The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-05-19
LITTLE ROBBIE.
The Influence a Small Boy May Have on an
Affair of the Heart.

The Influence a Small Boy May Have on an
Affair of the Heart.
"She was the Widow Randolph when we
first met, and thought her then, as l think
her now, the loveliest woman IN the world"
said Mr.. Alexander Lane.
"AhaP responded Ford, the senior partner
of Ford & Lane-"and so there was a ro-
nance. Sly dogP
The two men-old friends, and rather old
fellows-were in that mild loquacious mood
that follows a good dinner, and is stimulated
by good cigar and pleasant surroundings.
Now there's no cozier spot than Lanes lib
rary, nor is there-considering he is past
ffty-a handsomer or more genial man than
Lane himself. AT this moment he sat staring
into the fire, the cigar held medItatively be-
tween two fingers, and Ford repeated, by
way of Jog to the conversation, "Sly dogP
During one of my regular trips to Europe
forsthe firm" said Lane, talking apparently
to the fire, 81 had time to spare, and was at
Raveno, in the north of Italy" Then, after
pause: There's too much said about the
scenery at the Italian lakes"
"Why2 Isn't it finer"
Eyes; but happen, say, at Baveno, on
Maggiore, in the middle of May, and there's
something you can't talk about; there's fer
vor and a languor, a strength and sweet
ness 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 after
noon-and l ran into Russell, firm of Russell
& White, you know.
$50 glad to meet an American, said Rus
sell. I'm doing the lakes with my wife and
sister-in-law, who is a widow. Come for a
boat ride with us this evening at g.
"At Russell clspped me on the shoulder.
There was q 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 Wis
ion. 1 was fairly dazed, and stood staring,
when Russell pulled up the boat and said,
Jump in. Halloo, Adelaide; so you're seated.
The woman In white is my sister-in-law,
Lane. Mrs. Randolph, Mr.. Lane, of New
York.
ssShe greeted me with Indeed, Mr.. Lane,
it's pleasant to meet people from home-that
is, sometimes. and some people, She was the
woman of the world, and bit coquettish,
yet with soberness and gentle grace under
lying all.
4How did she look them" asked Ford.
SWell, 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 gray brows, that would lend stern
ness to any other eyes, but only frame the
softness of hers, her cheek was a shade paler
than now, and fairer, perhaps. Well, we
rowed 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-'in
short, / resolved that very night to make
Mrs. Randolph my wife, or live bachelor"
Sudden, wasn't It2" hunted Ford.
eyes. but times nothing in such matters;
t's-it's-"
~Say it in four letters" Ford suggested
'Well, it's love; and 1 was heartily, desper-
ately in love. You see, / was only forty
then.
''Next morning early l was pacing the
turf in front of the hotel, and met Mrs. Ran
dolph She was dainty, fresh and tender
hued even in the full morning sunshine. /
breakfasted with the Russell party, and a
bonnie brought to to the table the prettiest
four-year-old boy ever laid eyes on.
""My Robbed my darlingl my blessingP
exclaimed Mrs. Randolph, in a motherly
rapture, seating the child on her lap. The
little chap shook his head of yellow cIrls,
reached with both bands over the table, and
calculated 'Honeyp
".Honeyfs bad for mammals boy said
Mrs. Randolph, while l was looking at the
picture they made, only desired to call both
mother and child my own. Why, in fancy,
1 was already father to the boy, loved him,
brought him up, put him intsthe firm
all in few minutes. during which the
little man was lunglng and plunglng
after the honey dish. His mother restrain
ing him, he delivered piercing yell,
and grabbing the table-cloth, dragged
off some dishes that broke. Walter said
Mrs. Randolph, take the honey away.
.At this the boy beat first the air, then
his mothers face. She turned red and pale
by turns, and hunted my pockets. A knife,
q pencil-case, loose change, watch (tick,
tick'), and like seductions were displayed in