Connecticut western news., 1895-01-03
THE FOUNDING.

Barlow was somewhat late, for. on annoying error in posting by an under 5ookkeeper had detained him at the of flee. He walked rather more rapidly than usual, for he knew that the major, Simpson and Granger were waiting for him to make the fourth hand in the game of whist which always preceded dinner. Collins was not home, for he lad gone to Milwaukee and would not return until the next morning, and Bar low knew that the major was inpatient ly tapping the table with his fingers and watching the door.
 For seven years the five men had lived together, and the whist game before dinner was one of the household habits which had fastened itself upon the lit tie community as vital element of its placid existence The men were all past middle age, and any Aggression from the routine jared the entire domestic machinery for the time. Dinner was al ways served at o'clock, and Barlow felt more than guilty, for it was not only nearly 6 o'clock, but the afternoon was the Saturday half holiday, and he should have been home several hours
 
 earlier.
 He increased his pace when he turned into the street which for three blocks was the bottom of an architectural canyon, its sides formed of solid rows of houses each exactly like the other. As he approached the center house of the middle block he felt for his latchkey and drew it from his pocket when he turned to ascend the steps The key dropped from his hand, and he fell back pace, for cooing at him from the cor ner of the little porch baby stretched its chubby arms toward him and smiled when the key jingled on the stone step.
 Barlow's first thought was that he had taken the wrong steps, and he stead fly stared at the number painted on the transom. The number was right, and he rapidly checked it off with the familiar window curtains and the doormat The majors burly form came into view through the window, and then Barlow concentrated his attention on the baby. It cooed gently and made an effort to crawl down the steps.
 Hold on; you'll hurt yourself, !"
  ously over the edge of the doorstep. The little one looked up and smiled again, and then for the first time in his mem ory Barlow held a baby in his arms. For several minutes he stood looking up and down the street, but no one came to help him. He pressed the baby to him as he stopped for his key, and opening the door walked into the sitting room with the baby under his arm as | though it were laundry bundle Hello, you re here at last," said the major, loosening the belt of his dress ing gown and reaching for deck of what have you got there?'
 The baby kicked its heels and struck out with it's arms as though swimming, for Barlow hand was under its stomach as he held it against his hip. Simpson dropped the evening paper and stared at the baby with his mouth open. Granger l forgot the blazing match which he was holding over his pipe bowl, and it burn | ed to his fingers as he gazed blankly at Barlow and the kicking infant
 The oppressive silence was broken by sudden cry from the baby, and the major caught it by one leg just in time to save 1t from striking the floor, fo1 Barlow dropped it when the cry came. For second the major held the baby | by its leg, while a series of untitled ex- plosions came from under the clothing, which had fallen over the baby's head. Then he gently lowered the little one to the floor, and all silently watched the strange creature squirm and strug gle its way out of the maze of linen anC flannel and finally sit up, red faced fearful, screaming baby.
 Barlow's explanation was incoherent for he, like the major, Granger ant Simpson, was in state of menta chaos The baby's screams brought Bob the colored cook and all around servant from the dining room, and his blacl face increased the vigor of the infantil yells and deepened the scarlet hue of it face to purplish tinge.
 A twisted wire brooch which helt the little sack at the neck gave tn baby's name as Joey" The major wa seized with an inspiration. Snappini his fingers, he said, Here, Joey, here here, here," as he used to speak to tn only dog he ever owned.
 The other men felt an immense ad miration for the major, for Joey sud denly stopped crying The minute of si lence seemed an hour to the anxious ol bachelors looking down at the tin stranger.
 Joey was strangely quiet His mout \ la 1,in H,,1 nd rattling sound in his throat alarme Barlow.
 "For heavens sake, get some water 1 Trump it on the back. Open all tn windows. The baby is choking !, death. '' And he dropped on his knee and began beating the baby's back an chest with his palm. A pitcher an glass of water were brought. The wir dows and doors were thrown open, an ' the major, wildly excited, swished
 newspaper in the baby's face, fannin it frantically Simpson dashed a glas of water into Joey's eyes and mouth and the baby, after several gasps, burl out crying and wailing again.
 "Jingle some keys at himP' believe il hand and hold it so, and now say aft 1t mel y I hesitated a moment and then r ,r peated after her. "In the name of u
 One Eyed, the name of Odin, ho
 thee and have thee through this lii and that life, and all lives to follow.
 call thee and keep thee, my hand f
 the witness, my lips for thy kissin
 my strength for thy weakness, my tea 1T for thy sorrow, my breast for thy he'
 when thou boune thee to sleeping, D
 life for thy oalling"- Then she sto ped and looked vaguely at me and !