Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-11-06

started homeWard.
"Why, Nora, what an age youhave
been |" cried fresh, young voice, as
slight, sunny-haired girl ran down
the steps of handsome brown stone
house, bent oyera small carriage and
lifted the tiny occupant in her arms.
aYou have been long enough to go
down town and match that ribbon
twice OYER"
Then, without listening to the
nurses excuses "Come to Runtie,
darling She willgiye baby her sup
per and put her to bed while NAM
ma is away. Fetch the milk up at
once, Nora"
And of she tripped, with the rosy
little creature cuddled close to her
neck.
But it was q yeritable young tig-
ress that confronted the astonished
Celt ten minutes later, and shook
her until her teeth chartered and the
milk splashed over upon her apron.
'Blissed Mother W-w-wh-what-
ever is the mather, Miss Bessie =
stammered poor Nora.
"Matter enough, you miserable
girl!p And with the air of trag-
edy queen, the young lady waved
her hand toward the infant now
wailing Justify ON the bed. "Look
there Is that our Margery's curly
head? No. Are those our Mar
gery's big blue eyes,? No. Is this
our Margery at all (? No; it isn't.
lists a--a-strange baby. Meth
ing like our precious, beautiful pet
but !, a great, fat, ugly boy
There, sis, now will you be
good - said Jack Vinton when be
finally appeared in the dsrkling
cleaning, and deposited the fan in
her hand and the baby on her lap.
Eyes, indeed, you blessed boy
responded the little woman, once
more all smiles and dimples. "You
have been . friend in need and can
now go and make yourself as fascin-
ating as possible
So it was with an approving con-
science, a decided inclination to
pat himself, metaphorically, on the
back, that the young man withdrew
to dress for the evening, when he
was TO fill the position of host in
| place Of the absent lord and mas
ter.
But he had scarcely Invested him.
| self of his coat and was still wrest.
ling with a collar button, when his
chamber door was burst uncermon.
lousy open and he, too, like Nora,
was swooped down upon by a pale,
wild-eyed woman, who in stern
voice demanded
"Jack Vinton, is this a practical
joke you are trying to play on me ?
Where is my Harold !? How dare
you bring me back somebody else's
child ~
"Somebody else's child p and it
was now Jacks turn to stare in stu
pid amazement.
''Yes, sir, (sob) a miserable,
spindling, little thing that l never
set eyes on before (sob) instead OF
my great, healthy, lovely boy and
with something between gasp and
a scream Mrs. Henley sank Imply on
the lounge.
"0f course IT'S possible the kid
might have gotten snapped in that
COMPOUNDED vestibule, only l knew
the carriage all right. Pink and
white umbrella-fur rug. Picked
'em out straight as a string. There
dear, don't get so excited, for / am
convinced you are wrong. Now,
how do you know this is not your
Harold ?s
A whitening glance was his re-
ward for this speech.
AS ifa mother could be mistak-
en- in her own child Jack, you're
an idiot Besides. this baby isis
the other kind
Jack wilted.
Silvermsn & Co. g store was clos.
ed Tor the night.
The long line of employees had FL
ed out; the iron gates were tightly
ahut and locked.
But for the seconl time that day
two perambulators nearly collided
in front of its portal. Both came to
an abrupt ssandstill.
Too late r groaned the propeller
Of one.
CLOSED, BY jove r came from the
pilot of the other.
However shall | live through
this night sighed the former, and,
at the sound Of Ter mournful tone,
her Communion in m;serv whirie n