The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-08-07

be done fer, Sam, - said the old man
whose horse he had left half shOd lyon
couldn't "a made a fine lady ont o her. -
mo, 1 couldn't "a done that, - said
Sam.
During the summer the news spread
through the village that g'anny's baby
was getting kind Of cross and peevish
and that the great lady had said to the
nurse that it was a mistake for a person
80 adopt child.
Two months later ii was declared
positively that Mrs Eustice was going
to Europe with her husband and her
great aunt; that g'annys baby lay i'll
in the big house; that Mrs. Eustice had
told the doctor She never could forgive
herself for adopting the child.
The sun was about three feet from
| the top of the second hill when the bit
of flying gossip reached the black
smiths shop and was just sinking be
hind the hill when a broad shOuldered
man walked hastily across the grounds
and entered the big house by the rear
way.
While the man sat waiting in the
library he took from his pocket a greasy
pocketbook, and opening it laid the
contents Oh his knee. His hand trem-
bled as he counted the notes over to
make sure they We're all right-$1, 600.
There was sweep of dainty garments
along the hall, and Mrs. Eustice came
into the library. She gave slight start
upon recognizing her visitor, regarding
him not so much as the blacksmith,
whom she knew by sight at the shop,
but as the man who had bid against her
for g'anny's baby.
Il hear, - said the man slowly, that
you're goin off TO Europe. -
Yes, - said the lady.
''And they say that the baby amt so
we'll -
Yes, that's true too. It's been all
ing all summer. What did you wish:''
Il was thinkin,' he said, "that as
| the whole transaction was Il business
| one-that, now being as you're goin
away, and the baby's sick, mebbe as
| you might be willin to sell I'm ready
to give you yer price. "
Mrs. Justice was startled She had
| lamented that reckless squandering of
her money at the village auction more
| than once; but, according to herself, she
was honest.
You ought to see the poor little
thing - she said. Come, I'll show
| her to you.
Silently Sam Winters followed the
great lady TO the nursery, where the
| baby tossed in its little crib. ''She's
| had the best of doctors, :" said Mrs. Eus
| tice, but L don't believe anybody knows
what's the matter with her
III give you 81, 600" said the man
! huskily.
.'Oh, dear nor' cried the lady; THAT
wouldn't be fair. Why, 1 doubt if she
lives till we return. L tell you what,
I'll take $500 if you are willing to run
the risk. It's outlandish, selling a
| baby; but, then, you know, [ bought
her.
Winters counted out the money and
handed it over He had not dared to
| touch the baby that belonged to the
great lady, but after paying the $500
| he stopped and patted the little flaming
face
Down the richly carpeted steps,
| through the broad hall, out into the park
and ON along the pike FASTENED the man
with his precious bundle, his $500 baby.
He did not go to the blacksmith shop
or the bachelor quarters behind it, but
tage where lived the old woman who
had been rescued from the poorhouse.
He went into the house and laid the
baby ON the bed.
Granny he called softly, Gran
nyr'
She came in slowly from the kitchen,
shading her old eyes.
Don't you think you kin nurse Il lit
tie baby till she's well?''
The old woman fell ON her knees be-
| side the bed, she gathered the baby
| close in her arms, she swayed to and fro
as if she We're rocking it. The apathy
| had vanished from her face; it was as
| glad as sunshine.
I'll nuss her till she gifts we'll, - she
sobbed, ''or We'll die together. -
Six months had passed away. 1t was
ON a beautiful afternoon i'll the spring
| time All the roses in Two Hills We're
| abloom y carriage drawn by two
| splendid bays came Gathering up the
| village street. The great people had re-
turned.
Sitting in the doorstep of little
whitewashed cottage was Il small yell
low haired girl. She was swinging her
feet and singing at the top CT her voice.
Above her the red roses trailed them
selves luXuriously.
The lady looked out and waved her
hand and smiled. The child stopped
singing and stared.
''She doesn't know me- said the
great lady, with half sigh and laugh.
But the yellow haired girl rose from
the doorstep with alacrity, ran into the
cottage and laid her head in the old
grandmother's lap. hiding her face.
I'm g'anny's baby, " she sobbed.
The old woman heard the carriage
wheels and the Gathering horses She
passed her hand tenderly over the ruf1ed
yellow head
s.YeS deary- :, she said fOndIv land