St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-01-27

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"rF NADINE LIKES SHE CAN INSPECT THE
PASSENGER LIST
can face the coroner again with the
mystery of that mans identity un-
solved"
''You shan't go near the horrid old
monster again, my sweet mann, the
child cried, caressingly laying her hand
on her mothers shoulder. .sThe disa-,
grceable creature made you quite i'll
last Friday with his vulgar suspicious,
and I am sure there is no law which
can make you do unpleasant things If
you don't want tor"
Hush, dearp the mother chided, she
did but his duty, though his manner
OF performing 1t was unnecessarily
harsh--but, oh. Kate, look ut that love-
~ child in the arms Of the woman
among the steerago passengers. Sure
ly the little creature cannot belong to
her"
Kate gazed in the direction her
mother pointed, and an exclamation OF
admiration burst from her lips. Al
stau.. eeat~ healthy, Countrywide wom-
IN of about thirty years II age stood
little apart from the rest holding In her
arms two-year-old baby girl, whose
radiant beauty glowed the brighter for
its humble surroundings.
Her golden curls were fiuttering In the
breeze, her round blue eyes were Hash
ing with intelligent wonder on the an-
4a1 ay,6 ,{s.vNx
soft as fairy's and tinted by the sea
breeze. bisquelike in its exquisite del
icacy. No sculptor could have nodded
chasts.- form of health and innocence
Mems eyes grew softer as they looked
at her. All, me! what a wonderful in-
fluence the beauty of childhood has
over us. The man whose nature is sat
urated in greed, whose God is gold,
whose ledger is his Bible, breaks his
idols and becomes human at the lisped
bidding of an infants prattle. Verify
tkese little ones, around whom fingers
the breath of angels, are sent on earth
to redeem our gross humanity.
Mrs. Evesha1n forgot her disappoint-
ment in her wondering admiration.
ssOh, mann dear,'' Kate cried. c.site
carried away by the beauty Of INC VI
sion. II must go to her fer Just one
moment may I?'
Before Mrs. Evesham could intcrposc
an objection, the impctuous girl had
flown from her mothers side and was
caressing the baby, who held out her
hand with charming confidence and was
quite willing to toddle off with her new
found friend.
.'You may take her II you like for q
moment, miss" the woman said, won
by Kate's pleasing manner, while
see If my tickets and checks are NIL
right. All, it is n hard task to come to
a strange country without q friend to
help one"
Kate led the baby across TO her
mother.
"Oh, mamma" she cried, with en-
thusiasm, did yon ever see such wee,
winsomc darling?"
.'She is beautiful child," Mrs. Evc-i
sham replied, "but do you notice how
well she is dresscd-quite out of charac-
ter with the woman, who docs not look
like nurse, and certainly cannot be
her mother"
'Ycs mann, darling; but, having such
beautiful baby, perhaps she spends
nll her money over II. ! am sure
would"
''You do not understand, Kate, that it
needs taste Us web ns dollars 10 dress
child like this"
The much-criticised baby accepted
placidly these remarks on her personal
appearance, which she seemed to un-
derstand, for she snoothcd her dress
with her hands and burst into merry
laugh Of sclf-satisfaction.
Certainly Mrs. Evesham was right.
No vulgar hand designed the little ones
costume.
She wore o flne India muslin dress
with O robe front Of Valenclennes laser
tion and elaborately trimmed with deep
lace OF the same costly material. Her
dress was cut low with short sleeves,
and round her neck was hung fne,
pale coral necklace with gold mount
ings, Short. white lace socks clasped
her rounded limbs; her tiny feet were
encased In cream-colored kid shoes, and
her embroidered dannels and dainty
pctticoats, rs they peeped from be-
meath her dress, were perfect specimens
of the seanstress' art. A cluster Of
shining curls fell over her shoulders be.
meath lace cap. and the soft, fluffy
bangs which surmounted her fair force
head made the lovely little face be-
meath almost ethereal In It's sweet
expression.
But the smile died on the lady's face,
for her glance. fell ON a small parch-
ment label attached to q silk cord,
which was tied round the child's waist.
fro BE coNTfNUED.l
THE CLARION, only II per year.