The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-06

tnis young iauy Is nign ur.t, vr ~ ,lv
Judge"
She looked about as though defying
contradiction. but neither man cared to
dispute the point with her. so Mrs.
Martins testimony stood, as the tcsti-
mony of all experts should.
"She certainly has beautiful hands,"
said Mr.. Mitchell. by way Of recovering
the good graces Of the matron. Just
look at them, colonelw
"Oh, l have already admired all the
young lady's pointsv said the colonel.
Haven't I, Mrs. Martini
He reached forward and playfully
tlckied the youngster in the ribs,
whcreupon she grasped his thumb in
her hand and gripped it tightly.
Indeed you have, colonel" said the
matron. Il must say you seem to have
taken quite a fancy to the baby, and
see there. now, how she takes to you!
| wonder. colonel, you don't adopt the
dear little cherub"
adopt! l adopt babyw The colo
mel laughed heartily. Imagine an old
soldier like me, and bachelor besides
adopting baby, and girl baby In the
| bargainn'
Again he laughed, while the baby, as
though advocating her cause, stretched
out her other arm and danced as
though desiring to be taken, where
| upon the matron delightedly handed
over her charge. which snuggled up
against the old soldier, still clinging to
his great thumb.
There, now," said Mrs. Martin,
''ain't that pretty picture? And, as to
| your being bachelor, the more shame
to you! | hold that bachelors should do
their share toward supporting the chill
| drcn in the world as we'll as others.
| There's many a poor father with more
brats than lie can feed, while there's
others with plenty Of money that Just
shirks. They just leaves the babies for
other people to raise. No offense to
you, of course, coloneii'
Mrs. Martin added her last words
hastily, as the colonel had suddenly,
and seemingly without reason, stopped
laughing and was handing back the
child. Perhaps she had been too fa-
miliar with one Of her superiors, but
she was so anxious to sec this little tot
secure Il good berth In the world that
i, she had forgotten herself for the time
YOU arc talking stuff and nonsense.
Mrs. Martin" said the colonel stiff1y
as he yielded up the child. "You are
old enough 10 have better sense.
am aStonished. Come. Mitchell! If
you have seen enough. well go. Or
perhaps you are looking for n child for
adoption?"
"No; not that" said Mr.. Mitchell
earnestly and looking squarely at the
colonel. "But would like you to AZ
range it so that no disposition will be
made Of this child without my kuowl.
edge"
Certainly, If you wish 1t. But why"
because ! mean to put my theory
into practice. l mean to discover the
father of that child and compel him to
support It,"
'"The devil you dor
The colonel was astounded. Mr..
Mitchell was evidently crazier that he
had thought. Theories were we'll
enough, but IL one tried to put them
into practice his mind must be weak.
ening.
''Such is my Intention" persisted Mr..
Mitchell.
81 wish you Joy in your venture"
snid tho colonel. with his most satir-
ical sneer.
Before following the colonel from the
room Mr.. Mitchell stopped over and
kissed the baby and held her hand in
his for moment. He had imagined
something and wished to confirm or
dismiss the idea. While the baby had
been clasplng the coloneps thumb he
had noted popularity about the colo
nel's hand The knucklc Of the third
finger was abnormally large, and con-
sequently the little finger seemed quite
curved at the end from lying against
the protruding joint next to it. 1t had
also seemed to him that the baby's fin
gers were similarly fashioned. He
therefore looked at the hand more at
tentively now tEat he held it within
his own, and. sure enough, he found
the large joint of the third finger and
the curved end Of the fourth.
"And you think this hand proves
blue blood. Mrs. MARTINI
81 do" said the patron positively.
'"Thcn we will make her blueblooded
father provide for her," replied Mr..
Mitchell
:, '"That's the talk, sir, ana luck 60
with you" said Mrs. Martini her FIRST
opinion Of Mr.. Mitchell much altered
In that gentleman's favor
Take care Of the little lady till her
rather calls for her." added Mr..
Mitchell.
THAT l will, Sir, and heaven bless
you for n good manr'
Leaving the building, Mr.. Mitchell
crossed over to Third avenue and
boarded an elevated train. going down
town as far as the Chatham square
station, where lie descended to the
street. One minutes walk broupht