Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-06
A WATTS ROMANCE.

pcLltS UIOuSDL dDOuL Ill d EOudIIIC way
| was going home early one evening
and CHANGED to grasp the arm of q
child just as it was falling off the para
pet IN front of heavily-ladeu dray
Looking round for the child's mother
L found that a careless nurse was talk
ing to 2 soldier and had not seen the
narrow escape of Ter little charge I
Ventured to demonstrate with her, tell
ing her that l saved the child from
certain death. To my intense surprise
the girl began to abuse me, appealing
to the soldier to back her up in her
loudly~eXpressed assertion that l was
telling a lot Of lies
Being in no way pressed for time, |
determined to teach the impudent girl
lessen. l was then in the force, but
N plain clothes, and the dismayed gil
gave a gasp when I said:
My name is Sharp, and am de-
tective; tell me the name Of your mis-
tress, and where you Hve?"
The soldier Immediately vanished,
increasing the nurse girls mortifica-
ton and fear. She began TO whimper
and t. sobbingly declare that I wanted
to rob poor girl Of her living. 4
crowd gathered. and the whisper went
round that l was Sandy Sharp, the de-
tective," and I was not mofested. A
couple Of cOnstables came up, and be-
ing told that 1 should take her to the
station ii she did not give her name
pI6 q16rpsc Io ,v-o IN
Get me a cab " I said to one Of the
Gel stables, and the girl, divining my
irlentiCn, lay down in the road, and
had tC be lifted into the cab On the
way to Victoria Terrace, near the OBJ
seryatOry, where her mistress lived,
the girl tried tears, then threats, to in
duce me to give up my purpose, but in
vain. | had been so annoyed by her
imEuCence that / was determined to-
put it out of her power to play such
tricks in the future
On nearing the house Of her mistress
the 8rtful jade began crying afresh, and
the moment the door was opened she
rushed in with the child, shutting the
door in my face. But I was not to be
got rid of in such fashion. Ringing
the bell | my card by the servant who
the bell, I sent in my card by the SER
want who answered the summons, and,
keeping the chain on the door, she
went in, returning almost Immediately
TO say her mistress was not at home.
I told her J did not believe her, and
rang the bell again, giving it such a tug
that if Mrs. Hamilton were in she must
hear it.
''Why do you not open the door," I
heard someone say, and it was opened
this time by the lady herself.
Mrs. Hamilton. I believer" I said,
and she bowed very assent.
Il sent in my card three minutes
since. and the servant said you were
not at home. She is trying to screen
your nurse, against whom I have a
serious complaint to make"
Mrs. Hamilton invited me into the
drawing-r0om. and ! related what had
happened in New City Road.
The ladys decision was quickly
taken. She rang the bell, gave orders
Aoi TIC "ilOlt VI tib' Wv t SeINdulS -
into the drawing-room and Oh my
pointing cut the one who had taken in
my card, she told her and the nurse to
pack up their trunks 1T once and come
to her for their wages when ready to
leave the house.
Mr. Hamilton is away from home,
Mr.. Sharp, and if you would kindly
stay with me till the two are out of
the house I shall be much indebted to
you The child whose life you saved
is not ours, hut we love it almost as
much as though it were"
I wanted my tea, for had had but a
small lunch. having been at the Circuit
Court all day. Happily, Mrs Hamilton
guessed the state of matters. and in
vited me into the dining-roOm, where
tea was served.
Tt was we'll for her that I stayed. The
nurse and parlour-maid had agreed to
demand wages up to the end of the
half-year, but when they heard from
the waitress that I was still in the
house they were quiet enough, and
left with out trouble.
About 4 month afterwards. on my
return home one evening, I found Mrs
Hamilton in my parlour in a state Of
great agitation.
ooh, Mr.. Sharp, have come to you
for advice and help Ny child, my lit
tie Albert. has been claimed by wo-
man who says she is its mother. Can
she take it from me-"
II must know all the circumstances
before I can answer that question
Where did you get the child?"
"From the City Poorhouse. Mr.
Hamilton is a member of the City Par
ochiaI Board, and our little BERTHE was
left at the door Of the Poorhouse in a
hamper when he was but a day old.
In the hamper was tbs card" and Mrs,
Hamilton produced a card on which
was written in neat feminine hand
writing the following:
ITO the City Parochial Board.-Fear
of exposure and shame compels a
mother for q time to abandn her in
FAINT, and to commit it to the care Of
strangers. whose hearts she prays God
to fill with pity and benevolence. In
full confidence of being able to redeem
her child hereafter. she earnestly re-
quests that this card may be carefully
preserved, that the production of an
indented duplicate hereafter may serve
for its Identification, and proof of her
right Please have the infant christ
ened as on the back 0f the card"
On the reverse side of the card was