The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-22

Il -'''e '"' wv ''e'uei NC elnpl0ypd
ridden up to his house one evening and
said 10 him:
mir. Crane. did you know v GOT
foundiin' asylum on yer ranch?"
what do you meanT
Some one has PUT up a mud ana
board shanty over by the creek ana
left baby in it. | rode past there as
come in and. hearin' a child squall.
In. looked In. and there was no one
there but the baby"
"l'll go and see about that" replied
Crane with severity. though I'm hls
heart was a fear that the pink toed
baby had been deserted by its parents
Somehow the conditions under which
his aunt had left him her fortune
came up to mock him. She had
predicted that he would eventually do
something erratic in the way of mar
riage. and In case he did he must turn
over the legacy TO a foundlings' home.
He had just been informed that he
had a foundlings' home on his ranch.
There was something uncanny about
the affair.
Nevertheless he rode on. When no
came near the cabin he heard the child
crying piteously. All was dark. He
entered and after search found a can.
die and some matches. Striking n
light. he went TO the baby and began
TO pat and sing TO it as he had heard
mothers and nurses do. The baby ceas.
ed TO cry. Taking the candle to the
bunk. he let the light fall on the baby.
The little thing blinked it's eyes, and
Crane held the candle where 1t was not
TO be seen. Then the tiny face broke
into q smile. ~ q
But the child was hungry. and its
good humor did not last long. Crane.
divining the cause. went to cupboard
made of box. where he found milk.
and since there was plenty Of wood
for q fire he soon had the food warm
ed and in the babys bottle. Then, put
ting 1t between the pink lips. he had
the satisfaction of seeing his charge
pull Justify. ritfs
Ten O'clock came. but no human be-
ing. Eleven passed, and when an old
loud ticking Connecticut clock wheel
ed II Crane came to the conclusion
that the baby had been left to die
Lying down beside it. he determined to
remain with 1T till morning, then take
it TO his own house
He awoke to see the sun shining in
thing else-a woman about twenty
years old. standing, looking down ON
him and the baby, who was using his
breast for a pillow and had one leg
thrown over him. On the womans
face was an expression of terror. which
MS she looked faded into one of salts
faction, then broke into smile. For
few moments while Crane was awak-
cning he was too confused 20 speak.
When be did so he said:
For heaven sake. why did you leave
this baby here all night aloneT'
Are you the owner Of this land?"
Eyes"
well we hadn't anything TO eat,
and took one of your lambs. A herd
or saw me do 1t and took me in. |
told him my baby was here alone. but
he wouldn't believe me. Just before
daylight he fell asleep, and l got
away"
where's the child's fatherY
Dead"
Were you his wife?"
mo"
Crane understood. Matrimony IN
that region was regarded rather as a
luxury than an essential.
The mncher went home and sent
back to the mother a good breakfast,
with fresh milk for the child. He had
not yet sufficiently recovered from his
prejudices to bring them to the ranch
house. Instead he built them a fine
cabin near by.
Crane considered that he had saved
the chld's life or might have saved it
and regarded the fatherless little thing
as under his especial protection. Tho
mother needed protection as well as the
child. Crane took care to build her
cabin just far enough from his house TO
prevent her troubling him. She was
comely young woman and. though un-
developed under better sur
than those to which she had
been accustomed a good deal of sense.
Crane got into the habit Of going to
talk with her, then consult with her.
md In time she became necessary to
MS comfort His books meanwhile had
ost good deal of their freshness for
him. He visited Ibis kid" as he called
he little trespasser. daily. and he
couldn't very well see the kid without
Ieelng its mother
Several years went by. and Crane be-
IAN TO think Of bringing the trespass-
ng family to his home-marrying the
nother-so that he would have them
landy. But his aunt's will stood In the
way. He was too honorable to attempt
o get round his aunt's provision or to
compromise those who were in his
,ower.
Then he went east for awhile TO try
separation. but he had had few
riends there, and they had scattered.
lie returned to his ranch aud his
quatter family. y IS
II was hard for him to make up his
mind TO taken widow who bad never
cen married and bard 10 give up half