The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1898-06-23
A BACHELOR PAPA.

One of Chicago's eligible bachelors re-
Gently had a severe nervous shock, and his
friends haven's allowed him to forget the
episode Two weeks ago he entertained
house party on the occasion of his sisters
marriage to a Baltimore man. The morn
ing after the Wedding the best man Left
for his home in Baltimore and mine host
suggested ordering ont tho drag and tax
Ing all the men of the party to the station
SO that they might pay farewell honors to
the departing guest. AS they were near
Kenwood they drove to the TWenty-seconu
street station instead of going down to the
city, and while they were waiting light
rain began TO drizzle. 50 they left the
horses to the groom and sought shelter on
the platform Before the eastern train
came through a train from the west pulled
into the station and stopped. a cosored
porter Jumped off a sleeping car ana put
down the stsDs. He was loaded down with
all sorts of goods and chattels. Under one
arm he carried two satchels, and dress
suit case employed the hand. IN the other
hand he had third satchel, ant tucked
under that arm in a reckless fashion was
a baby who was apparently too surprised
even to protest. 4 young couple followed
the porter from the car, and when they
reached the platform the woman picked
up her skirts. The man opened his UNI
brelIa and bcckoEod to the porter Then
they walked leisurely into the station.
The porter started after them, but at that
moment the train began to move The
darky cast a despairing glance at the wait
ing room door, hesitatci, then dropped
the bags, picked up the steps and ran
along beside the car, still holding the
baby, which by this time had found its
voice and protested vigorously. The we'd
ding party was excited.
BLOOMING idiotsl Why don't they como
and take their baby?" sputtered the best
man.
HELL have to drop the youngster if
they don't sec him, - exclaimed another
excitedly.
The baby dangled in bowling heap,
the train gained speed, and the porter
looked desperate. Then the good natured
bachelor, although he hated babies and
was opposed on general principles to touch
ing one, came to the rescue. He sprlnted
down the platform and overlook the flying
porter. "Give me the baby" he said
breathlessly.
The darky looked volumes of gratitude
and relief and pumped the noisy bundle
into the bachelors arms. Then he climbed
on his car, and the good Samaritan walked
back to the station, feeling q trifle embar-
raised and regretting his kindly impulse.
He held the baby aingerly and hurried in
to the waiting room, while his friends APP
plauded loudly. Tho young couple were
serenely and uuconcernedly sitting beside
the steam radiator, Gnd the bachelor felt
wild longing to chuck the baby at their
heads but he restrained himself and
smiled pol II as he handed the baby &c
its mother Thon his blood frozo- She
stared, baci d away and fatty refused the
baby-wouy In't have it. The bachelor
stood in L pelcss embarrassment and at
tempted 81 explain, but the gentleman
cut him E7Iort. The baby WASH theirs
They had never seen it before. There was
some mistake. a howl of miTth came
from the platform. The fellows haC
watched the tableau through the window.
The bachelor didn't swear. Language
was inadequate. He walked to the door
and was greeted by an unsympathetit
chorus of derision. The baby walled al
accompaniment.
sit will be handy thing to have abou
the house, Dick, ;" said the best man, anC
Dick wondered why be had ever liked thu
man. He turned the baby right side up
and the wailing subsidized. At least tina
was some relief.
''What are you going to do with it?'
asked one of the men. Dick shook hi
head. His thinking apparatus refused t.
work.
Telephone for a policeman, +" suggested
the best man, and a ray of hope came int
the victim face. It had seemed to hin
that there was no cscape-that tho bah.
was tied to him for life. Just then one o
the crowd ran to the edge of the platform
"The trains stopping on the curve" b
shouted.
Every one pushed forward to see. TIL
train stopped, the porter appeared, ant
two specks, apparently feminine, cam
hurrying back along the track. The GROVE
watched them with absorbing interest
Finally the specks developed into stou
woman, visibly agitated and much out c
breath, and a pretty girl who looked hal
scared, half amused. The stout woman
reached tho platform and charged upo
the crowd. Tears of excitement and frigh
were rolling down her checks, and he
bonnet was rakishly disposed over one cal
My baby Where's my baby2" sh
gasped. The men fell back and left tn
bachelor standing in full view with hi
charge. The woman rushed at him, seize
the baby and then burst into Mysteries
sobs The bachelor looked relieved, bu
bored, and the pretty girl thanked hi1
effusively. However, she was eyidentl
struggling with something. At last sh
gave way to riotous and unseemly mirtl
and her laugh was SO contagious that e'
cry one except the bachelor, the motht
and the baby laughed with her.
Oh, beg your PARDON, she said, vii
ing her eyes and wrestling with her din
pies, ''but it was too funny. The porte
took our hand luggage and the baby, an
just as we started out mother found ST
had lost her pooketbook. So we went bac
to look for 1t, and then the train starteC
and we got excited. When the port,
turned up without the baby, mother a
most had fit She shouted:
"My baby Where's my baby? VIII
have you done with it?' And the port
patted her on the shoulder and said:
"Now, don't you fret, ma'am. 1t
papa's got it.
The group of men let out a roar
laughter at that, and the bachelor locke
apoplectio.
"Well, my dear" said the older woma
"1m sure it was natural mistake. III
porter thought baby's father had come
meet US. 1 don't know how to thank Il
gentleman for his kindness.
Then the eastern train came in, and Il
episode was ended, but it's an understos
thing now that any one at the club wi
calls that amiable bachelor ''papa" loses
pleasant experimentation
One