The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-27

or at least a crank
MIR. Mitchell stopped over the crib and
gazed into the great blue eyes, which
seemed unduly large because of the
pinched and starved little face. Yet the
hands and feet were still fat and club
by, the four days of exposure not hav.
ing been enough to reduce them in any
apparent degree.
''She would be pretty child If her
face was not so thin" ventured Mr..
Mitchell, feeling that he was at best
but poor judge of such young speci-
mems of humanity.
''She would be pretty!" cried the ma
iron Indignantly. She is pretty-the
prettiest little grille that has been in
this room in many day.
! Mrs. Martin had once had baby Of
her own, a tiny, sickly little thing,
! which had soon withered and died. But
the yearnings of motherhood aroused
by that little cherub had never quite
died out and when her husband was
killed shortly afterward, leaving her
alone in the world and hopeless in her
| dearest desire, she had gladly accepted
this position, where she could do unto
others as she would have done for her
own. Each baby placed in her care for
a few days reminded her of her own
lost darling, and her heart went out to
it so completely that the final separa-
ton always left her gloomy and de-
spondent, a condition which would con-
tinue until the next outcast was
brought in.
This baby in some manner had at
tracted her more than ordinarily, per-
haps because of it's unusually sad his
tory, and she resented even praise
which was not given in full measure:
so she lifted the little one up in her
arms and held her out for inspection.
"Did you ever see such pretty feet?
Look at her toes-just as perfect as the
Lord ever made! And see the dimples!
Amt they just lovely?" She kissed
each dimple rapturously and then con-
tinued: Just look at her hands! They
are pretty enough to belong to the
quality. Now, 1 hold that the hands
tell the breeding better than anything,
and one or the other of the parents of
this young lady is high bred, or I'm no
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 testi-
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, colonelr'
"Oh, have already admired all the
young lady's points," said the colonel.
Haven't 1, Mrs. Martin?'
He reached forward and playfully
tickled the youngster in the ribs
whereupon 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 fancy to the baby, and
see there, now, how she takes to you!
l wonder, colonel, you don't adopt the
dear little cherub."
Adopt! 1 adopt babyw The colo
mel laughed heartily. Imagine an old
soldier like me, and bachelor besides,
adopting baby, and girl baby in the
bargain"
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 Struggled 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
dren in the world as well as others.
There's many poor father with more
brats than he 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, colonelw
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 ia
| AAAAAAeA WIN O1C VI ltI SupeFlOFS, DuL
she was so anxious to see this little tot
secure good berth in the world that
she had forgotten herself for the time.
You are talking stuff and nonsense,
Mrs. Martin" said the colonel stifHy
as he yielded up the child You are
old enough to have better sense. |
am astonished. Come, Mitchell. If
you have seen enough, We'll 60 Or
perhaps you are looking for child for
adoption?"
mo; not that said Mr.. Mitchell
earnestly and looking squarely at the
colonel. "But l would like you to ar
range it so chat no disposition will be
made of this child without my knowl.
edge"
Certainly, if you wish it. But why?''
Because l 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 do"
The colonel was astounded. Mr.
Mitchell was evidently crazier that he
had thought. Theories We're well