Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-17

cd the truth--that the hapless crea-
ture had 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 backP 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 mew he murmured, II must
take It in, or it 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 beard footsteps coming
along the passage, and redoubled his
knocking. The door opened, and
Solomon Mucklebacklt, half dressed,
appeared on the threshold. Without
word the minister ran into the lobby.
"Losh me, meenister, is it yourself
calculated Solomon, in amazement. -
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 a candle, and followed him i'm
mediately. Then his amazement deep
ened. To see Mr.. Lorraine standing
by the Preside with crying infant in
lis arms was indeed enough to awaken
perplexity and wonder
my conscience, meenister, what haze
ye gotten there?"
"a child! Some one left it In the
porch, knocked, and ran away. Run,
Solomon, search up and down the road,
and see IL you can find them. Shame
upon them, whoever they are. Don't
| Stanu Starring, DuC run
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
lister seemed puzzled what to do. He
held it awkwardly, and its cries con-
tinued; then, to still it, he rocked II
to and fro in his arms.
Finding it still troublesome, he
placed it down in the armchair, and
softly loosened the shawl in which II
was wrapt, freeing its little arms.
It's cries ceased for a time, and II
lay with eyes wide open, spreading Its
little hands in the warm twilight.
The minister put on his glasses ant
looked at it with solemn curiosity.
1t was a tiny infant, about two
months old; its little pink face wal
pinched with cold, and its great blut
eyes dim with crying. A common
linen cap was on its head, and it,
gown was of coarse linen. But it wal
so small, so pretty, that the minister
tender heart melted over it at once
He offered it his forefnger, which /
gripped with its tiny hands, blinking
up into his face.
poor wee INTER- he murmured, "
wonder who your mother is? A wick
ed woman, I'm thinking, to cast yo1
away on such night as this!"
AS If in answer to his words, tn
child began to cry again.
81 can see naebody," cried Solomon
re-entering the room; II haze searchi
un and doom, as far toor ways as Mysi
Simpsons door, and b yont TO tn
waterslde, and there's name stirring
It's awful stranger
He looked at the child, an
scratched his head; he looked at tn
minister, and nodded it ominously. ]
curious conjecture, too irreverent 70
utterance, had passed across his nat
urally suspicious mind.
(To BE coNTINuED,)