A CRISIS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 20 May 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CRISIS.

(From Scribner's Monthly.) Mr, Jonathan T, Ward, or, as his card more modernly expressed it, "J, Tompleton Ward, Jun,," looked like a man supremely satisfied with his fortune and himself.

Ho had just received a particularly gratifying letter from his sistor in New York calling him to the city on a flattering errand, and as he entered tho cars this pleasant October morning the universe seemed irradiated with his own private sense of happiness, The only drawback to his perfect enjoyment was the fact that on this train there was no parlour-car. It was vexatious to be obliged to breathe the same atmosphere with tho common herd, aud to submit his scented personality to tho contamination of proximity to poa-nut-eating rustics, travel-worn cinereous pilgrims, not overmannerly children, and the inevitable baby. He adapted himself to circumstances, however, with the ready savoir-faire of an experienced man of tho world, turning a seat, and elongating his finely proportioned form after the manner of the heraldic " bend"—an honourable ordinary which crosses an escutcheon in a diagonal direction—taking up as much space as possible. Ho .dropped his hand-bag, cane, and light overcoat carelessly in the vacant corners, and thus comfortably extended, even the public car seemed bearable, and he found himself able to contemplate his piebian and more crowded neighbours with urbane condescension.

After a few moments his fingers instinctively sought an inner pocket, and ho reread the letter which had contributed to his self-gratulation. It was from his favourite sister Rose, who had married Henry Molineux, a wealthy broker, and whose happy married life had caused no diminution iu her homo affection, Tho Molineuxs were in their way very grand people, grander than the Wards, for they counted larger store of shekels and lands and antique heirlooms, and Rose's alliance had been fully approved by her brother, Rose herself was a bit of a match-maker, and had long-cherished a dream of a double connection between the two families by the marriage of her brother with her husband's sister, Miss Winifred Molineux. Unfortunately for her plans, shortly after her own wedding her husband's family had sailed for Europe, remaining abroad four years, aud the objects of her romantic schemes had never met, Very deftly, however, Mrs. Rose Molineux had managed her cards, keeping up Miss Winifred's interest iu the unknown paragon by means of shrewd allusions and items of interest, but never tvaxing sufficiently enthusiastic to alarm the shy girl with approhensions of a matrimonial pitfall arranged for her unsuspecting feet, With her brother Mrs, Molineux's manceuvre had been less Strategic and delicate, The matter had been frankly discussed between thein, and Mr. J, Tompleton Ward acknowledged himself prepared to becomo Miss Winifred's willing slave at first sight. Indeed he nearly persuaded himself that 110 was already in love with her, and he brooded over his sister's letter with all the benign serenity of an accepted lover, "Dear Templeton" (wrote Mrs, Molineux)—"Henry's father and mother have at length returned from Europe, and have agreed to let me have Winifred for the win. j

tor. I want you to drop everything else, and devote yourself to us, to escort Winifred to all the exhibitions, symphony rehoai'sals,reeeptions, be., of the season. She is look-, ing remarkably well, and what is better, has returned,entirely heart :free, I'waß afraid; some French marquis would be attracted by her' dot, and snatch her up. I know that you are very sensitive on such matters, and will not thank me for telling you, but by the' death of her uncle Robert in Pernainbuco sho has come into possession of thirty thou-' sand dollars, which, in addition to her ex.. pectations from.Papa'Molineux, makes her a very protty t heiress. Do not; let anything delay your coining, As What's-his-name says, 1 A crisis comes once in the life of every man,'" ' .

There is a trite old saying in regard to oup and lip which I forbear quoting, remarking only that it is a mistake to confide delicate porcelain to baby fingers, Mr, Ward's cup would probably never had slipped had it not been for a baby, of whose influence upon his fato he was as yot blissfully unconscious, It was a sorry day_for him when the three weird sisters converted Mr, Temploton Ward's cup of happiness—which had hitherto beeu as carofully guarded as though it had been a veritable bit of blossomed Dresden or a fragile speoimon of Sevres in Pompadour rose—into a plaything for a ruthless and irresponsible baby. Mr. Ward had drifted into ft day-dream, when ho was recalled suddenly to the actualities of tho present by a sweet voice at his elbowjinquiring diffidently, "Is this seat engaged?" ' , Turning.' sharply, he saw a dignified but youthful lady, with a face like that of one of Raphael's Madonnas, His impressible heart paid her homage at once, and he was about to spring to his feet with spontaneous politeness, wnen the pleasurable emotion was checked by one of dismay, Sho held in her arms a baby—well-dressed, neat, chubby, bright, and, to a parental eye, a cherub of a child; to Mr. J. Templeton Ward, his pet aversion and peculiar horror. He looked at the child with an expression of intense disapprobation. "I think you will be more comfortable at the other end of the car," he remarked, slowly raising his eyeglasses and surveying the perspective of crowded seats.

