ask: "Where's me
babbyI where's me babby! Faith and e's
locked up in the sthore, e is, e isl An Dim
most kilt entoirely Oh ami being that scaret
that Olive run iv'ry step O. ther way, an Oh
isn't tuck er BIRTH er wind since lift Their
sthore with me poor little Micky locked up
in it, an 'es kilt dead entoirely, may Their
Vargin protect imp
1t was Mrs. Bridget Mulhaly, one Of my
tenants very worthy woman. 1t appeared
that she had called at the office soon after
Arabella and Louisa had gone to settle for
her months rent, which she always paid
promptly. being out, she had left her young
baby in the Office till she went out to do some
marketing. Being detained she did not re-
turn till after had closed the office. told
her where she could find young "Micky," and
ske departed with many EXPLANATIONS Of joy.
Louisa threw herself in my arms and wept
immoderately, while Arabella maintained
dignifed silence. I experienced an immense
relief and was the first to speak:
"Arabella," said, ''who is Topsya"
'Topsya Why, Topsy is my dogl"
"Je-rusalernl l thought Topsy was the
babyl'-C. R. Hardy in Detroit Free Press