The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-07-17

woman, or whatever she was, drove
off and left the child like that?"
"She was a lady" said the boy, II
am sure OF that, by her face. ] shall
know her if | ever SEQ her again.
And you should have seen the look
she gave the child as she drove
away"
''She is a bad, wicked. unnatural
woman, whoever she may be-, was
his companions reply. "Let me see
the child. my lad"
He threw back the folds of the
warm wooden blanket in which the
infant was wrapped, and a tiny fairy
princess sat up straightway on his
arm and looked around her with
those large, blue, observing and UNI
smiling eyes.
What a pretty creature! And to
think its own mother conld go and
desert it like that. Will it come to
its own aunty, like a cherub as it is!
SO IL will, bless 1T, and it was the
sweetest little dear that ever lived
in this wicked world of ours-a pet..',
1t was no wonder that though
%childless herself the good woman
possessed the key to an infants low
ing heart. No wonder that after a
moment or two the child chung to
her warm breast and refused to go
back to the lad when he held his
arms for her.
The little things desertion panied
him more than he could say. His
| fnno D~o,,x I~,1~ -.l MI !"
looking at him guessed the reason,
with a woman,s quick instructive
wit.
''Never mind, my lad" she said,
kindly. "4t's only natural for her
to take to me-she remembers her
nurse, | suppose, or her good-for-
nothing mother, or whoever NAV
have had charge Of her. She likes
you all the same, but it is natural
for a baby TO cling to a woman be-
fore a man, so don't you fret, my
dear. And how about your staying
here"
81 will go, if my staying will put
you to any Inconvenience" he said,
looking at her wistfully, and then
at the child.
..You're not going out into the
wind and rain again tonight, while
Hester Trotter has a roof over her
head" was her prompt reply. mo,
lad, you'll stay here tonight, and in
the ulorning we'll see. Perhaps |
can ti1d something for you to do if
you re not above work"
IL shall be SO glad, SO thankful
for anything, ma'am,' he said, and
his handsome face lit up eagerly. II
have a certificate of good character
from the captain of my ship, and I'll
do anything i'll the world. madam
anything in the world-and be glad
to do it, so it is honest work that
will keep me and the child.'
''Why, you I'VE mean to say that
you are going to saddle yourself with
her." said Mrs. Trotter, with a
glance of establishment.
''She is mine-my little sister, was
his firm reply. Il have adopted
her. she is all I have in the world.
and l will work for her gladly"
"Well; you are a brave, good boy,
and if can help you, l will with all
my heart. What is your name?:"
''Rudolph Bergen. 1t was nv
mothers name, as l told you before.
| don't know my father's.'
Poor chl,d! Well, make a name
for yourself, my boy. And now, @
are tired and hungry, and wet and
cold
She turned to the siGeboard as
she spoke, unlocked the cupboard
beneath it, and after a moments
pause came back with the child vet
in her arms,) carrying a plate of cold
meat and bread.
''Ihat is the :ve=o / can do for YOU
to. night, as it is SO late, Rudolph.
lake these and a knife and fork and
go up stairs. You can warm YOUR
self as you eat your p beside
my fire, and you shall sleep in the
little garnet shed where Tim sleeps
when he comes here, and | will dry
your clothes all ready for you in the
morning
The lad preceded her upstairs,
bearing his supper in one hand and
the light in the other. At thu top
of the first landing they turned
through a half open door into g large
room, bright with the mingled light
of fire and lamp combined. A bed
stood in a recess against the wall,
and before the fire were drawn up a
small supper table, and a large, easy
chair.
81 had just finished supper when
you came" she said, bnstling about
with a small saucepan of new milk,
! into which she N q frach