The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1880-04-16
LITTLE ROBBIE.


She was the widow Randolph when
as think her now, the loVeliest woman
Lane
. Ahaln responded Ford, the senior
partner Of Ford g. Lane" and SO there
was romance. Sly dog!p
The two men-old friends, and rather
quaeious mood that follows good din
ner. and is stimulated by pleasant sur
roUndings. Now there's no cozier spot
than Lanes library, nor is there-con-
sidering he is past fifty--a handsomer
or more genial man than Lane himself.
At this moment he sat staring into the
fire, and Ford repeated, By way of jog
to the conversation, $ Sly dog!n
:" During one of my regular trips to
Europe for the firm, y said Lane, talking
apparently to the fire, / had time to
spare, and was at Baveno, in the north
of italy" Then, after pause: There's
too much said about the scenery at the
Italian lakes"
WhyP Isn't it fne2n
Yes; but happen. say, at Baveno,
on Maggiore, in the middle OF May, and
there's something you can't talk about;
there's fervor and a languor, astrength
and a sweetness, in all nature, in the
very air itself, that can't be told-it can
only be felt. The hotel at Baveno was
close TO the lake, and boats lay moored
Just before the door. 1t was afternoon,
/ remember, that day-late afternoon
and ] ran into Russell, firm of Russell &
White, you know.
I" So glad to meet an American 7 said
Russell. I'm doing the lakes with nay
wife and sister-in-law, who is widow.
Come for q boat ride with us this even
ing at eight
" At eight Russell clapped me on the
shoulder. There was strange influence
abroad that night-the whole place
seemed fairy, unreal. / 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 woman who was
lovely as vision. I was fairly dazed,
and stood staring. when Russell pulled
up the boat and said: Jump in. Halo,
Adelaide; so you're seated. The woman
in white is my sister-in-law Lane.
Mrs. Randolph, Mr.. Lane, of New
York
"She greeted me with, Indeed, Mr..
Lane, it's pleasant to meet people from
home that is, sometimes, and some
people, She was woman of the world,
and bit coquettish. yet with a sober
ness and gentle grace underlying all.n
How did she look then p' 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 rowed over
70 Isola Madre. There, under the
shadow of the wooded banks, we heard
the nightingales sing, and, in short, =
said Mr.. Lane, with nervous laugh
6 in short, resolved that very night to
make Mrs. Randolph my wife, or live q
bachelor y
"Sudden, wasn't itpn limited Ford.
Yes, but times nothing in such mat.
ters; it's-it's-"
Say it in four letters" Ford sug'
gested.
Well. it's love; and / was he artily,
desperately in love. You see, I was
only forty then.
s'Next morning early I was pacing
the turf in front Of the hotel, and mel
Mrs. Randolph. She was dainty, flesh
and tender-hued even in the full morn
! ing sunshine. ! breakfasted with tht
Russell family, and bonnie brought tt
the table the prettiest four-year-old
| boy I ever laid eyes on.
My Robbie! my darling my bless
ingi' exclaimed Mrs. Randolph, in {
motherly rapture, seating the child OF
her lap. The little chap shook his heaf
of yellow curls, reached with botl
hands over the table, and calculated
Honey!'
Honey is bad for manma's boy.
said Mrs. Randolph, while /. looking a
| the picture they made. only desired t.
call both mother and child my own
Why. in fancy, was already father K