The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-22
MY BIRTHDAY.
A Love Story That is Little Out Of the
Usual Channel


our best room, but not parlor, for moth
err would never call the little box OF a
room by SO dignified title, and for the
hundredth time they were telling me
what they knew of my life.
"You see, Birdie" said mother, as |
had always called her, ut was stormy
night and Jack had been detained at
the store-he was cash-boy at Cotton
& Co. 8 then-but just as he was run
ming up the steps about 7 O'Clock he
met woman hurrying down them.
She brushed by without speaking, and
he, when he reached the door, almost
stumbled over basket where you lay
all snugged up in warm hannels. All. but
you were a nice baby, my dear!'
PITY my mother hadn thought so.'
sarcastically observed.
Undoubtedly you would have Jared
better than in our humble home, said
Jack grimly.
why Jack you don t think meant
that, do you dear3" | hastily asked.
at made me feel badly to think my
own flesh and blood would abandon
me to the trust of strangers, that's all.
That was seventeen years ago to-
morrow night" meditated mother, un-
needing our conversation.
Yes chimed in |, anxious to clear
the cloud from Jacks forehead; land
You have always called it my birthday,
and have always made the day so pleas
ant for me too. Let me Sect ratified
on, "you thought must have been
about year old, and SO am Is to-
morrow Have you made my birthday
cake yet motherp'
yes, indeed And that reminds me
must 90 out and see to the frosting of
it too tonight, No. you stay right
here. Watch her Jack, for she's not to
see the cake until tomorrow,
retreatcd before her laughing com.
mand, and seeing how sour Jack still
looked determined to do my very best
to make him behave like his own old
self again. Perchiug myself on the
arm OF his chair / leaned over, trying
to catch his eye.
Gross, dear3" | asked, very sweetly.
NO." he replied in tone that said,
YES. decidedly so; let me alone
But was MOTTO be rebuffed.
Slipping my arms around his neck I
drew his face around towards mine.
you re sorry you didn' t send me to
the Founding Home, arn't you? It's
enough to make any one cross to think
how he has been troubled for seventeen
years Just because he was so soft-heart-
ed over miserable little baby whose
own people didn't care about keeping
it Are you sorry, JackP'
"Are you, BirdpN
He suddenly Strengthened up, look
in his dark eyes | had never noticed
there before.
"What have to be sorry forp" I
asked. Wasn't I thrown into the
hands of the dearest, kindest mother
and brother girl ever hadp"
"Yes dear-that is we've always
meant kindness; but still | am not your
| brother, Bird"
81 know it, but love you just as
WELL" began, but some way under
the steady look of Jacks beautiful eyes
l could not go on with my usual pro-
testatons of affection, as had always
been in the habit of doing, and I drew
my arms away from about his neck.
but don't want you to, Bird" he
said slowly, and then he went on eager
ly: MY darling, want you to love
me just as well as do you, dear. I
want you for my very own, for my
wife, Bird"
Clasping me close In his strong arms
he told me how happy l could make
him by saying that | loved him.
And so strongly did he argue his
case that some way was completely
Won over to his way of thinking, and
before the great birthday cake '---
frosted Jack and were engaged.
1--WE accepted Jack as birthday
! gift" ! whispered to mother as | ran
out.
A radient look of surprised JOY fairly
illumined her dear old face as she COM
pretended the meaning of my remark.
1T has been the wish Of my life"
she whispered, kissing me softly. "Be
ready for other birthday gifts tomor.
row." she called after me.
20, happy birthday" whispered
when tomorrow dawned, and l, awak-
ening, remembered my promise to
Jack. What better gift could have
asked than the gift Of dear Jacks
| lovep'
Several little tokens were at my
breakfast plate, some very expensive,
too, for since Jacks pictures had be-
gun to sell so well and orders poured
in faster than he could execute them he
had begun to be quite extravaganza
He had gratifed an oft-expressed
wish of mine by having little cameo
earring. found in the basket in which
they first found me, set in ring for
me for one of my birthday presents.
1t was an exquisite, clearly cut, cameo,
and it had decidedly unique setting;
so ! had always INDUCED In the hope
that some time, perhaps, l might learn
through it who my parents were.
| 1t had evidently dropped into the
basket by mistake for there was moth
ing else about me to identify me. There
was none of the proverbial strawberry
marks or moles so often found on lost
children In stories so had only the
cameo TO connect me with the unknown
past.
So ] slipped it on my finger. and
when Jack told me to keep ii for an
engagement ring until he could pro-
cure another 1t became doubly dear to