The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-08-11

But in a moment the old man guess
ed 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 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 mev he murmured. Il 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 MuckIebackit. half dressed,
appeared on the threshold. Without
a word the minister ran into the lobby
'Losh ne, meenister, Is it yourself"
calculated Solomon. in amazement. u
thought you were in bed"
Come this way-quick" 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
lighted candle. and followed him i'm
mediately. Then his amazement deep
| ened. To see Mr.. Lorraine standing
by the fireside with crying infant in
fis arms was indeed enough to awaken
perplexity and wonder.
MY conscience. meenister, what hae
We gotten there"
a child, Some one left il 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
stand staring. but 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
ister seemed puzzled what to do. He
held it awkwardly, and it's cries con-
tinued; then, 10 still it, he rocked il
to and fro in his arms.
Finding it still troublesome. he
| placed Ii down in the armchair, and
| softly lOosened the shawl in which il
was wrapt, freeing its little arms.
It's cries ceased for a time, and il
lay with eyes wide open. spreading It's
little hands in the warm twilight.
The minister put on his glasses and
| looked at it with solemn curiosity.
1t was a tiny infant, about two
months old; its little pink face was
pirched with cold. and its great blue
eyes dim with crying. A common
linen cap was on its head, and its
| gown was Of coarse linen. But il was
so small, so pretty, that the minister
tender heart melted over II at once
He offered it his forefnger. which il
! gripped with its tiny hands, blinking
up into his face.
Poor wee mite" he murmured, 81
wonder who your mother is? A wick.
ed woman, I'm thinking, to cast you
away on such night as this
AS il in answer to his words, the
child began TO cry again.
II can see naebody." cried Solomon
re-entering the room; II haze searchit
up and doom, as far toonways as Mysie
simpsons door, and beyont to the
waterside, and there's name stirring
It's awful strange"
He looked at the Child, and
scratched his head; he looked at the
minister, and nodded il ominously. A
curious conjecture, too i!reverent 70,
utterance, had passed across his nat
uraily suspicious mind.