Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-12
LOST AND FOUND.

S~Sos -"~ FISK SCh8cnut, Dut you
sem pretty much at home, Just tho samo."
"Cudga. cudsn, cudga," It answered.
"Da-da, dad IA, dada"
"'we hear all sorts Of languages here.
but we don't seem TO understand yon,"
remarked one oftho ofliccrs. Thon, turn.
ting 20 a fellow policeman, he sasked,
"whcrc did you find the kld?'
II didn't. II found me. I guess liz
NANNY was a-sboppin md II must have
wniked Ut OF . store. Anyhow, ! Dsysr
caught SIGHT Of 1t until IL trottcd out into
tbs street and took hold o my hand I
waited round with II q long time. hopiu
Its nanny would como for Il. and then l
brought 1t here"
Blame me, II 1t amt the dandiest
youngster I ever clapped eyes onp' put
patted tho silver star en- the sergeant's
cont.
Seems to DO well logged ont too. Amt
clothes"
Tho object Of this conversation now held
mp Its short littls Grns and wrinkled up
Its face. The tiny lips began to culver ~
no move was msdo to take It. EAs.
/sbhhoS a. > NoAo lOH0 yO0t hAAo bu0
sergeant. "I'd break you somewhere Or
let you drop, and then where'd you bes"
Dada, dada da, cudga, cudga." 1t an
swered. The sergeant stopped and looked
into the sapphire eyes. Tho little. arms
closed around the red, fat neck and the
tiny mouth smiled In baby happiness. The
serPeant's big, awkward hands gathered
the bundle Of white cashmeres and lace up
Into a clumsy hoap and its babyship ooosd
happily over tho shoulder Of the biuecoat.
Tho child passed from one officer to an
other until each ono had had the honor Of
seeing the chubby fingers dabble and play
with the brass buttons and glittering star.
Old Dougherty was tho last one to whose
caro- Its babyship was given. He put 1t
Oh the DOR and the white shoes pattersd
up and down the room, while the goo
goo-goo" continued, az II the babe were
anxious to nave its entire audience CON-
pletely aware that while the tongue was
not educated, the small fsct were accom-
plished.
"Ill bet my hat, - venturedt the sergeant,
ns he looked through his wire cage, "IIi
bet my hat that 1t will be q mighty scared
woman that comes for this kid"
I'D give me months salary" said
Dongherty, "be jabcrs. II Oh had it, loike."
Then, brushing his gray beard against the
pink check, be took up the bundle of
white stuff and carried it to the window,
whero tho sapphire Dyes looked out and
biinked merriIy at the passarsby. The
sergeant shifted and blew his nose vigorous
ly. He had suddenly remembered that,
many years ago, Dougherfy had lost his
th-co children in some frightful accident.
The plump fingers ran along the win-
dow glass md the white hooded head nod.
ded at the stream Of people that hurried
by. But nc ono noticed, and Dougherty
was about to plan some new amusement,
when q we'll dressed man caught sight of
the baby's face, and then, nervous and ex-
cited, ran into the station house.
How came this child hcre:' he de-
inanded, almost fiercely, as no took the
little creature into his arms and pressed
kisses on the di,npled fists. 81 am the
child's father. Tell me quickly how came
she here?"
Number TAG found 1t in the middle Of
tho street" answered tho sergeant, refer
ring to the register. sit was at the cor
ner Of $ and NJ, in the busiest part Of
tho shopping district"
My Godl It's q wonder she wasn't
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 O white faced, trembling woman ap-
AT sight Of the man and child
sho stood as II too bewildered and par
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-
its mother, who now was softly
weeping. She clasped the child In her
n the sergeant noticed that Dough
erty drew his rough sleeve over his eyes
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 n said:
shall I take Muriel to the carriages"
the mother answered, half audibly:
"If you will be SO kind"
Then they thanked the sergeant for his
kindness and passed out into the sur
At the carriage door the man assisted
his wife into the vehicle, and then handed
the baby to her. She nodded her head In
silent thanks. He again lifted his hat and
10 SSOA AOSp AL tAC OHOW0 "a RosScAsHy.
That night a woman, with q heavy, sor-
heart, knelt by tho side OF her
cradle and wept bitterly.
For the first time In several weeks she
had been face to face with the mar whom
had loved and married-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 commando OF
her heart, could she for once have muir
!erod her pride and extended her hand to
him, how different might their future DO!
Such thoughts few through her mind
agonizing, tormenting quickness.
There was no world outside her " heavy
heart. Her head fell among the down
of the cradle, and she sobbed
aloud.
She did not hear the soft step behind
her. She did not know that some one had
room until an arm was'about
her and a beseeching voice was saying:
Glare! Wife! I have returned to beg