The Red Cloud chief., 1897-06-18

ed the tfuth-that the hapless crea-'
ture mad been left there by some one
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 up and down the road, but
could see nobody. AS he stood In per-
plexity the child cried again loudly.
and struggled In his arms.
BLESS met" he murmured, IL must
take 1t In, or II will die Of cold!"
He ran back to the door and knocked
time before he was heard. At last.
however, he beard footsteps coming
along the passage, and r%edoubled his
knock!r-. The door opened. and
Solomon Mucklebackit, half dressed,
appeared on the threshold. without
a word the minister ran into the lobby.
"Losh ne. meenister. Is It yourself"
calculated Solomon. N amazement. Il
thought you were inVbed."
"Come this way-qulck!" shouted
Mr.. Lorraine. Bring a light"
And still carrying his burden. he
ran into the sitting-room. Solomon
closed the door, struck a match. and
ttohtod m ooodIo ond fOIiou,ad hir, ip,-
mediately. Then his amazement deep
oned. To see Mr.. Lorraine standing
by the Preside with a crying infant In
his arms was indeed enough to awaken
perplexity and wonder.
my conscience. meenister, what hae
We gotten thereT
"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
ieter seemed puzzled what to DO. He
held It awkwardly, and It's cries con-
tinued; then, to still 1t, he rocked !,
to and fro In his arms.
Finding 1t still troublesome, he
placed 1t down in the armchair, and
softly loosened the shawl in which II
was wrapt, freeing its little arms.
Its cries ceased for a time, and II
lay with eyes wide open. spreading IT.
little hands In the warm twilight.
The minister put on his glasses ant
looked at 1t with solemn curiosity.
1t was a tiny infant. about two
months old; Its little pink face wa,
pinched with cold, and its great blu,
eyes dim with crying. A common
linen cap was on Its head. and II.
gown was Of coarse linen. But it wa
so small, so pretty. that the minister
tender heart melted over 1t at once
: He offered It his forefnger, which l
= grlpped with Its tiny hands, blinking
up into his face.
poor wee inter- he murmured, I"
= wonder who your mother is? A wick
ed woman. I'm thinking, to cast 20
away on such a night as thisw
o As it in answer to his words. tn
r child began to cry again.
I, 81 can see naebody," cried Solomon
re-entering the room; 81 haze searchi
| IN and doom, as far toonways as Mysi
simpsons door. and beyont to tn
waterside, and there's name stirring
It's awfu' stranger!
He looked al the child. an
r scratched his head; he looked at tn
minister, and nodded 1t ominously.
o curious conjecture, too irreverent II
utterance. had passed across his ma
Q urally suspicious mind.
(To ne C~oNTINUEp.)