The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-19

V00 anu MIS- E141Jn VIC KOHL u "
from PokevilIe," said Mary Briggs.
this mornin' and we fetched the
baby along with us, and me and Mis-
Smith come to the door in a cab. and he
charged us most an awful price, and
drove off with the travelin' bags,
with the baby's most particular and
needful things IN 'em, and SO says I,
Let's run after him;' so says she,
Yes 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
E'"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 want2" in
quired the sergeant
1.-THE baby!" I gasped. "You re-
member the baby. I made q slight
mistake. I want him back
'You are the fellow who gave US so
much bother an hour ago. are you?"
asked the gentleman, fiercely. 1.-THE
unfortunate child has been sent
to the founding asylum. The mat
ter is out of our hands,"
Where is the founding asylum?''
I 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 parIor, and
there at last interviewed by a stout
lady in black, who called herself the
matron.
1.-The last baby was brought in,"
she said. "Dear me, it's so hard to
tell. Twelve was fetched at once.
Was it dark child in a ragged blan-
ket, or -"
sit had white dress, and white
cloak lined with blue, and 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 adoptedr' cried
Augusta
by an Irish lady, just starting for
LIVERPOOL said the matron. 'Oh
dear! if it is a mistake, you'll have to
hurry, or you won't catch the vessel
She starts at 4, and it's 3:30-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 a carriage jostled
ours
''Too late" cried voice.
sob, Murphy, dear, 1 knew It'll" said
another. And child began to cry.
maria Briggs. that's himV' CRIED
Augusta, coming to herself in a min
ute.
Its himr' cried Ann Maria, and the
two, regardless of danger, were our
of our carriage, and in that of oul
neighbor's IN an instant, and I saw
them seize upon something in blue
lined cloak and devour it with kisses
Its my baby!" cried Augusta.
''It's mine, madam" cried the Iris
lady.
I 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 wen
off with our bags; and the deaf critic
there thought the baby was found
ling, and gave it to the police, ant
we've been ravin' distracted evel
SINCE" was her version.
No apologies at all" said the Iris
gentleman. ''Shake hands, sir. Sur
we can adopt another just the same
Augusta had Ellsworth Lincoll
Grant, and was crying softly owe
him. She returned with the chill
and Anna Maria to Pokevi1le by tina
nights boat. No power could Undue
her to sleep in my house, and she la
never forgiven me.
AS for Hepsiba, I have never bee1
able to explain the thing to her, an
she still alludes occasionally to 9Th,
day your wife came"
Toufs Narolaon NJ pIaw