The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-04-22
LITTLE ROBBIE.


we first met. and l thought her then, as
/ think her now, the loveliest woman
in the world,' said Mr.. Alexander
Lane.
"Aha" responded Ford, the senior
partner of Ford 4 Lane" and so there
was a romance. Sly dogr'
The two men-old friends and rather
old fellows-were in that mildly To-
quacious mood that follows . good din
ner, and is stimulated by good cigar
and pleasant surroundings. Now there s
no cozier spot than Lanes library, nor
is there -considering he is past tifty-a
handsomer or more genial man than
Lane himself. At this moment he sat
staring into the fire, the cigar held med
itatively between two fingers, and Ford
repeated. by way of jog to the CONVEX
sation, "Sly dog!''
During one Of my regular trips to
Europe for the firm said Lane, talk
ing apparently to the fire, Il had time
to spare, and was at Baveno, in the
north of Italy" Then. after a pause:
There's too much said about the
scenery at the Italian lakes"
"Why? Isn't it tine?''
Yes; but happen, say, at Baveho,
on Maggiore, in the middle of May, and
there's something you can't talk about;
there's fervor and languor, a
strength and sweetness, in all nature,
in the very air itself, that can't be told
it can only be felt. The hotel at Ba-
veno was close to the lake, and boats lay
moored just before the door. 1t was
afternoon, l remember, TINT day-late
afternoon-and l ran into Russell, firm
of Russell 4 White, you know.
$50 glad to meet an American
said Russell. I'm doing the lakes with
my wife and sister-in-law, who is a
widow. Come for boat ride with us
this evening at eight
''At eight Russell clapped me on the
shoulder. There was strange influ-
ence abroad that night; the whole place
seemed fairy, unreal. I followed to
where boat lay swinging little loose
from its moorings. On the shore was
Mrs. Russell, whom greeted politely;
but my eyes were fixed on that boat,
for in the stern. wrapped in something
white, like cloud, sat a woman who was
lovely as vision. l was fairly dazed,
and stood staring, when Russell pulled
up the boat and said Jump in. Halo,
Adelaide: so you're seated. The wom-
an in white is my sister-in-law, Lane.
Mrs. Randolph, MIR. Lane, of New
York.
''She greeted me with, Indeed, Mr..
Zane. it's pleasant to meet people from
hOme-that is, sometimes, and some
people, She was woman of the world,
and a bit coquettish. yet with a SOBER
ness and gentle grace underlying ALL"
'How did she look then?f asked
Ford.
"Well, it was ten years ago. She
was slighter, but that warm-colored
hair was the same; she had those same
gray eyes, with the dark brows that
would lend sternness to any other eyes,
but only frame the softness of hers;
her cheek was shade paler than now,
and fairer, perhaps. Well. we rUwed
over to Isola Madre. There, under
the shadow of the wooded banks, we
heard the nightingales sing, and, in
Short said Mr.. Lane, with a nervous
laugh, knocking the ashes from his
cigar, and beginning to smoke before
he had done speaking--' short,
resolved that very night to make Mrs.
Randolph my wife, or live bachelor"
"Sudden, wasn't it?" limited Ford.
"Yes, but times nothing in such
matters; it's-it's-''
"Say it in four letters" Ford sug-
gested.
"Well, it's love; and was heartily,
desperately in love. You see, 1 was
only forty then.
"Next morning early was pacing
the turf in front of the hotel, and met
Mrs. Randolph. She was dainty, fresh,
and tender-hued even in the full morn
ing sunshine. l breakfasted with the
Russell party, and bonnie brought to
the table the prctticst four-year-old
boy ever laid eyes on.
"'My Robbie! my darling! my bless
ing! exclaimed Mrs. Randolph, in a
motherly rapture. seating the child on
her lap. The little chap shook his head
OF yellow curls, reached with both
hands over the table, and calculated,
sHoney!'
"'Honcy is bad for mammals bow
said Mrs. Randolph, while l, looking ct
the picture they made, only desired to
call both mother and child my own.
Why. in fancy, ] was already father to
the boy, loved him. brought him up,
put him into the firm-all in the few
minutes during which the little man
was lunging and plunging after the
honey dish. His mother restraining
him, he delivered piercing yell, and.
grabbing the table-cloth, dragged off
some dishes that broke. Waiter
said Mrs. Randolph. take the honey
away
Al This the boy beat first the dir,
then his niotl:cr's face. She turned
red and pale by turns. and I hunted
my pockets. A knife. Q psuoil-case,