The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-01-05
MY BIRTHDAY,
A Love Story That is Little Out Of the
Usual Channel,

We, Mother Raynor, Jack, and |
we're sitting in our little sitting room
our best room. but not parlor, for moth
or would never call the little box of
room by so digniiied title, and for thu
hundredth time they were telling mt
what they knew of my life.
You see. Birdie said mother, as
had always called her, at was stormy
night and Jack had been detained a
the store he was cash-boy at Cotton
& Co. g then-but Just rs he was run
ming up the steps about Z 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 snuggcd up in warm fl i:nyls. All, but
you were nice baby, my G,ar!'
PITY my mother hadn t thought sou
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 dear?" | hastily asked
at made me feel badly to think my
own flesh and blood would abandon
me TO the trust of strangers, that < Mi. v
THAT was seventeen years ago to-
morrow night mcdtated mother, un-
needing our conversation.
Yes chin i in |, anxious to clear
the cloud from ick's forehead; land
you have always called it my birthday.
and have always made the day so pleas
ant for me too. Let me sce"' | ratified
on, ''you thought | must have been
about year old, and SO am Is to-
morrow! Have ,ou made my birthday
cake yet mother
Yes, indeed And that reminds me
/ must 20 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"
! rctreatcd 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. Perching myself on the
arm of his chair | leaned over, trying
to catch his eye.
Gross, dcarP" asked, very sweetly.
No." he replied in II tone that said,
YES, decidedly so; let me alone"
But | was not to be rebuiled.
Slipping my arms around his neck |
drew his face around towards mine.
you're sorry YOU didn't send mo 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 sott-heart-
ed over miserable little baby whose
own people didn't care about keeping
it. Are you sorry, jack
care you, Bird?'
He suddenly Strengthened up, a look
in his dark eyes had never noticed
there before.
"What have to be sorry for?' I
asked Wasn't thrown into the
hands of the dearest, kindcst mother
and brother girl ever had?'
"Yes dcar-that is we've always
meant kindness; but still am not your
brother, Bird.
81 know it, but love You just as
WE'LL" began, but some way under
the steady look of Jack q beautiful eyes
| could not go on with my usual pro-
testations of affection, as | had always
been in the habit OF doing, and | drew
my arms away from about his neck.
But don't want You to, Bird he
said slowly, and t'lcn he went on eager
": MY darling, want you to love
me just as well as do you, dear. |
want you for my very own. for my
wife, Bird,
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 was completely
won over to his way of thinking, and
before the great birthday cake was
frosted Jack and were engaged.
i've accepted Jack As II birthday
lift" whispered TO mother as ran
out.
A radient look of surprised JOY fairly
tllumined her dear old face as she COM
pretended the meaning of my remark.
ut has been the wish of my life"
she whispered, kissing me softly. "Bc
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 Jack
love?"
Several little tokens were at nv
breakfast plate, some very expensive,
700, for since Jacks pictures had be-
gun 10 sell so well and orders poured
In faster than he could execute them he
had begun to be quite cxtravagant.
He had gratified an oit-expressed
wish of mine by having little cameo
earring, found in the basket in which
they first found me, set in ring fol
me for one of my birthday presents
II was an exquisite, clearly cut. cameo