The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-12-15

uIteT ldCk Ol IrlcnuS, tney WOulu De
compelled to move on.
Reaching home, he made q conf
dante OF his aunt, Miss Hetty Aston,
who took care Of his home and of
him, as far as he would let her, for
DIR. Alston was too busy always car
ing for Others to think much about
himself. They quickly decided the
only thing to be done was to leave
Lcttice and the child where they
were, then bring them into town
when the danger was over, the house
in which they had been left being TOO
entirely out Of the way for anyone to
come in contact with them.
Early next morning, before even the
servants were stirring, Miss Hetty
had a compact bundle Of light bedding
and packages Of cooked food stored
away In the buggy.
A light rain was falling. which gave
an excuse for putting up the heavy
rain-clOth so the bundles are hidden.
DIR. Alston could not help chuckling
softly to himself as he drove away.
He, the health officer Of the town,
upon whom the people relied to pro-
tect them, was actually surreptitous-
ly carrying supplies to refugees whom
he was harboring almost at their
doors. 81 But I'll see no harm
comes to anyone" he assured himself.
Arriving at the drugstore, which
was his own property, he went in, and
while the clerks back was turned he
slipped rattle and a squawking rub
Der doll from the showcase, and clap.
ping them into his pocket, was off in
a jiffy.
BY an unused wood road he drove
his buggy to the very door of the cab
in. Stepping up the one log step and
pushing open the door, he looked in.
Lettice lay sleeping the sleep of utter
exhaustion. BY her side lay the baby
with her hands full Of cotton, which
she was picking to pieces. AS the
door opened she looked up from be.
meath her tangled curls and saw the
doctor, looked inquiringly at him for
an instant, and then called:
NANNY. Nanny"
She was afraid of him DR.. Alstons
heart sank within him.
| Letticc sprang up with the baby In
her arms before she knew what dan.
ger threatened. At sight Of the doc
tor broad smile spread over her
face as she said:
That's your papa, honey. Don't
you member him? ?" Then aside to
the doctor, "Let her call you that,
Marster. | feel like the good Lord
done raise you up to be her father an
her mother, too"
Let her? Why, the sweet name
had fingered in his ears all night.
Lettice was dispatched to bring
the things from the buggy while he
proceeded to renew acquaintance with
the baby. When Lcttice returned
Mabel was upon his knee, playing
with the rattle and doll, and calling
him papa" to his hearts delight.
| Before his visit was over, Dr. Aston
learned from Lettice these facts:
| Her home was In Jacksonville
where she supported herself doing
Laundry work. Next door to her lived
a young couple, Mr.. and Mrs. Ander.
son strangers from the North. She
said "they were pint blank like two
birds, chirpin' over their nest with
this little baby bird In 1t. They were
SO friendless / took to 'em at once,
an the baby learned to love me an
call me nanny, an helped 'em all
could"
"What became of them ?" asked the
doctor as Lettlce paused.
sat the end Of the summer they
both took the fever. Mr.. Anderson
first, and soon as she found it was the
fever, Mrs. Anderson sent me the
baty an told me to keep her till she
sent for her. She meyer did, and cause
both Of then. died. Before she died
Mrs. Anderson sent me this piece OF
paper. Read What 1t says"
| Lcttice took from her bosom SCRAP
Of paper and gave 1t to the doctor,
He opened 1t and read:
"Dear friend Lettice, l am dying
O.! Lettice l give my baby to you
love her and keep her pure; she has
no other friend.
HELEN ANDERSON"
Lettlce was sobbing when she took
back the bit OF paper and tears stood
in the eyes the doctor bent down up
on the wondering baby.
j Letticc continued:
II asked the Lord TO tell me what
to do for the baby an when the time
como was ready. l tied up some
clothes In a quilt an put some vituals
In basket an took 1t an the baby In
my arms an slipped out of town bout
dark. The first night we slept In .
empty school house. When / walked
along In the daytime an see auybod,
comm, I just fling my apron over tn,
baby's head. Nobody goin' to thlnj
anything Of an old colored woman
walkin' along with y baby though
they know II is white. Every might
we find some shelter to sleep undel
an the Lord held beck tie rsIn, an
just leave II to him 10 direct me 'lOn(