A CRISIS. (From Scribners Monthly.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1553, 17 June 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CRISIS. (From Scribners Monthly.)

Me. Jonathan T. Ward, or, as his card more modernJy oxpressed it, " J. Templeton Ward, Jun.," looked like a man supremely satisfied with his fortune and himself. He had just received a particularly gratifying letter from hia sisher in New York calling him to the city on a flattering errand, and as he entered the c*rs this pleasant October morning the universe eeemed irradiated with his own private sense of happine&s. The only drawback to his perfect enjoyment was the fact that on this train there -was no pariour-car. It was vexatious to -be obliged to breathe the satna atmosphere with the common, herd, and to submit hia scented personality to the contamination of proximity to pea-nut-eating rustics, travel-worn cinereous pilgrims, not owrmannerly children, and the inevitable baby. He adapted himself to oiroumstances, however, with the ready savoir-faire of an expeiienced man of the 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. He dropped his handbag, his cane, and light overcoat; carelessly in the vacant corners, and thus comfortably extended, pven tho public car seemed bearable, and he fouad himself able to contemplate his plebeian and more crowded I neighbours with urbane condescension. After a few moments his fingers Instinctively sought an inner pocket, and he re-read the letter which had sojeontributed to hia self-gratulation. It was from M 3 favourite sister, Rose, who had married Henry Molineux, a wealthy broker, aad whose happy married life had caused no diminution ia her home affection. The Molineuxs were ia their way very grand people, grander than the Wards, for thoy counted larger store of shekels, and linda, and antique heirlooms, and Rose's alliance had been fully approved by her brother. Rose herself was a bit of a matoh»maker, and had lgng cherished a dream ot a double connection 'between the two families by the marriage of her brother with her husband'? sister, Miss Winifred Molineux. Unfortunately for her plans, shortly after her own wedding her husband's family had sailed for Enrope, remaining abroad four years, and the objects of her romantic 'schemes bad never met. V«ry deftly, however, Mrs. Base Molineux had managed her qards, keeping up Miss Winifred's interest ia the unknown paragon by means of shrewd allusions and items of interest, jbut never waxing sufficiently enthusiastic to alarm the shy girl with apprehensions ; of a matrimonial pitfall arranged for her unsuspecting feet., With her brother Mjrs. Molineux's manoeuvre ha.d been leas a'rategio and delicate. Tfce matter had .been fra,nfcly 4iscuste4 between them, and %t. J. Ward acknowledged himira prepared to beobme"Misß Winifred's Willing slave, at first sight. Indeed he nearly* persuaded > himself' , that 'he < wasalready in love with her, and he brooded over his 'sister'i' letter, with all the benign Serenity of >n accepted Iprer. . v ; ' -', Ir^/iDiBJLB'iTitMPJatTON't (wroje Mrs llfoli--'netii)^-" Henry's lather Wmother have 1 1|ii1^lfi'ngtn\r^tajd[i^^R^^9 r<^ei' and Have

is better, has returned entirely heart free. I was afraid some Fiench marquis would bo attracted by her dot, and snatch her up. I know that you are very sensitive on snob matters, and will not thank ma for telling you, but by the death of her uncle Robert in Pernambuco she has oomo into posses sion of thirty thousand dollars, which, ia addition to her expectations from Papa Molineux, makes her a very pretty heiree s. Do not let anything delay your coming. As What'B-hiB-na»iie says, •' A crisis comes once in the life of every man." There is a trite old saying in regard to cap and lip which I forbear quoting, remarking only that it is a mistake to confide delicnt« porcelain to baby fingers. Mr. Ward's cup would probably never have slipped had it not been for a baby, of whose influence upon his fate he was as yen blissfully junconscious. It was a sorry day for him when the three weird sisters converted Mr. Tetnpleton Ward's cup of bappinnse — which had hitherto been as carefully guarded as though it had been a veritable bit of blossomed Dresden or a fragile specimen of Sevres in Pompadour rose— into a plaything for a ruthless and irresponsible baby. Mr. Ward bad drifted into a day-dream, when he wai recalled suddenly to the actualities of the present by a sweet voiaa at his elbow inqniring diffidently, "is this aeai engaged?" Taming sharply, he saw ft dignified bat vouthfal lady, with & f r oo like