Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-07-15

cd the truth-that the hapless crea.
ture had been left there by some ono
who had knocked and fed. Still hold
Ing the child IN his arms, he ran out
in the garden and looked on every
side.
Come backr' he said: whoever you
are, come back"
But no one responded. The wind
moaned dismally in the trees that
lifted their black branches overhead,
that was all. He ran to the gate and
looked aIp and down the road, but
could SEQ nobody. AS he stood In per-
plexity the child cried again loudly.
and struggled in his arms.
BLESS mel! he murmured, "I must
take 1t in. or 1t will die OF cold!"
He ran back to the door and knocked
loudly again and again. 1t was some
time before he was heard. At last,
however. he feard footsteps coming
along the passage, and redoubled his
knocking. The door opened, and
Solomon Mucklebackit. half dressed.
appeared oa''the threshold. Without
word the minister ran into the lobby.
"Losh me. meenister. is it yourself"
calculated Solomon, in amaZemert. Il
thought You were in bed"
Come this way-quick!" Shouted
Mr.. Lorraine. Bring light"
And still carrying his burden. he
ran into the sitting-room. Solomon
closed the door. struck match. and
lighted candle. and followed him i'm
mediately. Then his amazement deep
ened To see Mr.. Lorraine standing
by the fireside with a crying infant in
lis arms was indeed enough to awaken
perplexity and wonder.
my conscience. meenister. what hae
ye gotten there?"
"a child! Some one left It In the
porch. knocked, and ran away. Run,
Solomon, search up and down the road,
ard see II you can find them. Shame
upon them. whoever they are. Don't
stand staring. but rum"
Perfectly bewildered, Solomon stood
gaping: then with one horror-stricken
look at the infant. left the room. and
ran from the house.
Left alone with the child, the min
ister seemed puzzled what to do. He
held 1t awkwardly. and its cries con-
tinued: then, to still 1t, he rocked 1t
to and fro in his arms.
Finding 1t still troublesome. he
placed 1t down in the armchair. and
softly loosened the shawl in which It
was wrapt. freeing Its little arms.
It's cries ceased for time. and 1t
lay with eyes wide open. spreading its
little hands in the warm twilight
The minister put on his glasses and
looked at 1t with solemn curiosity.
It was tiny infant. about two
months old; its little pink face was
pinched with cold. and its great blue
eyes dim with crying. A common
linen cap was on Its head. and Its
gown was of coarse linen. But it was
so small. so pretty. that the minister's
tender heart melted over 1t at once.
He offered 1t his forefnger, which 1t
gripped with its tiny hands. blinking
up into his face.
"Poor wee mite" he murmured. II
wonder who your mother is? A wick
ed woman. I'm thinking, to cast you
away on such night as this"
As IL in answer to his words, the
child began to cry again.
"I can see naebody." cried Solomon.
re-entering the room; 81 hae searchit
ur and doom. as far toonways as Mysie
Simpsons door. and beyont to the
waterside. and there's name stirring.
It's awfu' strange"
He looked at the child. and
scratched his head: he looked at the
minister. and nodded 1t ominously.. A
curious conjecture. too irreverent for
utterance. had passed across his nat
urally suspicious mind.
(ro BE coNrINUEp.)