The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-10-21
She picked up her hat and crept down

were udnclHx 10 Lue music. Iney
came up 10 ask Meg "if the baby was
found, and Meg, without looking al
them, chOked and rushed down tho
street She walked on in breath.
less state for several blocks. and nap
pened TO pause for breath just where
there sat, on a doorstep, a 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 baby?"
Lost a baby" shouted the boy in
dignantly. "You clear out OF this"
He seemed 10 look as il he thought
she was making sport Of him.
Meg was glad 10 clear" She had
only spoken out OF the abundance Of
her thoughts. She walked along,
surveying absently the windows she
passed She wondered il all the
babies who lived in those houses were
safe, or II 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 |, Mrs Smith,
you'd better report IL at the station
house. IL belongs 10 somebody that's
looking for it, Oi course" says l."
''She wouldn't take the trouble
She's too elcgant?" remarked stout
woman, sarcastically.
That's So" replied the first
speaker. "She said: Let them that
lost IL lcok for it, Jimmie brought
till the mother comes says she. 1t
serves Jimmie right, though" the
stout woman added, decidedly "A
pretty trick TO wheel home.the wrong
babym
Meg felt faint. She leaned against
the railing. Whose baby were they
talking about
"Where was his own" asked the
third woman, who didn'v seem to un-
dcrstand the circumstances.
"Why. you know he left 10 beside
store while he played marbles and
his mother came along and took it
home To frighten him."
"IIal ha, hap
"You may depend she was mad,
though, when he brought home
strange baby"
"IIa! ha! ha."
Could two babies he lost i'm 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, aud stepped boldly up To the
takers
"Will you please tell me who's
found 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
il is?"
Meg colored, but stood her ground.
somebody wheeled our baby away
while l went into a store on an
errand," 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 90 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 10 see your mother"
This yohng lady has lost her baby:
Jimmie" said the tall woman kindly. !
"Pcrhaps it's the one you've found"
Iimmic'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 grully.
lie Threw open the door and inn
got behind il, whence he !
could easily observe proceedings or cs-
cape If he should find it prudent.
II thought somebody would come" +,
exclaimed a drawing voice. II
knew the child would be called for /
She evidently belonged TO nice
people,
The speaker rocked herself in a /,
low chair. Her hair was in paper and !;
she wore "A pink wrapper In her lap
lay an embroidered tidy, at which she /
took languid stitches 1t may he re-
corded here that Meg gave up tides
from that day
She did not stop 20 examine the
lady, however. but snatched up one .
Of the two babies who crawlcd about :
the floor. and kissed and hugged Julia !
IN IRE lovingly than she had ever done
before.
Jimmie, behind the door. was start .
led lie wondered III he should feel F.
the same affect on for Laurctta il she /
were lost for three hours. !
The three women all talked to- ,
l,I t,, a Ia.