th«i* oi one cf Raphael 1 * Madonnas. His impressible he an pud her homage at obo=>, aid be waa about to spring to his feet with spontaneous polite ness, when the pleasurable emotion was oheoked by one of dismay. She held in hir arms ft baby — well dressed, neat, chubby, bright, and, to a parental eve, a cherub oi a ohiid; to Mr. J. Templeton Ward, his pet Aversion nod peouliar horror. Ho looked at tbo ohiid with an expresiioa of intense disapprobation. " I think yoa will be more eomforUbla at the other fend of the oar," he remarked, slowly raising bis eye-glafses and surveying the perspective of crowded -seats. " I will try another oar," replied the lady, with qnit<i dignity. Mr. Temploton Ward's good-breeding assorted itself/ " Indeed, mndam, I had nol; observed that there were no vnotni sores. Pray do not imagine me so egregioasty eelfish ;" and the little lady was q^iokly seated as his vis-a-vis. For some time the baby oondnoted i*B©lf in an exemplary manner, drumming on the window-pane, and watching the rapidly whirling landscape, and Mr. Templeton Ward had tithe to observe that the lady was dresied in that alleviated mourning which allows oerkaia concessions to fashion and beoomingn9BB in tha toleration of white at throat and wrists, and solitaire pearls in eithev ear. "Widowhood," he muaed to himself— "widowhood which has passed the first poignancy of grief, and has entered the lonely itsge whioh finds a solitary life almost unendurable." He notioad with keen, obaerv&nt eye the curling sweep of the long jet lashes whioh shaded the delicately rounded ivory cheek, and widowhood struck him as the most pathetic »nd attractive aspeot under whioh he had ever considered wqm»n. Hd determined for one hour At least to make hot forget her unprotected condition. He endeavoured first to propitiate t!ao maternal affections. *' Tou have ft 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 me in a more gratifying manner," she replied. He turned lathe baby, and endeavoured to interest ie in an exhibition of his watoh and seals. " What is her name ?" he asked, hoping that the reply might involve that of the mother. "We call her Dimple. Don't you thin V a baby the most delicious thing in the whol« world ?" " Well, no, it had n<wer occurred to me in that light before j but you know I have not had the advantage of an acquaintance with Misa Dimple," " You could not help lik'ng her. She never cries ; she is absolutely angelic." Mr. Ward was on the point of remarking, " T said she resembled you," bub he clucked himself j they were not sufficiently intimate yet for flattery. The conversation became impersonal, and drifted through a wide rango of subjects, Mr. Templeton Ward becoming very much interested in his travelling companion, and quite ignoring the presence of the baby. Thia young person at last became fidgety, and even cross. The precious infant!" exclaimed the lady. " How forgetful lam ! She should have been fed twenty minutes ago." A basket was producd, and a little rummaging brought to light a nur»iag 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 as the train paused at an out-of-the-way country station. " I see farm houses, and cows gracing in the pas ures," suggested Mr, Ward ; " perhaps I can obtain some milk for you." "Oh, no, no j pray do not trouble yourself," replied the lady ; "if you will kindly watQh baby, I can get it." And before he had time to insist, sho was out of the car and running toward one of the farmhouses. Mr. W^rd explained the situMion to the conductor, who agreed to w^it two minutes beyond the usual time for her return. Two minutes, three minutes, four minutes passed, and still she came not. The engineer gounded the whistle, the conduotor shouted — "All aboard 1 I can't wait any longer. She's had plenty o£ time. I must reach the next station before the up train," he «plained, and the train moved on. Mr. J. lenopleton Wardrgazed in a stupefied manner from, the. window ; the baby howled. " Qome, this will never do," he said, as he endeavoured Bimtj-" taneoujily tQ realise the situation, and. to quiet the distracting baby^hfo thoughts •nd'vrords, keeping, up 9, running fogue somewhat in thja manner :— ThouahW What can have detained her?" ' Aloud—" Precious little Dimple, so — " Thought—" Where did she disappear to anyway?" * Aloud— "—it was. Sh.aH have the 1 pretty watch." ' • Though^-* €brea* Osasar. Can it be—" AlOjUq-4" Angelic little cherub!" > f^h(raght^-' < : 7-a v oaBe of deserlion P" \ J Albu t d7 i : 4 'irev^r orie&rrno, neyer," >TESught^KOf bourse' not. .She was » •petfeot ladjv impossible/ .<l _ [ ,j_f s> , .'V?