"I will try anothor car,", replied the lady, with quiet dignity. Mr. Templeton Ward's good breeding asserted itself, " Indeed, madam, I had not observed that there were no vacant seats, Pray, do not imagine me so egregiously selfish and the little lady was quickly seated as his vis-a-vis, For some time the baby conducted itself in an exemplary manner, drumming on the window pane, and watching the rapidly whirling landscape, and Mr, Templeton Ward had time to observe that the lady was dressed in that alleviated mourning which allows certain concessions to fashion and becom'iugncss in the toleration of white at throat and wrists, and solitaire pearls in either ear, "Widowhood," he mused to himself—"widowhood which has passed the first poignancy of grief, and has entered the lonely stage which finds a solitary life almost unendurable," He noticed with keen, observant oye the curling sweep of the long jet lashes which shaded the delicately rounded ivory cheek, and widowhood struck him as the most pathetic and attractive aspect under which he lud ever considered woman. Ho determined for one hour at least to make her forget her unprotected condition, fie endeavoured first to propitiate the maternal affections,

" You have a fine little boy, madam," The lady smiled. "She is a very good baby."

Mr. Ward was momentarily confused. "Your little daughter resembles you strikingly," he remarked, Again the rarely sweet smile flickered across the lady's lips, " You could not compliment ine in a moro gratifying manner," she replied. He turned to the baby, and endeavoured to interest it in an exhibition of his watch and seals.

"What is hop name?" ho asked, hoping that tho reply -might iuvolvo that of the mother.

"Wo call her Dimple. Don't you think a baby tho most delicious thing in the whole world?"

"Well, no, it had never occurred to me in that light before; but you know I have not had tho advantago of an acquaintance with Miss Dimple," "You could not help liking her. She nover cries; she is absolutely angelic." Mr. Ward was on the point of remarking, "I said she resembled you," but he checked himself; they were not sufficiently intimate yet for flattery, The conversation became impersonal, and drifted through a wide range of subjects, Mr, Tempi eton Ward becoming very much interested in his travelling companion, and quite ignoring the presence of tho baby. This young person at last became fidgety, and even cross,

"The precious infant!" exclaimed the lady, " How forgetful lam ! She should have been fed twenty minuH ago." A basket was produced, and a little rummaging brought to light a nursing bottle. "Dear, dear," murmured the baby's guardian ; " here is the bottle, but where is the milk ? How stupid in Maggie to forget it" The baby at the sight of the bottle at first chirruped with gleeful excitement, then became frantically impatient, and finally burst into a roar of anger aa the train paused at an out-of-the-way country station, "I see farm-houses, and cows grazing in the pastures," suggested Mr. Ward; " perhaps I can obtain some milk for you." " Oh, no, no; pray do not trouble yourself," replied the lady; "if you will kiudly watch baby, I can get it," And before he had time to iusist, she was out of the car and running toward one of tho farmhouses. Mr. Ward explained the situation to tho conductor, who agreed to wait two minutes beyond the usual time for her return, Two minutes, three minutes, four minutes passed, and still she came not,

The engineer sounded the whistle, the conductor shouted-"All aboard! I can't wait any longer. She's had plenty of time. I must reach the next station before the up train," he explaiued, and the tnh moved on. Mr. J. Templeton Ward gazed in a stupefied manner from the window; the baby howled, " Come, this will never do," he said, as lie endeavoured simultaneously to realise the situation and to quiet the distracting baby, his'thoughts and words keeping up a running fugue somewhat in this manner

Thought-" What can have detained her?" Aloud—" Precious little Dimple, so—" Thought—" Where did she disappear to anyway ?"

Aloud—"—it was. Shall have the pretty watch."

Thought—" Great Cteaar! Can it be—" Aloud—" Angelie little cherub 1" Thought—' '—a case of desertion ?" Aloud—"Never cries—no, never." Thought—"Of course not.* She was a perfect lady, impossible," Aloud—" Shut up this minute, or I'll— Thought—"What shall I do with the consumed—"

Aloud—"-speak to you like a father," Thought—"—thing when I get to the city,"

• Aloud (to old lady who offers a peppermint)—' 1 Thank you,, ma'am," (To baby)— " There, choke your blessed throat I" Thought—"What a figure I'll cut at the depot!"

Aloud (attempting to sing)—" Oh, where shall rest be found?" "Byelo, byelo" (slinking child violently)—"go to sleepy,"

Thought— 11 Suppose "Rose should be at the station with Winifred to meet mo I" ; --'-'Aloud—"Darling popsy wopsy, chickabiddy chum.,. See now.funny it looks in big man's hat," (Extinguishes baby in his lightcoloured higlrhat). j ' ' Thought—'' She said a baby was the most delightful thing in." the whole 7 world."Any woman who can lie like that is capable, of deserting her unprotected offspring," . ' Aloud (removing the hat)—" Good graoious I It's black in the facoj it's going into convulsions!" .' "' 1

