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

way discouraged, and remarked:
That's the way she always was
bout Mars Gawge. She love me an
Miss Helen, that was her ma, till her
papa come, an then she left us both
for him."
To say that DR.. Aston was amazed
at his position does not express it.
There he sat, at night, under a rude
shelter In the woods with an angel of
baby in his arms, caressing him and
calling him ''papa," while an old ne
gress, apparently the child's only pro-
tector, stood by, accepting the situa-
tion as the most natural in the world.
Turning to the woman who had
taken one Of the little wet garments
from the bushes and was lightly
clapping IL beOween her hands after
the manner Of an accustomed laun.
dress, he asked:
"Whcre did you come from?"
"FrOm Jacksonville, sir"
"H0w long since ?"
"Bout a week."
Where are you gOing?'
III don't know, sir. Anywhere tt
get that blessed lamb away from the
fever, which has taken ebbcrybOd,
belongin' to her out o this wOrl'."
Just then a gust of wind blew aside
the shawl, bringing with 1t a heavy
drop OF rain.
The doctor sprang up with the
baby in his arms.
"Here, get these things together
quick, and follow me. l dare not take
you into town, but this child must bt
got under better shelter than this to
night" he said.
The woman proceeded to get to
gcther her belongings, without Ques
tioning, remarking as she did so tina
it was the first time 1t had rainet
since she left Jacksonville. She act
ed as IL an expected event had Occurr
cd and lifted all responsibility from
her shoulders.
Everything was placed on the quill
and tying the four corners together
she put the bundle on her head, tn,
baby with her head upon tho doctor.
bosom watching her with sleepy bu
contentcd eyes.
fright back Of these woods" sale
the doctor, as he strobe forward, tn,
woman following, sis a vacant house
weather proof at least. You and thu
baby can sleep there tonight and to
morrow Ill be back to talk with you
1t is too late now"
They soon came to small empt!
house apart from any other and al
most hidden by the trees surrounding
it. 1t stood near the edge of wha
had once been a cotton field, and wal
built for storing cotton before it wa
gnned. The woman pushed open th'
door and entered. Putting down tn,
bundle, she took from it the shaw
and quilt and made of them a pallet
In one corner of the room. Ther
turning to the doctor, she held ou,
her arms for the baby. He was abou,
to give her up, when she stirred il
her sleep and murmurcd 'papa."
Motioning back the negro, he un
claspcd the tiny arms from about hi
neck, and laid the baby upon the pal
let, patting the little, moist should
ers till assured she would not wake
Then he hurried to his buggy ant
returned with lantern, while til,
woman, who at last seemed to realiz
that she, too, was tired, sat down up
on the floor by the baby's side.
"Thcrc is candle In this lantcrl
and some matches, II you should neet
a light during the night" said TIN
doctor. II will be back early In tn,
morning. And don't you dare sti
till come" he added as he turned
away.
mo danger of that, sir, ,"replied tin
woman. "Lcttice IL too glad th'
baby's found IL shelter anu u fricnt
abler to take care OF her than she is.
Letticc lighted the candle to exam
Inc her surroundings. In the corne
OF the room she found a small heal
OF cotton, which she pushed near tn,
baby's pallet. Then kneeling besid'
the child, she lifted her arms abov'
the unconscious sleeper and said rev
crcntly: Lord, when this baby fcl
into my poor hands, an we had Il
leave the lam Of trlbulatlon, asket
you to 20 before us and lead us to
haven Of safety. Thou has done 1t
Now, Lord, tell her pa an her ma
Lettice was faithful an Mabel's safe.
She put out the light and stretching
herself upon the cotton, she too fcl
asleep.