The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-15
81

prettiest little grille that has been In
this room in many a day.
Mrs. Martin had once had baby OF
her own, a tiny, sickly little thing, VIII ch
had soon wlthered and died But the
yearning OF motherhood aroused by tnat
little cherub had never quite died out.
and when her husband was killed shortiy
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 re-
minded her OF her own lost darling. ana
her heart went out 10 IL so completely
that the final separation always left ner
gloomy and despondent, a condition which
would continue until the next outcast was
brought in.
This baby In some manner had attract
ed her more than ordinarily. perhaps De-
cause of unusually sad history ana
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.
Ibid you ever see such pretty feet?
Look at her toes-just as perfect as the
Lord ever made! And see the dimpies,
Amt they Just lovely?' She kissed
each dimple rapturously and then CON-
tinued: Just look at her hands. They
are pretty enough 10 belong 10 the quail
ity. Now. I hold that the hands tell the
breeding better than anything. and one
or the oher of the parents OF this young
lady IL 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. Mar
tins testimony stood as the testimony
OF all experts should.
'She certainly has beautiful hands"
sabi Mr.. Mitchell, by way of recovering
the good graces OF the matron. Just
look at them colonel3'
"Oh. / have already admired all the
young lady's points," said the colonel
Haven't l. Mrs. Martini"
He reached forward and playfuny
tickled the youngster In the ribs. where
upon she grasped his thumb in her hano
and gripped II tightly.
Indeed you have. colonel" said the
matron. "I must say you seem TO have
see there. now. how she takes to YOU
I wonder. colonel, you don't adopt tne
dear little cherub.'
adopt, I adopt n baby" The coIo-
mel laughed heartily. Imagine an oid
soldier like me, and a bachelor besides,
adopting a baby, and o girl baby In the
bargain"
Again ne laughed, while the baby. as
though advocating her cause. stretched
out her other arm and danced as though
desiring to be taken, whereupon the ma
tron delighteily handed over her charge.
which snuggled up against the old SOL
dier. still clingng to his great thumb.
There, now" said Mrs. Martin. amt
that a pretty picture? And. as TO your
being a bachelor the more shame to you!
| hold that bachelors should do tneIr
share toward supporting the children III
the world as well as others There y
many poor father with more bra ts
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 offence to you, or
course, colonel!'
Mrs Martin added her last words hasti-
ly. as the colonel had suddenly. and seem
ingly without reason. stopped laughns
and was handing back the child. Per-
haps she had been too familiar with one
OF her superiors but she was so anxious
10 see this little tot secure a good berth
IN the world that she had forgotten her
self for the time
You are talking stun and nonsense
Mrs Martin" said the colonel stiffly as
he yielded up the child. You are oal
enough 10 have better sense. am as-
tonished Come Mitchell! II you have
seen enough, we'll go. or perhaps yvu
arc looking for q child for adopuon2"
mo: not that" said Mr.. Mitchell ear
nestly and looking sauarely at the colo
mel "But I would L. Ike YOU TO arrange
Il so that no disposition will be made or
this child without my knowledge"
certainly. n you wish &C. But why
Because I mean 10 put my theory
into practice. | mean TO discover the
father OF that child and compel him 40
support H."
"The devil YOU do"
(To be Continued)