The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-09-18

ana cunning expressions or happiness
and satisfaction. BY and by, 1t had
passed from one officer to another 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 1t on the floor an the white shoes
battered up and down the room while
the "goo-goo-goo" continued, as If the
babe were anxious to have its entire
audience completely aware that while
feet were accomplished.
"I'll bet my hat" ventured the SER
geant, as he looked through his wire
cage. "Pll bet my hat 1t will be
mighty scared woman that comes for
this kid"
"I'd give me months salary" said
Dougherty, "be jabers, If OF had its
loike." Then brushing his gray beard
against the pink cheek, he took up the
bundle of white stuff and carried 1t to
the window, where the sapphire eyes
looked out and blinked merrily at the
passers-by. The sergeant SMILED and
blew his nose vigorously. He had sud
denly remembered that, many years
ago, Dougherty had lost his three chill
dren in some frightful accident
The plump fingers ran along the win
dow glass and the white-hooded head
nodded at the stream of people that
hurried by, But no one noticed, and
Dougherty was about to plan some new
amusement, when well-dressed man
caught sight of the baby's face and then,
nervous and excited, ran into the sta
tion-house.
"How came this child here?" he de-
manded, almost fiercely, as he took the
little creature into his arms and pressed
kisses on the dimpled fists. II am the
child's father. Tell me, quickly, how
came she here?"
Number TAG found 1t In the middle
of the street." answered the sergeant,
referring to the register. ut was at
the corner of s. and M, in the
busiest part of the shopping district"
"My God! It's wonder she wasn't
crushed to death by the cars or trampied
under horses hoofs."
There was a hurried opening Of the
station house door, the rustic OF silk
en- skirts, and a white-faced, trembling
woman appeared. At the sight of the
man and child, she stood as II too be-
wildered and paralyzed to speak. Then,
the bundle of lace and the white hood
and the small shoes began to squirm,
and, in another moment the baby was
running toward its mother, who now
was softly weeping. She clasped the
child in her arms. and the sergeant
noticed that Dougherty drew his rough
sleeve over his eyes and then hurriedly
left the room.
It seemed strange, thought the ser
geant, that the mother and the father
of the child appeared so distant. He
was still more bewildered when the
child's father lifted his hat and said:
"Shall I take Muriel to the carri-
age?" and the mother answered, half
audibly:
eff you will be so kind"
Then they thanked the sergeant for
his kindness and passed out into the
sunshine.
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 was soon lost In the
crowd of passers-by.
That night woman with a heavy,
sorrowful 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 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
commands of her heart-could she for
once have murdered her pride and ex-
tended her hand to him! How different
might their future be!
Such thoughts flew through her mind
with agonizing, tormenting quickness.
There was no world outside her own
heavy heart. Her head fell among the 4
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 beseeching voice was
saying:
"Clare! wife! I have returned to beg
forgiveness. Please be friends again;
cannot exist without you-please-
please"
at was such a silly quarrel, wasn't
1t, dear?" she said, struggling closer to
him and raising her wet eyes to his,
"and yet we were so stubborn-I'm sure
we'll never quarrel again, and even II
we do, you won't go away, will you,
and we won't wait whole month to