The morning call., 1895-01-04
HER BABY.

Will arrive III your city dOOuI = iho h0Ae ""
"She is very tmid dear girl. and untortu.
natey owing TO the crops, cannot traVel
with her. 1 have, therefore, proposed fhat she
should stay with you for Il few days, instead oil
going to a hotel. Maria Briggs will be with
her. Her business is with the dentist. Your
loving broth er, JOSHUA oMlIh'
This letter, which the poslman brought early
one afternoon. alarmed me considerably.
| lived in a neat twO-story brick house that
had been my fathers, smoked where chose
ana kept one deaf old servant. who seldom SAID
and never heard anything.
Rnt having made up my mind that my sister
n-law must come, began 10 wonder now. since
HepSiba could not read, the TACT might DC COM
municated TO her, in order THAT due prepara-
lions might be made.
/ rang The bell. Hepsiba saw 1t shake ana
came She stood and looked al me. L pointed
TO the letter; she nodded pointed out OF Inc
WINDOW at Il lady going past; she nodded again.
Then | drew another armc hair opposite NINE
and put two plates upon the table, and MAJ ked
off three DAYS upon the almanac.
Hepslba gaZed with aslonlshment; looked at
me again. shook her head and. putting her
anron 10 her ewes rushed out OF the room.
followed her. l found ner crying in the Kitchen
and had matters thus explained TO ME:
"Pd best take warning. Tve kept house for
you fifteen years. and mssus Will Onsettle
me. L thought you'd gin up marrying years
/ left her. 1 hoped she did know, but l
wasn't sure.
and l retired TO my study to wonder what L
should do with my 81 ser-in-iaW
l heard the bell ring after awhile. Then
several kittens began 10 new In the hall, or
Kitten! No-something more; for in min
ute more my study was invaded by HepslOa,
who marched IN, holding In her arms BABY, III
dress long enough for siA-foOter.
'She's sent the baby on ahead" said Hepsiba,
soemny. Hadn't you no confidence in an
old crtIer like me? 1 shouldn't hey objected
10 your gettin' married, but to keep 1t from me
Il least couple O. years Is kinder hard"
The truth flashed upon me. Some wretched
impostor had brought an infant TO my door aud
deserted IL. My slster-ln-law might arrive be-
fore could rid myself OF the horrible little
creature.
To find policeman and get The child off my
hands was my only hope. L rushed 10 my
study window and fortunately saw the sturdy
form OF our particular guardian just turning
the corner. ] beckOned 10 him.
And away.we drove TO the Station-house.
where, having been cruelty eross.quest STONED. l
would be sent 10 the Founding hospital aud
that might 60"
1 went AT least my slster-iu-law would
never know OF this absurd affair. My heart
was lighter. | grew even cheerful.
But at the door OF my own house l halted In
terror. Screams of The most fearful description
were being uttered within. i burst open the
door and rushed in.
In the front parlor young lady lay upon Ihe
sofa, Shrieking and tearing her hair. A servant
l.
brothers house, sat rocking TO and fro in costa
cIes of grief.
''Here's your wife, rec on said Hepslba
land her sister They come IN and asked me
suthin-didn't exactly hear what was. Then
they began TO iear up and down the house like
mad. Now she's got fits"
Then Augusta Sprang 10 her feet, rushing
toward me-, clutched my arm with both hands
and screamed:
ION, where is he? Where is he? Where is
my son?"
him." | stammered. "I-I-What DO you
mean. Augusta
My dearest angel! My baby!" cried Au-
gusra.
down, faint with horror.
ME ana Mis- Smith we KEN up from Poke
yllle," said Maria Briggs, "this mOrnin' and we
fetched The baby along with us, and me aud
Mis- Smith we come To tie door In a cab, and he
charged us most an awful pric-, aud drove OFF
with the travellm bags, with the baby's most
particular and needIul Things 10 'em; and 80.
says |. Let's run after him. so says she Yes
And we rings the bell, and says TO The old
lazy, This is Mr.. SmItil's?' Says she, Yes
Says |, Take in The baby ana say we'll be back
turectly.' And OH we starts and caught the
man. But we got lost somehow, aud we've
been halt an hour inqulrn our way back and
can't find The baby"
"Th- res been little mistake, and Pm sorry,
but will rectify ii. Come along"
We arrived at the station house.
well, sir, what do you waDt?" inquired the
sergeant.
THE babyl' gasped "You remember the
baby. made slight mistake. want hin
back"
"You are the fellow who gave us so much
bother an hour ago, are yOu?" asked the gen
tleman, tiercely. 1.-The unfortunate child has
been sent To the founding asylum. The mat
ter Is out OF our hands"
where is the founding asylum?" [ asked.
The direction was hurled at me. so 10 speak.
and we departed The dreadful journey. with
Augusta Jane IN spasms of grief. aud the other
TWO women crying. cannot describe.
AT last we reached the spot, were admitted,
ushered Into parl0r aud there at last inter-
viewed by stout lady in black who called her
self the matron.
Dear me. It's so hard TO tell. Twelve was
fetched at once. Was 1t dark child in
ragged blanket, Or
ut had white dress. and white cloak
lined with blue, and white hood, and it's
name was Ellsworth Lincoln Grant Smith,"
said Anna Maria.
land his Dce white cloak was lined with
blue. The Irish lady said he was quite per-
fectly beautiful On, he has been adopted
already, ma am"
Adopted! My baby adopted!" cried Au-
gusta.
"By an Irish lady just starting for Liver
pool" said the matrOn. "Oh. deari IL 1t is a
mistake you'll have TO hurry or YOU won't
catch The vessel. She starts at A. and it's 8 80
the Arizona, and The lady is Mrs. Murphy"
We reached The proper pier al last. A crowd
was just dispensing.
line ArlZ0na" crled.
She's off these fifteen minutes" ssaid man.
There's the smoke Of her yonder."
Then Augusta tainted away. But just as she
did SO carriage joslled ours.
TOO late!' cried a voice.
"On, Murphy, dear, knew III" said another
And chid began to cry.
maria Briggs, that's hint" cried Augusta,
coming 10 herself In minute.
"Ips hint" cried Ann Maria, and The two |
regardless OF danger, Were out of our carriage |
and in that or our neighbors in an Instant and |
/ saw them seize upon something in blue |
lined cloak and devOur IL with kisses.
''It's my baby!'' cried Augusta.
''Irs mibe, madam" cried the Irish lady.
/ stood dumb. The Irish gentleman offered |
10 fight il out with me. Maria Briggs IL was |
who explained.
me and Mis- Smith we come from Pokeyilie |
to-day and The man went of with our bags, and |
the deaf criter there thought the baby |
was founding and gave il 10 the perlIce. and |
we've been ravin' distracted ever since." was |
her version.
mo apologies at ALL" said the Irish gentle |
man. shake hands, sir. Sure we can adopt |
another just the same"
Augusta had Ellsworth Lincoln Grant and |
was crying softly over him. She returned with |
tile child and Anna Maria to Pokevilie by that |
nights boat. No power could induce her TO |
sleep in my house, and she has never for |
given me.
AS for HepsIba I have never been able to |
explain the thing 10 her, and she still alludes |
occasionally 10 1.-The day your wife Gomez
Boston Globe.