Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-09-22
THE HAWORTHS' BABY.

Miss Mobiles reached the station in
ample time. With a delibcration which
pleased her she selected Il seat in the
rear car of the morning train on the
shady side. She was ON her way to
visit Mamie Grant. her intimate friend
ana former schoolmate. VINO lived in
the metropolis at the other end of the
state. Miss Mobiles, however. was
more Self-reliant than sclf-etiicicnt
hence she had disdained an escort:
hence. too, she had ensconccd herself
on the wrong train. that is. on the
accommodation. which followed the
special, like jackal humbly picking
up the leavings of lion.
Miss Mobiles Christian name was
Catherine, but then. everybody called
her Miss Mobiles, she was deemed so
diEnified. so severe-an erroneous in
ference. it is here vchcmcntly protest
ed. resultant from her eyebrows,
which, though elegantly archcd. were
heavy, and from a singular habit she
had tried to acquire of thinking be-
fore she spoke. Mamie Grant. indeed,
called her Catherine. and spelled it
"kathyryn." tOO-that eccentric form
fulfilling her idea of style. Rodney
Grant. Mamie's big brother. had ap-
proved the change, saying that doubt
less her friend couldn't be too wise
He has also furnished IL chart of his
witticism for his sisters simplicity in
his manner: 1.-TWO VS." for Prof Rod
ney was head master of the famous
boys school at Grafton. and when he
condrsccnded to joke the universe
must respond as if at Jove's smile.
The field which presented itself was
surely not one of still life, for its
principal exhibit was child in arms
directly in front of her. screaming its
war cry in discordant vOwels Now
Miss Mobiles knew far more about
babes-indeed, she had quite re-
Spect for that primary organism on
account of the busincsslike yet un-
ostentatiouS way it performed its du-
ties. AS for this human possibility
she was quite wicked enough to wish
it good way off. say at Inverary. for
then there would be a far cry.
And vet. it was Il nicc-looking little
baby. too. in the intervals between
spaSmS when it's features momcntarily
lost their india-rubber properties. and
richly attircd. with all that lavishncss
which proclaimed it a Reuben and not
Il benjamin. Evidently the woman that
held it was nurse and not mother; for
sh" Wore the cap and manner of
monthly wages and found. Miss
Mobiles regarded this parsonage with
more curiosity than acutencss A
singular looking creature she was in
deed. livid. almost colorlcSs. with
great bulging eyes furtivcly glancing
hithcr and thither. and thick. silly
lips. necessarily but mutcly articulat-
ing. AN honest daughter of the soil"
concluded Miss Mobiles. mot intelligent
but loving and faithful unto DEATH"
After Il little both child and attend
ant Subsded into titful dozcs. and
then Miss Mobiles glanced at the other
occupants of the car There was no
thing fruitful for chronological re-
search: a cluster of yOkclS intent on
cuchre. two or three elderly couples
with baskets. a lad with Il strap of
books. Miss Mobiles inverted her gaze
to her inner consciousness. where she
felt more at home. Would she ever
be able to realize her ideals. which
were Just as vivid as they had been a
year ago at graduation?
The train slackened and stopped at
a station. For some time it's habit Of
so doing had gradually become appar-
cnt to Miss Mobiles to such an extent
that she had formulated the axiom
that ~ start is the shortest distance
between two stops" A dim appre-
hcnsion. too had come to her that if
Manic were awaiting her on her az
rival Mamie would be very tired. But
this qualm disappeared in the blaze
of the disaster, for as preliminary
jolt indicated another Intellectual adj
vance the nursemaid in front awokp
with an initiative twitch. glanced
around with an expression of infinite
cunning. noticed the open window
with grin of maniacal joy. and cool
ly tossed the baby through it as if
showing it the way to Banbury Cross!
For once. Miss Mobiles acted from an
unphilosophic impulse; without even
considering that she would not take
such Il risk for all the amoebae of the
most fruitful palcoZoic period. she
dashed headlong and needless through
the aisle, out the door. and off the
steps into the whirling dust of the de-
parting train!
That good angel whose duty it is to
guide the feet of the woman in get
llllS Oh cars nluSt nave Decn aDle just
then to give his undivided attention
tpcrhaps the Amalgamated Union of
llorsc-('ar Conductors had struck. for
Miss Mobiles alighted in safety. Be
yond the road-bed ran little brook,
there on its bank. in the sedges and
soft mud. she found the child smiling
up into its rescuer's face.
You dear little fellowr cried Miss
Mobiles. as she clasped the boy to her
brcast-ah! how natural that soft Sc
cure strain even to Hypathia or Por-
tia!-and then she viewed and con-
templated her environments. The
train had gone on. and to such an I'M
wonted distance as to be out of sight,
and there she was, in a strange land,
forlorn waif. bearing waif vet
more fOrlorn. Well. the only thing to
be done was to give over her burden
into some safe keeping. and then to
resume her journey. Doubtless she
could find kind woman who. for
moderate sum, would take charge OF
it. and lucky-ah! her purse was not
in her satchel, and the satchcl on the
train, and the train-no, she could not