The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1920-05-08
A FREE GIFT
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB

or sood-by. Now Rachel, decide and
be quick about 1t"
"Oh, Jakel l love you dearly, but
the baby here? Let me run home with
IL and leave it with mistress"
"Fve said my say. 1t would delay
me six hours to miss this train"
"But l can't leave the baby as If 1t
was piece of luggagei"
''Yes, you can. Put the baby on the
park bench beside that innocent faced
young fellow yonder. Ask him to mind
it for few minutes. I'll scribble Miss
Dole's address on card. Slip it into
the baby's clothing. When you don't
come back he will find it."
"But what will they think of my
abandoning the little dear in this cruel
way"
"Save your sentiment for me, II
you've got any to spare"
"And my two weeks wages?"
'Tve got plenty Of money. Don't
fret on that score"
Thus Rachel Mine and Jacob Dali
ter, the former the average nurse girl.
the latter a young man who had
worked as a barber when he worked
at ALL His flashy ways had fascinat-
ed the comedy maid. he had cOurted
her briefly. but persistently, and now
with the prospect in view of a new and
better situation in another city he put
the question plump of immediate mar
riage.
The young man they had indicated
suggested an easy, accommodating per-
son of kindly nature. Alvin Stanley
was not much experienced in worldly
ways. He was reasonably fortunate
as to means and position. When the
artful Rachel placed the sleeping babe
on the bench beside him and said:
"Please mind the child for few mo-
ments, will your" Stanley readily re-
piled: Certainly, Miss" and beamed
down at the serene face of the infant.
He treated his involuntary charge
as daintily and carefully as though II
were precious piece of fragile bric-a-
brac, as at the end of five minutes II
awoke 1t first stared at him steadi-
ly, then its little mouth was wreathed
with seraphic smile. and then as he
cooed to 1t and dangled his watch be-
fore its dazzled eyes it consented to
remain quiet for few minutes. II
was when it began to whimper that
Stanley grew alarmed. He picked II
up and moved it to and fro in his
arms. and as its complaints grew loud
he became decidedly concerned.
II don't see what keeps its mother
or. nurse, or whoever she is, he solil
oqulzed uneasily. but in vain he
strained his gaze In the direction the
nurse had gone, for he gained no fur.
Their sight of her, and never would
The baby grew more and more de-
monstrative as the minutes wore on
Stanley took to walking with it, which
somewhat soothed Its hunger and i'm
patience. An hour went by. The babe
began to make violent outcry. PEG
pie passing him staring, others indig
nant.
II can't stand this!" declared Stan.
ley, "but what am l ever going +,
do?' Then he turned cold all over as
he recalled newspaper stories he hat
read where children had been aban
doned to the mercy of confidine
strangers. Stanley waited another hall
an hour Then he formed a decision
"Ill take 1t home" he resolved
Mrs. Morse will know how to care fol-
1t and tell me what to do.'
Mrs. Morse had been a rock of ref
uge ever since his mother had died.
For 30 years favorite family servant
he had retained her In service at the
old home, and hailing a taxi he was
soon relieved of the strain Of the oc-
casIon.
She was motherly, warm-hearted
creature and the idea of baby in the
house seemed to brighten up the old
soul magically. She heard Stanley's
story.
81 don't see what you can do but ad-
vertise. or something like" she OBJ
served.
"Maybe-maybe we could keep the
little cherub?" timidly suggested Stan
ley, enraptured as the infant, its
wants attended, clasped his big finger
caressingly In its little hand.
1t was an hour later when Mrs.
Morse appeared from the impromptu
nursery established, quite excited:
81 found this card in the little ones
clothing" she reported. at reads:
Take the child to Miss Marcia Dole.
90 Waverly place"
Instantly it was second taxi and
in half an hour Stanley found himself
ringing the door bell Of the place In
dicated. A servant came to the door,
looked pale and agltated.
Does little child belong here" be-
gan Stanley stumblingly.
"Oh. Miss Dole, quick quick Here's |
word about the missing little one"
and young lady with traces of tears