Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-11-26
copyright. 1891. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Col
CHAPTER IL-CoNrINUED.


monster again, my sweet man," the
child cried, caressingly laying her hand
on her mothers shoulder THE disa-
greeable creature made you quite ill
last Friday with his vulgar suspicious,
and / am sure there is no law which
can make you do unpleasant things if
you don't want to"
ssHush, dear,'' the mother chided, she
did but his duty, though his manner
of performing it was unnecessarily
harsh-but, oh, Kate, look at that love-
ly child in the arms of the woman
among the steerage passengers. Sure
" the little creature cannot belong to
her."
Kate gazed in the direction her
mother pointed, and an exclamation of
admiration burst from her lips.
stout, neat, healthy, Countrywide wOm-
an of about thirty years of age stood
little apart from the rest holding in her
arms a two-year-old baby girl, whose
radiant beauty glowed the brighter for
its humble surroundings.
Her golden curls were f1uttering in the
breeze, her round blue eyes were fash
ing with intelligent wonder on the an
mated scene, and her complexion was
soft as a fairy's and tinted by the sea
breeze, bisquelike in it's exquisite del
icacy. No sculptor could have nodded
a claster form of health and innocence.
Mems eyes grew softer as they looked
at her. All, me! what wonderful in
fluence the beauty of childhood has
over us. The man whose nature is sat
urated in greed, whose God is gold,
whose ledger is his Bible, breaks his
idols and becomes human at the lisped
bidding of an infants prattle. Verify
these little ones, around whom fingers
the breath of angels, are sent on earth
to redeem our gross humanity.
Mrs. Evesham forgot her disappoint-
ment in her wondering admiration.
''Oh, mann DEAR" Kate cried, quite
carried away by the beauty Of the vi
sion. Il must go to her for just one
noment-may I?''
Before Mrs. Evesham could interpose
an objection, the impetuous girl had
flown from her mothers side and was
caressing the baby, who held out her
hand with charming confidence and was
quito willing to toddle off with her new
found friend
''You may take her if you like for
moment, MISS" the woman said, won
by Hates pleasing manner, "while
see if my tickets and checks are all
right. All, it is hard task to come to
a strange country without a friend to
help one"
Kate led the baby across to her
mother.
''Oh, mamma" she cried, with en-
thusiasm, did you ever see such a wee,
winsome darling?"
''She is beautiful child" Mrs. Eve
sham replied, but do you notice how
we'll she is dressed-quite out of charac-
ter with the woman, who does not look
/. like nurse, and certainly cannot be
her mother"
Eyes mann, darling; but, having such
beautiful baby, perhaps she spends
all her money over it. l am sure I
would
You do not understand, Kate, that it
needs taste as well as dollars to dress
child like this
The much-criticised baby accepted
placidly these remarks on her personal
appearance, which she seemed to I'M
derstand, for she smOothed her dress
with her hands and burst into a merry
laugh of dissatisfaction.
Certainly Mrs. Evesham was right.
No vulgar hand designed the little ones
costume.
She wore fine India muslin dress
with robe front of Valenciennes inser-
ton and deliberately trimmed with deep
lace of the same costly material. Her
dress was cut low with short sleeves,
and round her neck was hung fine,
pale coral necklace with gold mount
ings. Short, white lace socks clasped
herrounded limbs; her tiny feet were
Il el,o
her embroidered fannels and dainty
petticoats, as they peeped from be-
meath her dress, were perfect specimens
of the seamstress' art. A cluster of
shining curls fell over her shoulders be-
meath a lace cap, and the soft, fluffy
bangs which surnounted her fair fore
head made the lovely little face be-
meath almost ethereal in it's sweet
expression.
But the smile died on the lady's face,
for her glance fell on small parch-
ment label attached to a silk cord,
which was tied round the child's waist.
On this she read:
Wanda Arlington,
Care of Ambrose Arlington, ESQ,
No. II A, w Forty ninth street,
New York, U. s."
BY this time the woman had Joined
the little group. Mrs. Evesham rose
excitedly and faced her.
In Heavens name" she said,
where did you get this child?'' while
Kate stood with round eyes wondering
at her mothers excitement, and even
baby puclzered up her pretty lips in
fearful mood.
The woman, startled by the intense
ness of the lady's question, colored
scarlet, and bursting into flood of
tears replied in an accent which re-
minded one of the hills and dales of Der
byshire:
There! knowed how it would be.
thought from the very first that there
'ud be trouble ahead. A lady would not
trust a little pet like this-which one
can see with half an eye has been born
o gentlefolks-to a strange woman on
an emigrant ship, if some screw was not
loose. though / am sure I've done my
duty by her. Then, the five pounds
did come so good just as 1 was startin'
off for a foreign land to join my
husband, who is carpenter an served
his time in the best shop in Derby an
was doin' as well as man could do, till