The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-20

By Margaret Pullingv
am n working woman and accustomed
to being out at all hours. am accus-
toned also to an people and an things
and nothing frightens or astonishes me.
When. therefore. I sat one night in the
Pennsylvania railroad depot, Jersey
civ side. / was aroused to no interest at
all by the appearance OF a TALL slender
elderly woman OF elegant bearing with O.
Young baby The woman came in, sat
down side Of me- then got up, hesiiated,
placed the baby in the seat and came
back.
Taking particular notice OF her for Che
first time. j saw that she was of graceful
even dignifiod carriage with refinement
of face ana hgure-a lady from boots 10
bonnet. She seemed IN sucn uncertainty
that 1 spoke TO her
can L be OF assistance 20 your" ]
asked
yes and no" SAID she hesitatngiy.
81 have lost my railroad ticket. Couid
you--would you--let me leave my baggage
here one minute 10y the side or yoot
Certainly" ] said
AT this she deposited her satchel, UNI
brella, shawl and baby in the seat by
nv side and walked over to the ticket
Office.
The baby, little thing not over year
wear old, leaned against me comfortably,
and chatted 20 it os O. woman Will
when l turned 20 look az the ticket Office
the woman was not there, and leaning
forward in the seat i GLANCED down
through the door TO tho ferry entrance
beyond without seeing her.
a minute later tho gong to my FERRY
boat was changing, but 1 could not leave
for the woman had not yet returned TO
take her baby. TO make my story short
I sat there until the ferry boat had some
many times and until many new passen-
gers had come and gone from the ferry
house but my woman hod returned not.
Then. taking tho baby J stepped over
20 the ticket Office. did n woman with
a babv-I mean without baby-buy a
ticket here? A tall. gray-hared wo-
mann"
The clerk looked al me supercilously.
sT do not recognize any one from that
description" ne said.
"This baby was left with mo an hour
aeo." ! said. land I am looking for the
woman"
you better go over 10 the New York
side. sa.d he. your woman prooaoIy
crossed an hour ago Take this boat ana
probably you will overtake hoT"
So with the baby. the hand s9tchei,
the shawl and the umbrella ] crossed the
Jersey ferry and landed at Cortandt
street. New York But here 7 could not
get any satisfaction. for no one hud seen
my woman and no one would take the
baby. At tho suggestion or policeman
took a cab and drove 20 Bellevue Hos
ptial. only 10 be told that blackweA
Island was the place for q wall
'But Blackwells Island is across 'he
river" l said. "ard ] am here"
'rhen take u 10 The police station,
suggested the Bellevue Official
/ took the baby. which all this time nae
elumbered comfortably I'm my arms, "a
the police station. but the official could
DO nothing for me.
1.-THE baby was not found IN our pre-
cinct" sand ne. "and I must refer you
elsewhere. ] think" ne added THAT o'
a. was found on the Jersey city side you
Will have TO find q place FOR Il IN the
public Institutions OF New Jersey. Better
take IL home tonight and start out again
iu the morning"
As Il was midnight I took his advice
carried the baby home and there VIII
the help Of my old caretaker We liked
q little bed Tor 81 on the'sofa and made II
comfortable. My coretaker. dear old wo-
man after she had recovered from net
surprise. warmed a little food for the
child and soothed Il TO sleep as best she
could
The next morning bright and early
started out on my quest for home TOT
the baby. but not until had amused my
SEX vita II for an hour. admiring Us