Thought—" I'd like to know what everybody is laughing at. If I had a pistol I d shoot somebody." : ' Aloud—"Look here, now, Miss Dimpsy Inipsy. 1 Come, let us reason together. This thing has got to be stopped, Be calm—l eay be calm," .' Thought—" I'll leave it in the seat, take and put for the mnokihg car." (Suits the action to the idea. Settles himsolf' comfortably; Newsboy appears almost immediately with the baby, still screaming.) ;■ Newsboy—"Please, sir, you left some of your baggage." (Train comes to a stop in Now York depot,) , > Thought—'"There's a policeman, I'll hand the wretch over to him, and get him to earfy. it to the'station-house or the foundling hos> pitai" _ • . .. ■ A.few minutes later and Mr. J. Templetott Ward gaily mounted the steps of his brother-in-law's brown-stono mansion,'' A great incubus had been removed from bis miud, and he how felt disposed to treat the aaventure with hilarity. His sister met him most' cordially, and throwing himself upon "the Sofa by her side, he related the story, decorated with considerable imaginative embroidery.

"Think,' Rose," ho said solemly, "what a tremendous escape! There I was a complete victim, Why, I actually took her for a respectable and fascinating little widow, and was flirting with hor in the most confiding manner," . '

"Do you really think she meant to desert the baby ?" asked Mrs. Molineux, " Oh, without doubt, Sho had got herself up nicely on purpose to deceive; 'and to think that I did riot suspect her designs when she asked me if I did not think that execrable baby delicious I" " Was the baby pretty, Templeton ?" " Pretty ? I should think not, I wish you could have seon it. It bore the marks of depravity stamped upon its brow. When it howled, it glared at me with demoniac eyes, and fisted like a prize-fighter. lam morally certain that its father is one of the champions 'of the ring," " And what did you say you did with it, dear?"

"I got rid of it as quickly as possible, I assure you, I handed to a policeman, and requested him to drop it into the East River, I had the satisfaction, however, of pinching it well before I saw the last of it,"

"Do you suppose the man thought you wero in earnest, Templeton?" "Of course not, He has carted' it off to the Home for the Friendless, or the Asylum for Little Wanderers, or some institution of that sort, I suppose. But lot's drop the baby, Whero's Winifred ?" "I expect her every moment. There's the door bell now. Let me see." Mrs. Molineux motioned back the servant, and herself opened the hall door, finding herself, to her surprise, face to face with her husband, who woro an anxious expression, Mr, Ward, who sat just within the parlor, heard their conversation distinctly,, Rose—"Why, Henry, what's the matter?" Mr. M,—"Nothing, Don't be alarmed; only a telegram from Winifred. She was left, and will come on the next train."

Rose—"Oh lis that all? Then she ought to be here now: the trains run every hour." Mr, M.—"Winifred's all right, but—l don't want to alarm you. Becalm—" Rose—" The baby ? is she sick ?" t Mi" M.—" Don't get excited, The baby is not sick."

Rose (desperately):— I 'ls she dead?" Mr, M,—" No, no, You always imagine the very worst that can happen, She is only lost,"

A pioreing shriek followed, and Mr. Ward sprang into the hall just in time to see his sister faint in the arms of her husband, They carried hor into the parlor, and she was at once surrounded by frlghtoned domestics, In the confusion that followed, Winifred Molineux arrived. There was no time for introductions, and indeed none wero needed, for Mr. Ward, -to his utter dismay, recognised his companion of tho train, tho supposed mother of tho baby, " I was bringing, Dimple home from a visit to her grandmother," she explained, and added: "Is it possible that you are Mr, J. Tompleton Ward ? Then the baby is safe," Mrs, Molineux opened her eyes, and suddenly sitting bold-upright, assumed a tragic attitude. " Winifred,"she demanded, "why did you abandon my precious Dimple ?" "I left her'to get some milk," Winifred replied, good humoredly, "as I was coming out of the dairy a horrid goat bared my passage. The woman drove him away, but he stopped me again at tho pasture bars, and I did not reach the station until the train had left,"

Mrs. Molineux laughed hysterically. "Jonathan .Templeton Ward," she exclaimed, "what have you dono with your sister's child ?"

"How wns Ito know it was yours?" he asked, deprecatingly, ' "I forgot that Miss Winifrid would be iu mourning for her uncle, and I thought she was a widow." " You thought," interrupted his sister, " The least said about that, the better. He. sent his niece to the foundling hospital; he insulted Winifrid and all of us in a manner not to be repeated. Oh, my precious Dimple, my lovely pet. He told the policeman to drop her into the East River. Henry, he said you were a prize fighter. Winifrid, he is not worthy of your f lightest thought. Why do you stand there staring at me in that idiotic manner, Jonathan ? I disown you; you are not worthy to be the uncle of that cherub darling." Mr. J. Templeton Ward did not wait to hear all, He darted out of tho door, murmuring to himself, "A crisis comes once in tho affairs of every man;" and seeking tho policeman with frantic haste, Miss Dimple was in a few hours returned to the bosom of her family. His sister, however, refused to see him, and it was not until the marriage of Miss Winifrid Molineux to an officer in the United States navy that Mr. J, Templeton Ward finally made his peace with his outraged relatives,