The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-10
\ LOST BABY.
A Scientific Student Takes Care of
An Innocent Infant.
CHAPTER j.

titude, with the study door half open, and her
ewes turning from the quiet figure in the arm
chair by the table TO another open door in the
passage behind her, through which she could
see a food Of sunshine, and in the sunshine
cradle.
" ] don't feel quite easy" she said; am so
afraid she should cry and no one hear her, L
wish 1 had not let nurse go out; but all You
have 10 do, coming into the room and speaking
Imprcssvely. " all you have TO do IS to ring the
bell yiolenty-violently, remember-ior cook.
For Heavens sake. John" leaning on the table
and stretching ont pretty hand TO attract her
hushands attention, look mp, or speak, or an
Ewer me, or You will drive me mad !"
What is il all about, Agatha?" The calm.
placid. intelligent face opposite was lif ed
gently aud the thin finger was slipped on the
page 10 mark pause.
"It is baby. John" said Mrs Nicholson. in a
faltering voice, and with idle, angry tears roll
ing down her cheeks "Here have j, for the
last 10 minutes, been begging and imporing OF
you 20 remember baby; not 10 nurse her,
wouldn't trust you, bat only TO ring the bell If
abe cries.
Docs that stop her? 1t seems simple
enough. / think even can do that"
But Mrs. Nicholson shook her head, still
weeping.
You may laugh at me OF sneer if you like
II il were my own baby | would say nothing,
would bear il all; but Emmy's!"
"A
bic pushed the book away and lost his place.
be looked at her in a bewildered way.
What is it, Agatha? baby! o, Emmy's
baby, Of course"
IS And not one half one-hundredth part, one
thousandth part as valuable in your eyes"
broke in Agatha, with impetuosity, =" as the
smallest, the most unknown, the most undis-
covered star! You need not tell me; know
st."
"Of course" frowning gently, "everyone
knows that q star, however small-stars are not
famous according TO their size, my dear-is OF
infinitely more value than one hair of baby's
head. mean "-hastily-" speaking from the
entirely scientific point of view; bat as You
were saying-you were saying, were you not
IA little d0ubtfuily-" something about that
unfortunate babe Of Emmy's?"
Mrs. Nicholson had dried her eyes, and was
confronting him in all the cool splendor of her
pretty Summer dress, and with all the calm
determination Of a woman who has made up
her mind.
YES, ! was" she said "only. once for all,
John, ii yon call IL a babe ] will leave your
house nj once and never, never come back;
and II You call it unfortunate ] shall take that
hateful manuscript with me and burn il at the
kitchen fire. IL il were yours with i'm
FASHIONED irony-"it might indeed, be de-
Bcribed as unfortunate; but Charles is the best
Of fathers, and be has always been the best Of
husbands
Yes. yes, Of course. my dear. ! said moth
ing against Charles; ] did not know we were
talking about him. We can finish him up to-
night "-cbeerfuly. IF that is all, you had
better 20 out now, while it is ine" turning
mis- eyes 70 the dazzling sunlight for an in
ttaut and then back 10 bis blotted page. You
can tell me about Charles, you know, when
FOu come in. The best Of husbands / don't
know much about them. / fear, but / know q
bttie about the best Of wives"
He rose and laid his hand IN the loup eiHn-
der, soft gray glove that was leaning with de-
termination on his neat manuscript The gray
glove closed round his hand gently aud chung
% him, almost as If il were 10th 20 leave the
thin, worn fingers; but be patted il gently and
laid il aside. Mrs. Nicholson gave a faint sigh,
but when she spoke again she spoke with less
decision and more pleading.
IL is not Charles. indeed il Is not; IL is the
baby. Nurse has gone out. and have put her
cradle in the morning room by the window.
John" suddenly, are you listeningl What
did ! say lasty7
The morning room. Agatha"
Well" with sigh Of relief " ] see you are
taking il in and forgetting those horrible stars;
and how you can compare a star 70 q baby"
parentheticaily, =" is past me"
am sure i never did" me said gently.
Well don't interrupt me, John, or ] shall
never get out. What was ] sayingf Oh. baby
is IN the morning room, and IL be cries-maRes
one sOUnd-y0u are TO ring your bell--this bell,
gehn-foF cook; do you understaudg"
Yes, believe 50. am 10 ring the bell
this bell-for cook"
oh, I hope you will" after pause.
Fancy" her eyes filling with tears again. % if
she cried, and no one heard her, o, John, you
viii not deceive met You win try-and-
ringf"
Ny dear" speaking with some dignity.
surely am not utterly destitute Of common
humanity or common sense. / have interest
ing work here" pointing TO the manuscript
and the books Of reference heaped around him ;
bot suppose, after ali. ] am human"
90, ] hope 50, ] think 80" cried Agatha,
elasping her hands; only you might not hear
her. that WIS all meant"
Then ! think" be said, with gentle, sar.
castle smile, =" that you may dismiss your fears
they arc quite groundless"
Very well" said Agatha, moving In a hest
Eating way 10 the door Il am satisfied am
trying 10 be satisfied don't forget"
No, cheerfullY: " will take leaf from
ChaTless book, the best Of husbands"
On the gray glove had closed on the
handle the door but released il again" the
RaynteFs are coming tonight, 30 you must not
70 out star-gazinR"
"bll right" obedienfy; "good-by."
GOOd-by." The bright face, that had al.
most disappeared round the door came back
again, and leaned against the worn yelveteet
Di the astronomers coat; for a minute the lip
were pressed 70 1t, then lifted. Kiss me. John
you are 3 dear old fellow after all. and / am
6end"
The sunshine seemed to leave the room will
the sweet bright presence and hover over IN,
pretty cradle, among the sounds and scents 0
the Midsummer day. Ia the library thcr
was only one shaft a light that came through
the high windows and fell across the old vel
Veteen coat, and the tidy manuscripts. and th
open books, and left the handsome clever, re
fined face IN shadow.
CHAPTER ii.
u might have been two hours afterward-
painful afteT-eVents created Infusion In Mf
AichOisons mind. and the two hours Nigh
have been two days-Bben he became aware O
laugh IN the passage by the door. His hanr