Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-11-18
She picked up her hat and rrept'down

June, t6QQ Lou EI6ncHS HGUle sisters
were dancing to the music. They
came up 60 ask Meg ',ff the baby was
found, " and Meg, without looking at
them, choked and rushed down the
street. She walked ON in a breath.
less state for several blocks. and hap
peued to pause for breath just where
there sat, on d doorstep, boy about
twelve years old, with a woebegone
tear-stained face
Meg looked at him and asked alb
ruptly, whats the matter? Have
you lost a baby?"
''Lost babY!" shouted the boy in
dignantly. "You clear out of this!'
He seemed to look as if he 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 woman stood there
talking. Said one Of them. a small
woman:
II told her, says 1, Mrs Smith,
you'd better report it at the station
house. 1t belongs to somebody that's
looking for it, OF courseD says l."
''She wouldn't take the trouble.
She's too elegant?" remarked a stou
woman, sarcastically.
THAT'S So" replied the first
speaker. "She said: Let them that
lost it look for it Jimmie brought
it home, and hell have to amuse it
till the mother comes says she It
serves Jimmie right though" the
stout woman added, decidedly. IA
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 didn'U seem to I'M
derstand the circumstances.
"Why, you know heleft it beside a
store while he played marbles, and
his mother came along and took it
home to brighten him."
Hal ha! ha."
"You may depend she was mad,
though, when he brought home
strange baby"
"Ha! ha! hal"
Could two babies be lost in one
day? Meg stood in doubt a few min
utes, while the two women discussed
tie story. She remembered the lit
tie 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 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 l went into store on an
Grand" she explained. We've
been looking for her all the morn
ing"
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 show
ing his thorough disgust with life.
YOU'D better 60 up and take care
Of your twins, Jimmie!" laughed the
sarcastic woman.
Jimmie looked at her, his counten-
ance expressing unutterable things.
"Come Jimmie, come" cried the
sharp little woman; take US upstairs;
we want TO see your mother!"
This yohng lady has lost her baby;
Jimmie" said the tall woman kindly.
perhaps it's the one you've found"
Jimmie's face frightened. He stole
a 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 grutfiy.
He threw open the door and i'm
LuculdUSl1 ROU DSIlluu III, WutuCG. uc |
could easily observe proceedings or es-
cape if he should find it prudent.
II thought somebody would come"
exclaimed a drawing voice. 81
knew the child would be called for.
She evidently belonged to nice
peoplew
The speaker rocked herself in a
low chair. Her hair was in paper and
she wore pink wrapper. In her lap
lay an embroidered tidy, at which she
took languid stitches. 1t may be re-
corded here that Meg gave up tides
from that day.
She did not stop 70 examine the
lady, however, but snatched up one
Of the two babies who crawled about
the floor, and kissed and Rugged Julia
more lovingly than she had ever done
before.
Jimmie, behind the door, was start
led. He wondered if he should feel
the same affection for Lauretta if she
were lost for three hours
The three women all talked to-
yether. The lady in the rocking