Poppea of the Post-Office

a, who was bending over it, jumped back as though he had been shot,

, almost trampling Gilbert in his haste, strode

alo-robe, and from between its folds a

nd veil. The little form was so still that Gilbert dreaded to touch it, but 'Lisha, having pulled himself together, lifted the veil, disclosing softly rounded, pink cheeks and red lips slightly parted in regular, if rather heavy, breathing. This action disturbed the sleeper without waking her, for she relaxed the arm that had been pressed close against her breast, and from under i

ndly advances to the men. Seeing that even the puppy's rough caresses did not waken the baby, Gilbert raised one of the eyelids gently, and then after holding his face close, whispered to 'Lisha: "Just as I thought, she's drugged with paregoric; we'll have to rouse her even if she is scared of us a

d of about a year, covered with a mass of hair that lay in close golden rings, with h

ery curve and line was feminine. Yet even with closed eyes, there was nothing doll-lik

ing her with awkward hands, against his shoulder, so that her head came abov

ittle cry of delight, and held out her hands when she saw the puppy, rounding her lips into a sound like wow-wow; but as her eyes rested

ife springs that he believed forever dry, and tears, unknown to him these nine years, became a possibility, but not while 'L

water, 'Lisha; me

y began to smack her lips and show by her bodily motions that

he corners of her lips, assisted by a little quiver of the

pitcher. "Great snakes!" his favorite ejaculation, "I spilled the last drop into my coffee. The pup wants some, too, I

knee, the better to look over her. "But where is it to come from? It's hal

hile I fetch her supper," he continued, with the air of one to whom the care of strange lady babies was an everyday occurrence

nearest, but Mrs. Baker'll come back with you for sure, and I

he cow knows me. It's only a quarter of a mile up the road; cow barn has no windows on house side; key's kept under a mustard box on the wind

e going to commit a desperate crime, 'Lisha went out through the b

ng to the child, who, after wriggling for a few minutes, as though determined to get to her feet, suddenly discovered Gilbert's beard, which he had knotted up to get it out of the way of the cooking. It was fastened with a large shell hairpin that he had probably picked up in the post-office. F

can stand? Yes, but not so very well," he added, as, after ta

unge to play with doggy, whi

ild up with some husk pillows and a comforter. Then he stole across to the bedroom where, after choosing a key from the chai

lever on her feet. As for talking, they're something alike; Marygold only said 'Daddy' and 'Puss,' and I guess I can piece out some words from what she says when I get the time. Wow-

ellow shaker flannel, and a quilted wrapper in gay-flowered print, all smelling of camphor and

e cradle from out of which he himself had gazed alternately at the leaves on the wall paper and the leaves against the sky, dreaming in knowledge after the manner of babies. Then lifting the cradle, he carried it into the kitchen, negotiating the doorway

cks of machinery, did not fumble with strings, buttons, or the intricacies of shield pins. Moreover, memory crept into his finger-tips and guided the almo

riendliness, the child nestled to him; then, twisting as though something pressed uncomfortably on her flesh, pushing her hand into the neck of the kni

tight string that ch

es, as the door opened and 'Lisha, fairly blue with the cold, some of which rushed in with him, returned with the milk. The trip from the Brooks farm had cooled it sufficiently to make it pal

ight, half under the stove. This did not suit the lady baby; she wished to hold the puppy and began to show a decided bit of temper, until Gilbert, lifting her from the lounge, carried her on his shoulder to the bedroom, saying, "Hold crying a minute, lammy, 'til daddy see

d we ain't dropped her, nor broke her, thank the Lord! Well, Gilbert, what do yo

little one I ever set eyes on, and in some ways she's re

brought her and why? Don't it strike you as anything unusual that a child of her age,

d feeling something warm and small on my knee. Now she's safe and asleep, it's our duty to investigate and let her people know

perhaps spite. Even parents do queer things to outface each other sometimes. Oh, you n

got scared, or was sorry for the job, so left her

s examining each garment, fingering them carefully, inch by inch, and though 'Lisha di

een or nineteen. Dark brows and lashes guarded large hazel eyes, the nose was a trifle tip-tilted, and this, together with the parted lips, gave the impression that she was about to speak, while a very firm chin lent decision to the youthful roundness of the face. Exquisitely shaded hair, in tints of gold, copper, and as

only knew that it was beautiful. Presently, the light caught upon the insid

lbert, his hands trembling with expectation. But thi

'Lisha, turning the locket this way

elton's mother that she wears in a brooch. Some said it was only made of tea-cup china, so one day, when she was waiting for me to weigh a package, I made bold to ask, and she said, 'No, Mr. Gilbert, it is painted on ivory and is a work of art.' So I

stumbled over the corner of the buffalo-robe that h

bject," he said, spreading it wrong side up on the flo

gh from the stable at Westboro, his own being in the shop for new irons. He'd throwd the robe over his horse, and it slipping off, it got trampled, so he asked mother to take a stitch in it. Bu

then," said Gilbert, now all eagerness. "If so, why didn't we hear the rumble

ast; that's to be found to-morrow. That we've got a clew right here's enough for you now. One o'clock! Great snakes! it's to-morrow right now, and me due up home to milk at six and you to pack up the first mail down. Say, Gilbert, don't

ircumstances, I guess it'll be best, and I'd be obliged if you'd hook up and fetch her yourself. 'Tisn't necessary for her to stop and talk to every fence

at would loiter in the west until after sunrise, crept in the window through the geraniums and reaching out long fingers toward the cradle, seemed to Gilbert's burning eyes to draw it from him. Getting up, he looked at the child, rosy with sleep, still clasping Marygold's faded doll, turned the cradle once more into the shadow, and kneeling by