The Red Cloud chief., 1897-06-25
CHAPTER u.-oCoSrrsurp.)

Lord preserve us az he muttered.
Solomon" cried Mr.. Lorraine i'm
patiently. whats to be done?"
Solomon scratched his head, then
lis face lightened with sudden inspira-
ton, as he answered:
Put the thing whaur we found him,
on the doorstane. Lea him there
he's name o. ccrs. Maybe the mither
twill come back and take him AVA"
Z The minister's face flushed indig-
pantly.
ION srch a night as this! Solomon
Mucklebackit. II you have no more
Christian advice than that to offer,
you can go back to bed"
Solomon was astonished. Seldom
had he seen his master exhibit such
authority, tempered with indignation.
Not knowing how to reply, he effected
a diversion.
"See, sir" he said, still inspecting the
child as II 1t were some curious species
Of fish, "the cratur's wringin' watt"
Such was the fact, though 1t had es-
capped the minister's agitated scrutiny.
iuc oudWl anu uuutI -ulCoo VI ~
FAINT were soaked with rain or melted
snow.
BLESS my soulv' cried Lorraine.
bending down by Solomon's side; land
its little body Is quite cold. Fetch
yMysie Simpson at once"
Solomon shook his head.
"Mysie's away the night WI her
kinsfolk at the Mearns."
Then there's only one thing to be
{ dcne," cried Mr.. Lorraine, with sud-
den decision. 1--WE must undress the
chilA at once and put him to bed, and
in the morning we can decide how to
y act. II we leave him like this he will
die OF cold"
Put him to bed!" echoed Solomon.
"Whaur:"
"In my room, Solomon, unless you
) would like to take him with you"
"Wr me! I'm no used wi BARNS.
I couldna sleep a wink"
Then he shall stay with me. Look,
Solomon, how pretty he is, how bright
his eyes are! Fetch me a blanket at
once, and warm 1t by the fire."
Solomon left the room. The minis
ter lifted the burden in his arms, and
sat down by the hearth. Then,
%nervously and awkwardly, he undid
the shawl and put 1t aside; loosened
the baby's outer garments, which were
quite wet. and drew them gently of.
Thus engaged, the good man was in
deed a picture to see-his soft eyes
beaming with love and tenderness, his
face puzzled and troubled, his little
plump hands at work with clumsy
kindness.
Solomon entered with a blanket,
warmed it for a minute at the fire, and
then placed it softly under the child,
which now lay mother-naked-as
sweet and bright a little cherub as
ever drew mothers milk.
Suddenly the sexton uttered an ex-
clamation.
Lord preserve us all. It's no a man
child ava! It's a wee lassiev'
Mr.. Lorraine started, trembled and
: almost dropped his load; then, BASH
fully, and tenderly, he wrapped the
warm blanket around the infant, leav-
ing only Its face visible.
LAD or ~lassie." he said, 1.-THE Lord
has left it in u keepingv
STOPPING to the hearth-rug, Solomon
lifted from It a tiny chemise which
had fallen there, and examined II with
ludicrous horror. Suddenly his eyes
perceived something which had es-
caped Mr.. Lorraine's nervous gaze.
~Pinned to the chemise was a piece of
paper with some writing upon It.
Look, meenister!" cried Solomon.
unpinning the paper and holding It up;
there's a letter addressed to yourself
here. VIII I read it?"
Certainly"
Then Solomon read, In his own
broad accent, which we will not re-
produce. these words, which were writ
ten In q clear though ~trenulous fe-
male hand:
ITO Mr.. LOrraine-By tho time you
read this, the writer will be lying dead
and cold In AMMAN Water. You are a
good man and a clergyman. Keep the
child. a a gift Of God. and as you use
her may God use you"
That was all. Solomon stammered
through the words In horror. while Mr..
Lorraine listened In genuine astonish-
at / ms.D,.,.r~ .,,,.,m., so,o.
mon, Indignantly. did I mo- tell ye?
IT'S a scandal. an outrage! Keep the
\ BARN, indeed. and a woman-bairn!
Absurd n%otionr"
I "Hush, Solomon" i~nterposed the
4 minister solemn'y. II begin to see the
\ hand O. God In this"
Openly the bedclothes. he placed
D T6eAnf3 Y a cozy spot, and arranged
A thh blahk.- 4 tenderly around It.
Look. Solomon! Is she not bonnyf"