The Forrest City times., 1891-06-19
and lookw she ordered. She was a

even went to the police station. Coming back from her fruitless ex- petition, she dropped wearily into a chair by the door. Meg could not bear to see her mothers white face. She picked up her nat and crept down stairs.
 An organ man was playing a lively tune, and Lou French's little sisters were dancing to the music. They came up to ask Meg If the baby was found" !" and Meg, without looking at them, choked and rushed down the street. She walked on in a breathless state for several blocks, and happen ed to pause for breath just where there sat, on Q doorstep. 0 boy about twelve years old, with a woebegone and tear-stained face. Meg looked at him and asked, abruptly. What's the matter? Have you lost a baby?" Lost babyl" shouted the boy, in- dignautly. You clear ou. of this!" He seemed to look as if II, thought she was making sport of him. Meg was glad to clear" She had only spoken out of the abundance of her thoughts. She walked along, surveying absently the windows she passed. She wondered if all the babies who lived in those houses were safe, or if their parents were hunting for any of them in grocery stores and police stations.
 At the next corner she stopped again. Three women stood there talk ing Said one of them, a small wo- man.
 Il told her, says I, Mrs. Smith, you'd better report 1t at the station house. It belongs to somebody that s looking for it, of coursen says l.
 "She wouldn't take the trouble She's too elegant" remarked stout woman, sarcastically.
 That's so, replied the last speak CT "She said, Let them that's lost 1t look for it. Jimmie brought it home, and he'll have to amuse it til the mother comes, says she. It serves Jimmie, right, though, the stout woman added, decidedly. "A pretty trick, to wheel home the wrong baby"
 Meg felt faint. She leaned against the railing. Whose baby were they talking about?
 Where was his own?' asked the third woman, who don't seem to un- derstand the circumstances
 Why. you know he left 1t beside a store while he played marbles, and his mothercame along, and took it home to frighten hm"
 "Iial hal hal"
 You may depend she was mad, though, when be brought home strange baby!
 "Hal hat hal"
 Could two babies belost in one day? Meg stood in doubt a few minutes; while the two women discussed the story. She remembered the little boy whom she had seen up the street, and stepped boldly up to the takers.
 Will you please tell me who s found a baby?' she asked.
 The eyes and tongues of all three were directed to her at once.
 "Whyl" ''Well-haveyo lost one?" Mercy on usl do you know whose 1t ls9"
 Me- colored, but stood her ground.
 Somebody wheeled our baby away while 1 went into a store of an errand, " she explained. We've been looking for her all the morning"
 The three women were delighted, They ali insisted on escorting Meg down the street and into the right house The mournful little boy sat on the front steps. his attitude show ing his thorough disgust with life.
 You'd better go up and take care of your twins, Jimmie." laughed the sarcastic woman.
 Jimmie looked at her, his counte- nance expressing unutterable things.
 Come, Jimmie, come" cried the sharp little woman; take us upstairs, We want to see your mother'
 "This young lady has lost her baby, Jimmie, said the tall woman, kindly. Perhaps 1t $ the one you've found.
 ,immie's face frightened, He stole glance at Meg, remembering she had spoken to him He turned into the house, and led the way upstairs.
 Here's somebody come for that baby,' he announced. grutily.
 He threw the door open, and im- mediately got behind it, from whence he could easily observe the proceed ings; or escape, ii he should find 1t prudent.
 II thought somebody would come, exclaimed a drawing voice. l knew the child would be called for. Sheevi- dently belonged to nice people,
 The speaker rocked herself in a low chair Her hair was in papers. and she wore pink wrapper. In her lap lay an embroidered tidy, at which she took languid stitches, It may be re- corded here that Meg gave up tidies from that day.
 She did not stop to examine the lady, however, but snatched up one of the two babies who crawled about the floor, and kissed and hugsed Julia more lovingly than she had ever done ! before
 Jimmie, behind the door, was start led He wondered iihe should feel the | same affection for Lauretta, ii she were lost for three hours.
 The three women all talked together. l The lady i'll the rocking-chair listened complacently, convinced that she had done all that could be expected when she allowed the strange baby to creep on her carpet until called for.
 ''I told Jimmie, sine laughed, "he d 1 have two babies to take care Of, in- stead of one."
 Jimmie had disappeared into the hall.
 II think I'll take the baby home to mamma, she's fretting about her, said Meg. holding the baby tight.