The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-12-27


Meg lookel at him and asked abruptly,
whats the matter? Have you lost baby ?''
"Lost baby !" shouted the boy Indignantly.
''You clear out of this ~
He seemed to look as If he thought she was
making sport of him.
Meg was glad to ''cear." She had onlv
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 talking. Said one
of them, a small woman:
81 told her, says l, Mrs. Smith, you'd bet
ter report it at the station house. 1t belongs
to somebody that's looking for it, OF course =
says l."
"She wouldn't take the trouble. She's too
elegant ~ remarked stout woman, sarcastic
ally.
"Thats so," replied the first speaker. "She
said Let them that lost it look for it,
Jimmie brought it home, and he'll have to
amuse it till the mother comes,' she said 1t
served Jimmie right, though" the small
woman added, decidedly. ga pretty trick to
wheel home the wrong baby 20
Meg felt faint. She leaned against the rail-
ing. Whose baby were they talking about?
"Where was his own ?n asked the third
woman, who didn't seem to understand the
circumstances.
"Why, you know he left it beside store
while he played marbles, and his mother came
along and took it home to frighten him ~
"Ha ha! hap
"You may depend she was mad, though,
when he brought home strange baby 20
'Ha ha hap
Could two babies be lost in one day Meg
stood in doubt 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 ami tongues of all three were di-
rected at her at once
"Why" "Well-have you lost one?"
"Mercy on us do you know whose it is?'
Meg colored, but stood her ground.
''Somebody wheeled our baby away while
went into store on an errand,'' she explained
"We've been looking for her all the morning.
The three women were delighted. They all
insisted on escorting Meg down the street and
into the right house. The mournful little boy
sat on the front steps, his attitude showing
his thorough disgust with life
YOU'D better go up and take care of your
twins, Jimmie ~ laughed the sarcastic wo-
man.
Jimmie looked at her, his countenance ex-
pressing unutterable things.
"Come, Jimmie, come," cried the sharp
little woman, "take us upstairs, we want to
see your mother"
This This y,, young lady has lost her baby,
haps it's the one you've found"
Jimmie's face frightened. He stole glance
at Meg, remembering she had spoken to him.
He turned into the house and led the way up
stairs.
"Here's somebody come for that baby !' he
announced gruffiy.
He threw open the door and Immediately
got behind it, whence he could easily observe
pro ceedngs or escape if he should find it pru-
dent.
81 thought somebody would Gomez ex-
claimed drawing voice. 81 knew the child
would be called for. She evidently belonged
to nice people,"
The speaker rocked herself in low chair.
Her hair was In papers and she wore a pink
wrapper. In her lap lay an embroidered
tidy, at which she took languid stitches. 1t
may be recorded here that Meg gave up tides
from that day.
She did not stop to examine the lady, how
ever, but snatched up one of the two babies
who crawled about the floor and hugged and
kissed Julia more lovingly than She had
ever done before.
Jimmie, behind the door, was startled. He
wondered if he should feel the same affection
for Lauretta if she were lost for three hours.
The three women all talked together The
lady in the rocking chair listened compla-
Gently, convinced that she had done all that
could be expected when she allowed the
strange baby to creep on her carpet till called
for.
81 told Jimmie" she laughed, she'd have
two babies to take care of, instead of one.n
Jimmie had disappeared into the hall
81 think I'll take the baby home to mamma;
she's fretting about her." said Meg, holding
the baby tight. "We're very much obliged to
you, madam, for keeping her here"
Mrs. Smith bowed politely. She indicated
with her forefinger where Meg would find the
baby's clothes and wraps.
Meg dressed her and carried her carefully
down stairs, followed bya cheerful "Good
morning !" from Mrs. Smith With a light
heart she tucked Julia once more into her car
rlage. Jimmie stood watching her from the
door.
''say p he called. "Are you really glad to
G ct that kid back ?''
Meg laughed out of her gladness WWhy.
of course %
"Did you feel awful bad when you found |
she was gone %
"Of course" said Meg again. "What made |
you do such stupid thing as to wheel home |
the wrong baby ?" |
"Oh, he said, grinning 81 didn't bring her
home ~ He lowered his voice. Il was play |
ing with Bob Price, and sent another fellow, |
and he didn't know her, you see l'
"Good gracious !" exclaimed Meg, looking |