The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-26
LOST AND FOUND.


Dada dada, dada"
eve hear all sorts Of languages here,
but we don't seem to understand you, -
remarked one Of the officers Then, turn
ing to a fellow policeman, be asked,
'Where did you find the kid?'
Il didn't 1t found me. I guess fits
nanny was a-sboppin and it must have
walked out Of a store. Anyhow, never
caught sight of it until it trotted out into
the street and took hold O. my hand. I
waited round with it q long time, hopin
its nanny would come for it, and then I
brought it here"
Blame me, if it amt the dandiest
youngstsr ever clapped eyes onl' put
in the sergeant, as the Rburd little hand
patted the silver star on the sergeant's
coat.
s.Seems to be we'll logged out too. Amt
no ordinary, everyday kid, judgin by its
clothes"
The object Of this conversation now held
up it's short little arms and wrinkled up
its face The tiny lips began to culver as
no move was made to take it.
Blamed if I dare hold youl' said the.
sergeant. ssI'd break you somewhere or
let you drop, and then where'd you be?''
Dada. dn-da-da, cudga, cudga, " it an
swered. The sergeant stopped and looked
into the sapphire eyes. The little arms
closed around the red, fat neck and the
tiny meath smiled in baby happiness. The
serqeanf's big. awkward hands gathered
the bundle of white oashmeres and lace up
into a clumsy heap and It's babyship oooed
happily over the shoulder Of the blueooat.
The child passed from one officer to an
other until each one had had the honor of
seeing the chubby fingers dabble and play
with the brass buttons and glittering star.
Old Dougherty was the last one to whose
care its babyship was given. He put it
on the floor and the white shoes battered
I'D and down the room, while the goo
goo-goo' continued, as If the babe were
anxious to have its entire audience COM
DleteIv aware that while the tongue was
not educated, the small feet were accom-
plished.
ssI'lI bet my hat, 5" ventured the sergeant,
as he looked through his wire cage, tIu
bet my hat that it will be a mighty scared
woman that comes for this kid
ssI'd give me months salary said
Dougherty, 81 be jabers, if OF had it's Ioike.'
Then, brushing his gray beard against the
pink cheek, he took up the bundle of
white stuff and carried it to the window,
where the sapphire eyes looked out and
blinked merrily at the passersby. The
sergeant shifted and blew his nose vigorous
~ he had suddenly remembered that,
many years ago, Doughsrty had lost his
three children in some frightful accident.
The plump fingers ran along the win
dow glass and tho white hooded head nod
ded at the stream of people that hurried
bv But no one noticed, and DOugherty
was about to plan some new amusement,
when a well dressed man caught sight Of
the baby's face, and then, nervous and ex-
cited, ran into the station house.
How came this child here2" he de-
manded, almost fiercely, as he took the
little creature into his arms and pressed
kisses on the dimpled fists. am the
ohiId's father. Tell me quickly how came
she here?''
ssNumber 746 found it in the middle Of
the street, - answered the sergeant, refer
ring to the register. st was at the cor
ner of S and NJ, in the busiest part of
the shopping district.
my Cod It's q wonder she wasn't
crushed to death by the cars or trampled
under horses hoofs.'
There was a hurried opening Of the sta
ton house door, the rustic of silken skirts,
and a white faced, trembling woman ap-
peared At sight Of the man and child
She stood as if too bewildored and par
alvzed to speak. Then the bundle of lace
and the white hood and the small shoes
began to wiggle and squirm, and, in an
other moment the baby was running to-
ward its mother, who now was softly
weeping She clasped the child in her
arms. and the sergeant noticed that Dough
and then hurriedly left the room.
1t seemed strange, thought the sergeant,
that the mother and father of the child
appeared so distant He was still more
bewildered when the child's father lifted
his hat and said:
.'Shan 1 take Muriel to the oarriage2''
and the mother answered, half audibly;
"If you will be so kind.
Then they thanked the sergeant for his
kindness and passed out into the sun
shine
At the carriage door the man assisted
his wife into the vehicle and then handed
the baby to her. Sho nodded her head in
silent thanks. He again lifted his hat and
was soon lost in the crowd Of passersby.
That night a woman, with a heavy sor-
rowful heart, knelt by the side of her
baby's cradle and wept bitterly.
For the first time in several weeks she
had been face to face with the man whom
she had loved and narried-the man whose
child she had cared for SO tenderly. with
true motherly affection and devotion.
Had she but taken the opportunity to
bid him return had she but begged him
to end the wretchedness of the past month,
had her lips but obeyed the commands Of
her heart. could she for once have muir
dered her pride and extended her hand to
him, how different might their future bel
Such thoughts flew through her mind
with agonizing, tormenting quickness.
There was no world outside her own heavy
heart. Her head fell among the down
coverlets of the cradle, and she sobbed
aloud.
She did not hear the soft step behind
her. She did not know that some one had
entered the room until an arm was about
her and a baseeohing voice was saying:
"CIarel Wifel I have returned to beg
forgiveness. Please be friends again. I
cannot exist without you. Please
Pleasel''
1T was such a silly quarrel, wasn't it,
dear2'' she said, struggling closer to him
and raising her wet eyes to his and yet