The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-05
pretty quiet now, aren't you? How

OF his bathroom and saw how the
baby was hushed, he stood rooted on
the threshold, motionless.
Flat on his back in the middle of
Judson's bed lay Mel, humming
sweetly the Ave Maria, and straight
across his heaving chest lay the baby,
lulled to sleep by that gentle motion.
Miel's hand was softly beating the
measure on the baby's back.
Good Lord" said Judson.
"Hush" whispered Mel, paternal-
ly, "you'll wake it. Look here, Jud
son; I've been thinking, and l can't
do that. Upon my soul, can'tl''
"Do what?"
Turn the baby into an asylum
I've heard some awful things about
those places"
Judson dropped the boots he held
in his hand. They struck the floor
with clatter.
HUSH! SuIT0dIou Ml0l'
"Hushw mimicked Juds son.
"'HushP and the baby and you
can't part from it, Since when,
pray? 1t was a this and that
and thing when l left you. Mel,
if you are going to lie there and
twaddle sentiment because found
ling baby has been lying across your
stomach for a quarter of an hour,
you can get rid of it yourself; l won't
help you"
Pm not sure l want to get rid of
it," said Mel.
The baby stirred, and Mel shook
it to and fro as he talked. Judson
noted his growing skill with alarm.
"Antoine," he said, sternly, will you
or will you not come with me and
dispose of that child to the proper
authorities? You don't know any
thing on earth about it. 1t may be
sickened with measles. Why, you
don't even know if it's boy or a
grill"
"There's nothing whatever the mat
ter with it" said Mel, with offence.
After moments thought he added,
II hope it's a girl"
ga girl" said Judson. What do
you know about girls?" A new argu-
ment leaped into his brain, and he
gave it instant voice. "You haven't
wife to take it home to and what's
more, you never will have if you
handicap yourself with a castaway
child"
Mel started, looking at his friend
anxiously. Judson briskly followed
up his obvious advantage.
"You wouldn't have the right to
ask woman to accept a founding
step-baby. 1t must go to the asylum.
I'll step down to the desk and look
up the address-never had the occa-
sion to use it before. Meantime do
you fit the infant back in the violin
case. That's the best way to carry
it,"
Judson was still absorbed in turn
ing over the leaves of the directory
at the hotel desk, when he felt a
touch on his shoulder, and faced
around to find Mel behind him.
"Have you found the address,
Judson7" whispered Mel. "Yes7
That's well; for the baby is all ready,
sound asleep and packed carefully in
the case, with your traveling-rug
around it to keep it steady. l left it
on the bed and came down to hurry
you. 1t might wake again"
"You didn't" whispered Judson,
aghast. "You didn't leave that child
alone in my room for the chamber
maid to find'"
"'Twas only a moment" Mel apol-
ogized, land closed the lid of the
case"
But Judson, with imprecations,
fastened through the corridors and
up the stairs to his bedroom, followed
by Mel. still explaining. Judson
flung his door wide open.
"Now," cried Mel, triumphantly,
lifting himself to look over his tall
friends shoulder, ''it's all right, you
see."
Judson turned back face of blank
dismay. cts gone!" he exclaimed.
Mel pushed past him to the bed,
which was empty, save for the un-
cased violin, Miel's hat, and the long
box of flowers. The baby, case and
all, was missing.
''Stop him!" cried Mel, frantically.
Catch him-step him, Judson!"
"Stop whom?" said Judson, block
ing the doorway. "You don't pass
here till you tell me what you've
been doing and what all this MEANS"
Mel tore his hair. 1T means she
will never speak to me again. Let