The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-02-21

and sat down, faint with horror.
me and Mis- Smith we KEN up
from Pokeville," said Mary Briggs,
this moruin' and we fetched the
baby along with us, and me and Mis-
Smith come to the door in cab, and he
charged us most an awful price, and
drove off with the travelin' bags,
with the baby's most par ticular and
full things in 'em, and so says I,
run after him. so says she,
And we rings the bell, and I
says to the old lady, This is Mr.
Smith's| Says she, Yes Says I,
Take in the baby and we'll be back
turectly.' And off we puts and caught
the man. But we got lost somehow,
and we've been half an hour inquir.
in our way back, and can't find the
baby"
'There's been little mistake, and
I'm sorry, but will rectify it. Come
along"
We arrived at the station house.
"Well, sir, what do you want?" in
CURED the sergeant.
"The baby!" I gasped. "You re-
member the baby. I made slight
mistake. want him back"
"You are the fellow who gave us so
much bother an hour ago. are you?"
asked the gentleman, fercely. 1.-THE
unfortunate child has been sent
to the founding asylum. The mat
ter is out of our hands,"
"Where is the founding asylum"
1 asked.
The direction was hurled at me, so
to speak, and we departed. The
dreadful journey, with Augusta Jane
in spasms of grief, and the other two
women crying cannot describe
At last we reached the spot were
admitted, ushered into a parlar, and
there at last interviewed by a stout
lady in black, who called herself the
matron.
"The last baby was brought in,"
she said. ''Dear me, it's so hard to
tell. Twelve was fetched at once.
WIS it dark child in a ragged blan-
l,':, or -"
1t had a white dress, and a white
cloak lined with blue, and a white
hood and his name was Ellsworth
Lincoln Grant Smith," said Anna
Maria.
"And his nice white cloak was
lined with blue. The Irish lady said
he was quite perfectly beautiful. Oh,
he has been adopted already, ma'am
"Adopted! My baby adopted!' cried
Augusta
'By an Irish lady, just starting for
Liverpool" said the matron. ooh,
dear! if it is mistake, you'll have to
hurry, or you won't catch the vessel
She starts at 4, and it's 3:3O-the Ari-
iona, and the lady is Mrs Murphy.
We reached the proper pier at last
The crowd was just dispensing.
1.-THE Arizona" I cried.
"She's off these fifteen minutes"
said man. ''That's the smoke of
her yonder."
Then Augusta tainted away. But
just as she did so carriage jostled
ours.
TOO late!" cried voice.
'Oh, Murphy, dear, knew it," said
another. And a child began to cry.
'Maria Briggs, that's himv' cried
Augusta, coming to herself in min
ute.
Its him!" cried Ann Maria, and the
two, regardless of danger, were out
of our carriage, and in that of our
| neigh boris IN an instant, and saw
them seize upon some thing in blue
lined cloak and devour it with Kisses
"It's my baby!" cried Augusta.
cts mine, madam!" cried the IrisL
lady.
stood dumb. The Irish gentleman
offered to fight it out with me. Maria
Briggs it was who explained.
"Me and Mis- Smith we came from
Pokeville to-day, and the man went
off with our bags; and the deaf critter
there thought the baby was a foand-
ling, and gave it to the police, and
we've been ravin' distracted ever
SINCE" was her version.
mo apologies at all" said the Irish
gentleman. "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 the child
and Anna Maria to Pokeville by that
nights boat No power could induce
her to sleep in my house, and she has
| never forgiven me.
AS for Hepsiba, I have never been
able to explain the thing to her, and
she still alludes occasionally to s.the
| day your wife came"