The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-29
MY BIRTHDAY.

We, Mother Raynor, Jack and I,
were sitting in our little sitting-room,
our restroom, but not parlor, for moth
er 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 1
had always called her, lit was a
stormy night and Jack had been de-
tanned at the store-he was cash-boy at
Cotton & Co.'S then-but Just as he
was running up the steps about seven
O'Clock he met woman hurrying down
them. she brushed by without speak
ing, and he. when he reached the door,
almost stumbled over basket where
YOU lay all snugged up in warm fan-
nels. All, but you were nice baby.
my dear!''
PITY my mother hadn't thought
so!' / sarcastically observed.
Undoubtedly you would have Jared
better than in our humble home" said
Jack. grimly.
"Why Jack you don't think 1 meant
that, do you, dear?' / hastily asked.
1T made me feel badly to think my own
flesh and blood would abandon me and
trust me with strangers, that's all
THAT was seventeen years ago to-
morrow night" meditated mother, I'M
needing our conversation.
YES" chimed in |, anxious to clear
the cloud from Jacks forehead; "and
you have always called it my birthday,
and have always made the day so pleas
ant for me, too, Let me see!' ratified
on, "you thought l must have been
about year old, and so am eighteen
tomorrow! Have you made my birth
day cake yet, mother2"
"Yes, indeed. And that reminds me
1 must go 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"
l retreated before her laughing
command, and seeing how sour Jack
still looked determined to do nv very
best to make him behave like his own
old self again. Perching myself on the
arm of his chair leaned over, trying to
catch his eve.
''Cross, dear?" 1 asked, very sweetly.
mo. he replied, in tone that said:
''Yes, decidedly so: LET me alone" But
was not to be rebuffed
Slipping my arms around his neck l
drew his face around towards mine.
you're sorry you didn't send me to
the Foundlings' Home, aren'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-
Cd over miserable little baby whose
own people didn't care about keeping
it. Are you sorry, Jack?''
care you, Bird?''
He suddenly Strengthened up, q look
in his dark eyes | had never noticed
there before.
''What have to be sorry for?" l
asked. wasn't thrown into the hands
OF the dearest, kindest mother and
brother girl ever had?"
Eyes, dear-that is, dear, we've al
ways meant kindness; but still am not
your brother, Bird
Il know it, but | love YOU lust as
well, l began, but some way under
the steady look of our Jacks beautiful
eyes could not 60 on with my usual
protestations of affection, as | had al
ways been in the habit of doing, and
drew my arm away from about his
neck.
'.But l don't want you to, Bird" he
said, slowly, and then he went on ca
gerly: ..AIy darling, want you to love
me just IS well as | do YOU, dear 1
want you for my very own, for my wife,
Bird. :. ,ff
Clasping me close in his strong arms
he told me how happy / could make
him by saying that loved him.
And so strongly did he argue his case
that some way l was completely won
over to his way of thinking, and before
the great birthday-cake was frosted
Jack and j were engaged.
''Tve accepted Jack as birthday
gift" L whispered to mother rs ran out
Aradiant look of surprised Joy fairly
illumined her dear old face as she COM
pretended the meaning of my remark.
sit has been the wish of my life,"
she whispered, kissing me softly. BE
ready for other birthday gifts to-
morrow" she called after me.
80, happy birthday / whispered
when tomorrow dawned, and l,
awaking, remembered my promise to
Jack. What better gift could have
asked than the gift of dear Jacks
love-"
Several little tokens were at my break
fast plate, some very expensive, too, for
Since Jacks pictures had begun to sell
so well and orders poured in faster
than he could execute them he had be-
gun TO be quite extravagant.
He bal ,r,.o t;faJ A., &c,
wish of mine by having a 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
If had a decidedly unique setting; SO i
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 roth
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 it for an en-
gagement ring until he could procure
another it became doubly dear to me.
BY and by. as soon as breakfast was
finished, much to my surprise and dis
appointment, my lover went up to his
studio and remained invisible for two
hours.
.He might have spent my birthday
with me, anyhow" l pouted as 1 plod-
ded upstairs feeling ''blue" enough +