The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-06
THE PROFESSORS BABY.

rose with nervous energy and went to the
window. He gazed into the street and
saw children-children- children-every-
where children, laughing, running, skip
ming and generally disporting themselves
with the amiable idiocy of youth.
.,Nhat on earth shall do with it,"
u1lttered the professor, drumming on the
window with his eyeglasses. what put it
into my sisters head that 1 would be the
hest person in the world to take care of
her childl Why didn't her husband out
live her? Why did she die2 The whole
thing has been simply plan to break up
mv-hem! l don't mean that! I suppose
moor Jane would have lived if she could.
But what am 1 to do with a 3-year-old
child in my bachelor quarters l don't
know, I'm sure. If Mottsboro were big
CITY. perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. But
in a miserable little village like this,
where every ones business is known to
every one else, 1 shall be driven mad-I
know ! shall"
AS he stood gazing out of the window
across the short stretch of level green
lawn and over the snowy pickets of the
well-kept fence, he became aware of a
face at a window of the next house.
ION, mercy!" exclaimed the professor
half aloud, "what will she think! >
never spoke to her but once, and that wa
AT Mrs Barbey's lawn party, where was
introduced to her Then she said it was
pretty sight, and l answered, Yes it
looks Ike rain l couldn't help it. She
was Sc beautiful and l was so-so-so
modf st -- -bashful-or--bas hful-or-
idictic-or something"
II was quite true. Ever since Prof.
Arthur Brewster professor in mathe-
natics and astronomy at the Mottsboro
High academy, had been presented
10 Miss Mabel Riker, he had never dared
TO sneak to her again. She had passed
him on the street often and had always
greeted him with pleasant smile and a
bow. but he had never dared to do more
than lift his hat awkwardly and hasten
on lie would nave given d month $ sal
ary to find courage to say something, and
a years for the audacity to join her
in walk. But he realized that
courage was not a purchasable com
modify.
She saw him at the window and smiled,
whereupon he retired into the room
with great celebrity Her smile always
frichtened him. 1t always made him
feel as if his heart had jumped out of
place He had hardly recovered from
mis- alarm when the aged woman who
servant in his small cottage, knocked at
the door and, on entering, said:
There's a mon here wild child.
ooh Lord It's Gomez said the pro-
fessor, the perspiration starting out on
his brow.
He went down to the sitting room, and
there he found the express messenger.
The professor did not dare to take his
eyes of the man lest they should fall on
the queer bundled-up object on the sofa
professor" said the messenger.
"here's the kid, safe an sound. Brought
'er all the way myself She's a jim
dandy, she is Her trunk is 10 the wagon.
Wotll do with IL"
Bring it in and put it in the small
room up stairs 1870
While the man was out of the room the
professor walked to the empty fireplace
and stood gazing into it, painfully aware
that his every movement was solemnly
observed by two coal-black eyes. He
could not have told how he knew they
were black; but he was morally certain
of it, The man returned with the trunk
and deposited it in the small room beside
brand new iron bedstead.
That's all o X, professor" said the
man, pocketing certain bills. II hope
you'll like the kid, for she's a jim
dandy"
A strange intonation in the mans voice
caused the professor to tremble. There
was dismal silence for several minutes,
and then high-pitched treble voice
said;
is you my Uncle Art url"
The professor started, turned, and
found the eyes looking up at him. There
was no mistake; they were as black as
crow wing. So was the hair that hung
in tangles around the olive brow The
lips were red enough and the teeth white
enough; but those eyes were dreadful
feebly.
Mamma said you'd be dood to me.
Mammals dead
mere was queer monOtOnous pathos
IL the speech. The professor felt a new
emotion, He did not know what it was
but it made him bend down and lay his
hand gently on the child's head as he
said:
IN be good to you, Mary"
Den take off my tings.
This was more than the professor had
oargalned for, so he called the old wo-
man. But the child refused to be touched
by her
d, DO way" she said, with a most ma
Hgnant expressions ''do way Wants
Uncle Arthur to be dood to. me- Don't
want ole womans. l scyatch ole wo-
"Modher O. Moses Would yez heark
TO dhOtlo
The professor was fam to make an at
tempt to take off the "fngs" He strug-
Eled oravely, aud got the point of a pin
III us hnger, which drew from him rude
exclamation.
Pin 'tick!" gravely inquired Mary.
III dld," as gravely answered the pro-
We'll, you musn' say no naughty
words ' continued Mary" or you can't go
70 heaven. My mammals dere wish
And then the little black head fell for
"aru and tear or two fell.
trof. Arthur Brewster looked uncom-
1T0rtaoly at the old woman for moment.
men he motioned to her TO 60 She
9oeyed, but when she peeped through the
eseS mole moment later she saw the pro
~ssor tenderly take the gipsy-lool5ing
me IN his arms and hold it closely to
MS breast, where the tears ceased to flow
Snu the unnatural gravity resumed it's
wants to see house said Mary
nat houselN inquired the professor.
DIS house, - replied Mary, plainly mar
'vling at his denseness.
rph, remarked the professor humbly.
ne took her by the hand and led her
iittLI room to room. She shifted at the
hllClen and viewed ha1, own littIa aro ri