Aloud (to old lady who offers pepper* mint)—" Thank you, ma'am." (To baby) — " 'i'ber , i hok* your blessed throat 1" *•• Thought—'- Wh*t a figure I'll out atlhe depStl" Aioud (attempting to siQg)-r" Oh, where, Bhau reßt be found?!' "Jiyelo, byelo" (shaking cnild violently)— •' go to sleepy." Thouglu — "Suppose Rose should be at the station * ifch Winifred to meet me I- > • Aloud — " Darling popsy, wopay, chickabiddy chum. See how tunny ifc looks in big man's hat." (Extinguishes baby inhii lght- coloured high hat.) Thought—" She said^a baby was the most delightful thing in the whole world. Any woman who can lie like that is capable of deserting her unprotected offspring." Aloud (removing the hat) — " Gtobd gracioue 1 It's black in the face; it's going, into convulsions I" The ught— " I'd like to know what everybody ia laughing at. It I had a pistol I'd ehoot somebody." Aloud — " Look here, now, Miss Dimpsy Impaey. Come, let us reason together This thing has gob to be stopped. Be ctlm— l say be calm." Thought—" I'll leave it in the seat, take, my baggage, and put for the smoking oar," (Suits cha action to the idea. Settles himself comfortably. Newsboy appears^ almost immediately with the baby, still' screaming.) Newsboy— " Please, air, you left some of your baggage." (Traia cornea to a stop inNew York depot.) Thought — "There's a policeman. I'll hand the stretch over to him, and get him 10 carry ie to the station-house or the foundling hospital." A few minutes later and Mr. J. Templeton WacU gaily mounted the steps of his brother-in-law's brown-otono mansion. A. great incabus had beau removed from hie mind, and he now felt disposed to treat the adventure with- hilarity. Hi« sister met him most cordially, and throwing himself upon the tola by her side, he related the ss t tory, decorated with considerable imaginative embroidery. " Tnink, Rose," he said solemnly, " what a tremendous escape ! There I was a complete victim. Why, I actually took her fox a respectable and fascinating little widow, and was flirting with Her ia the most confiding manner." " Do jou really think she meant to desert the baby P" asked Mrs. Molineux. " Oh, without doubt. She had got herself up nicely onpuipose to deceive; and to think that I did soc suspect her designs when site asked me it' I did not think that exeorable baby delufcoas ! ' " Was the baby pretty, Templeton P" " Pretty 1 I should think not. I wish you could have seen it. It bore the marks of depravity stamped upon its brow. When it howled, ie glaied at me with demoniao eyes, and listed like a prizefighter. I am morally certain that its father is one of the champions of the ring." " And what did you say you did with it, dew?" " I got rid of it as quickly as possible, X assure you. I handed it to a policeman, and requested him to drop it into the East Biver. I had the satisfaction, however, of pinching it well before I saw the last of; it." " Do you suppose the man thought you were in earneet, Templeton P" "Of course not. He ha 3 carted it off to the Home for tbe Friendless, «r the Asylum for Little Wanderers, or some institution o£ that sort, I suppose. Bub let's drop the baby. Where's Winifred ?" " I expect her every moment. There's the door bell now. Let mo see," Mrs. Molineux motioned back the servant, and herself opened the hall-door, fiading hersslf, to her surprise, face to face with her husbaod, who wore an anxiaus expression. Mr. Ward, who sat just within the porlouc, heard their conversation distinctly. Rise— "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." Ro=e— "Oh! ia..that all? Then ehe ought to be here now; the trains, run every hour." Mr. M.— " WiniPred'a all rigkfc, but I don't want to alarm you. Be calm—" " Bose— " The baby J iB sue sick ??• Mr. M. — " Don't get excited. The baby ia not sick." Eose (desperately) — '* Is she dead P" Mr. M. — " No, no. You always imagine the very worst t^at caa happen. She is only lost " y A piercing 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 her into the parlour, and she was at once surrounded by frightened domestics. In the confusion that followed, Winifred Molineux arrived. There was no time for iatroduction, and, indeed, none was needed, for Mr. Ward, to his utter dismay, recognised hia companion of the traiß , the suppose i mother of the baby. " I was bringing Dimple home from a . visit to her grandmother," she explained, and added t "Is it possible that you are Mr. J, Templeton Ward? Then the baby is sa,fe.' J Mra. Molmeux opened her eyes, and ! suddenly sitting bolt upright, assumed a tragic atlitudo. " Winifred," she demanded, " why did you. abandon my preoiousi Dimple ?" " I Id^lm xo get some milk," Winifred < replied^ gcod-humouredly, "and aa I was coming out of the dairy a horrid goat , barred my passage. The woman drove him away, bub he stopped me again at the pasture bars, and I did nob reach the station until the train had lef c." Mra. Molineux laughed hysterically. "Jonathan Templeton Ward," she exclaimed, '< what have you done with your sister's child." . < r i±ow w»3 Ito know it was yours ?" he asked, depreciatingly. " I forgot that Miss Winifred would be in mourning for her uncle, and I thought she was a widow.' 7 "You thought," interrupted his sister. "The least said about \ that, the better. He sent his niece to the foundling hospital; he insulted Winifred and all of us in a. manner not to he repeated. Oh, my precious Dimple, say- lorely pet. He tola the policeman to. drop her into tha Easft Elver, Henry, he said you were a prize*' fighter. Winifred, he is not worthy of your plighteßb thought. Why do yon stand there staring at ma in th».t idiotic manner* Jonathan? I disown you; you are not worthy to be th« unole of that ohexub darling." VMx. J. 'Templeton Ward did not wait to ' heA* all. He darted out of the door, mur- - muring to himself, " A crisis comes once in the affairs o| every man; 1 ' and seeking the ' policeman Tpftth frantic hutoj Miss v Dimple ;