The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-22

the samep to-day took it to the per-
son who carved 1t for me so long ago,
and he recognized 1t at once, although
it has been reset"
WAS it seventeen years ago that
your child was stolenp" | asked eager
".
Eyes. What do you know of itp" he
questioned hoarsely. NJ
Il know that am your child then. !"
After had told the story so often re-
peated to me by my mother Raynon
they were perfectly satisfied that | be-
longed to them, and their joy beggars
description.
Their story was that my father had
given his wife necklace of diamonds,
and seeing how pleased her baby was
with it she had shaken the stones be-
fore its eyes, and at last in spirit Of
fun, clasped it about the childs neck.
But she did not understand the fast
ening, and as her husband was away
from home and she could not get the
short chain over the chilG's head, she
was obliged TO let the nurse put the in
FAINT to sleep with the glittering orna-
ment about its neck. But the tempta-
ton proved too great for the nurses ca
pacity, so she had taken the baby quiet
ly out to neighboring jeweler and had
the necklace unfastened.
The theory we, my new-found parents
and |, formed was, that becoming
frightened at her own exploit and not
daring to try to replace the baby-I
never can realize that that baby was
myself-lest she be discovered she con-
cluded to abandon it entirely.
Now, where do these people live
who have cared so kindly for you' |
must see them" said my mother.
Reluctantly gave the address, Jack
came straight to me after my mother
told her errandd, and he looked SO old
and worn and haggard that for mo-
ment was lost in pity for him.
Then | remembered the indicate re-
MARKS he had made to Miles Griffith,
and in trying to be frigidly cool | only
succeeded in crying weakly.
80 Jack! Jack!' | sobbed, unable to
be anything but my own impetuous
self, why did you teach me to love you
only to tire of me so soon?'
Tire, HowP What do You mean,
dear?" he asked, taking my hands anx-
iously as ii he feared | was not quite
rational And then as l grew calmer
had to confess how had descended
to the contemplate business of caves
dropping and what | had heard.
1T was my birthday, Jack. Don't
you remember you had Griffith up
in the studio. And you told him
you had made great mistake
engaging yourself to me, and-and he
advised you to give it up, and you said
you'd follow his advice"
For three minutes Jack stared at me,
and then he, with difficulty depressing
an inclination to laugh, said.
"My darling, how could You believe
itp Now listen. As YOU know, my
forte is landscapes. Well, | thought
I'd make one more trial at portraits,
so while lately | haze been entertain
inc you and mother so politely IN the
studio | was siyly taking 'sittings.
You know your birthday, or the day
we celebrate as yours, and mothers
fall on the same day; so as she often
expressed wish to have your portrait
painted, and thinking that you would
like hers painted your counterfcits as
best cOuld, and then before show
ed them sent for Griffith, the farest
critic in the club. He told me candid
~ that as portrait painter was a
dead failure, and advised me to never
allow the public to see my attempts.
The criticisms you heard were of your
picture. Not you. Are you satisfed?'
"Perlectly,' answered, feeling as
if now could get well and strong at
once. But my poor birthday was all
spoiled, ! sighed.
To-day is your birthday, my dear
interrupted my new mother brightly,
entering the room with Mother Raynor
land if the other was spoiled ask what
you will and you may have it."
IN take Jack" | said gayly. And
so | did, "for better or for worse"
year from my 18th birthday.