The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-04-12

was rampant.
Professor Pomeroy Pettingill Lee
with great presence of mind, waited
near the entrance of the ladies' room
for Cousin Agatha and the baby. They
would have to go in through that door
and out through the opposite one; they
could not escape him! He felt wild
impulse to accost all the women as
they approached with, Are you Cous-
in Agatha, or you, or you!"
Fortune favored him, for in all the
steady stream Of travel stained, weary
women filtering through the door past
him there were only two babies, and
one of those was little shiny affair il
ebony. The other one was, of course
Cousin Agatha's baby.
."Here goes!" muttered Professor Pom
eroy Pettingill Lee, setting his teeth
and brushing past the babyless women
with stifled groan and fortifying him
self with. the memory of little Hearts.
ease.
The white baby's mother was ''little
he docked off the items on his fingers
! mentally-"didn't wear glasses (or did
Cousin Agatha wear emp and ''smil
ed" To tie sure, it was very faint
tired smile that, it was evident enough
was entirely for the baby's benefit
But a smiles a smile, and this one
served to identify Cousin Agatha.
The little woman sank down ON O
seat near the door and proceeded to
rearrange the baby, whose soiled little
clothes were in Il tumble.
The professor, waiting to re-enfOrce
his courage, heard her grooming to il
in the fashion mothers have: There
there! 1t shall be all smoothly smooth
again, yes. it shall! Mother will drive
away all the ugly wrinkles-sow
The baby crowed appreciatively. The
little pink, creased face swayed and
wriggled into it's bonnet
"Let me take the baby the professor
said, plunging in without foolish waste
of ceremony. There's just time to catch
the o'clock car up"
The weary little mother looked up at
the towering bulk of the big, strange
man with q Scccp CT meek astonishment
He was ciutch.Ag at the baby; he had
him in his a:ils. Land of mercy! But
his eyes Were honest and kind.
"Are yo,i Toni? she stammered, ca
gerly searching the rcsolute, martyr
like face for possible points of resem-
blance to her idea Cf ''Cordolia's hus-
band" ''She said he'd meet US at the
depot"
Certainly, certainly" assented the
big man briskly, thinking Cousin Aga.
tina a little familiar with pet names
No one but Heartsease called him Pom
he did not notice the changed con
Sonant. But what did it matter? II
was the baby that mattered, and the
baby was adjusting himself to the
broad shoulder and growing like a
young bantam. His grimy little fists
were pommeling the professors cheeF
bones with impartial thumps. The
baby was quite at home.
'Here she goes! Your bag, ma'am.
| That's right. can take it in my other
hand. Now, then, we'll have to step q
bit lively"
And they We're presently crossing the
| great room and making excellent head
| way toward the O'Clock car up. Pro
fessor Pomeroy Pettingill Lee was con
| scious of feeling modest degree of
| pride at his own handiness, with the
crumpled, squirming little budget on
| his arm. 1t was easy enough if you
shut your eyes and plunged in. How
| proud Heartsease would be! In his
minds eye he saw her pale little face
lighting up approvingly, and in his
| minds ear Heartsease was saying:
Splendid, Pom! You're doing it like a
| hero"
Poor little Heartsease! In his'mind's
| eye he could see the wistfulness that
always crept into her face at the sight
| of little children. And in the "dear
| boys" arms!
Cousin Agatha's baby plunged wild
| ly and was caught with neat trick
| that presented itself for the emergency
| out of the mists of old baseball days.
The danger was over for that time
| julius Caesar! Did all babies have
| ST. Nitus' dance, or was it an affiiction
monopolized by Cousin Agatha's baby:
How often did the fits come on? Would
there be time to get to the car before
| the next one?
A group of the professors students
looked up in undisguised amazement
as the little procession swept by them,
and one Of them collapsed weakly into
the arms of the others.
Hold me! Save me" he gasped.
"The old chaps picked Up somebody
kid in an absentminded fit and is max
ing off with it!'
Half way down the long station the
baby's mother made a discovery that
filled her with dismay, Land Of mer-
cy. I've left my little hAndbagw she
cried. But in the din the professor did
not hear. II must have left it right
where l was sitting-I'il hurry back
it's got the baby's best bonnet in it. /
won't be gone more'n a minutew And
the crowd swallowed up her rusty little
figure. On the corner, outside of the
station, the car was starting. AMI the
professor and Cousin Agatha's baby
hailed it wildly.
"Hurry up!' shouted the conductor
GROSSLY, his fingers twitching ON the
rope.
The professor stood aside for Cousin
Agatha to enter, and then followed
the stout, unwieldy female down the
aisle, unsuspecting and serene. So far
everything was going en- finely. The
saints send a prosperous ending to the
] enterDriSei He settled himself and re-