The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-11-03
7 III E
w r O n G
BABY

Sd WISH we had written before we
came" nervously remarked the lit
tie old lady as she turned from the car
window to the fat, good-natured look
ing old gentleman beside her. What it
We didn't have the right number, or
they're not at home?"
Now. don't worry, mother, they will
be home some time tonight, reckon,
and we can get in some way when we
get there"
Maybe they have taken us past the
out, and can't understand word that
conductor says. I'm going to ask him
how much further it is
wait minute, mother, I'll ask him, y
and the old gentleman arose and started
for the rear platform, holding carefully
to the backs of the seats as he made his
slow way down the aisle. His return
was rather hurried, and he at once
commenced picking up the boxes and
packages slowed away beneath their
seat. Here we are at last; the next
corners ours; you see, we're not lost,
after ALL" and when the car finally did
come to a stop on the next corner the
conductor carefully helped the old
couple off and deposited their assorted
baggage on the ground in such man
ner as to win him golden opinions from
this rather bewildered pair. Without
waiting to carry their possessions to the
sidewalk, the old gentleman began a
search through his pockets for the slip
of paper bearing their daughters adj
dress, Mrs. F. ]. Bradley, 500 Arlington
avenue. They were all right so far, for
there on the lamp post was the sign,
Arlington avenue but which way should
they go to find 500. Just at this moment
a young girl came across the street
wheeling a go-cart, and with one &C.
cord they stopped her with the question:
Can you tell us where Mr.. Bradley
lives?"
No CLEAN of intelligence came into her
eyes, and with slow shake of her head
she replied: 'Ich verstehe NIGHT" This
was disappointing, but Mr.. Adkins was
not so easily disposed of, and by repeat
ing the name over and over again and
pointing to the various houses up and
down the street he finally gathered that
the corner house was the object of their
search, that Mrs. Bradley was not at
home and that she was the baby's nurse
This then was Nellies baby, this blue
eyed youngster in the baby buggy, and
not being able to explain to the aston
fshed German girl in charge that this
was her only daughters only child, and
that they had come clear from Colorado
for the purpose of seeing it and taking
their daughter by surprise, the old lady
lifted the little one in her arms while
the old gentleman secured one chubby
little hand and patted it caressingly.
The nurse maid stood regarding the
scene with wondering eyes, not under
standing in the least what it all meant,
and when the grandmother started up
the steps to the house and the grand
father followed with the baggage, she
hurriedly grasped the handle of the GO.
cart and Joined the strange procession.
Not knowing exactly what to do she
opened the hall door and motioning to
the old couple to follow her she started
up the stairs, but Mrs Adkins catching
a glimpse of a comfortable-looking
room opening off the front hall, walked
into it and proceeded to make herself
at home, while the perplexed girl stood
on the stairs above gesticulating to
them that they should go up. The little
old lady only shook her head, deter
mined to stay where she was, for wasn't
she at home in Nellie's house, and hadn't
she a right to sit where she liked. 1t
was cool and inviting there, the windows
were open, the blinds closed lad the
light draperies fluttered in the summer
breeze and the change from the hot
dusty street was very agreeable. Draw
Ing big rocker to the window she sank
into it with the baby still in her arms
and began to inspect the little stranger
with loving curiosity. Baby accepted
all advances with surprising good ma
ture and patted the wrinkled old cheeks.
pulled at his grandmother's bonnet
strings and cooed in the most engaging
manner.
1 would have known this was Nellie's
baby anywhere" complacently re-
marked Mrs. Adkins, as she laid aside
her dusty bonnet and carefully
smoothed back her wavy gray hair.
"Just look at his eyes. they are so like