The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-01-04
NY BIRTHDAY.
A Love Story That sa Little Out Of the
Usual Channel.

our best room, but nd parlor, for moth
or would never call tie little box Of o
room BY so dignitiedh title. aud for the
hundredth time they Were telling me
what they knew Of gy life.
you see. Birdie, said mother. as
had always called her, aft was stormy
night and Jack had been detained al
the store--he was ca,h-boy at Cotton
& Co. s then--but iux as he was run.
ming up the steps about Z o'clock he
met a woman hurrXug down them.
She brushed by withpat speaking. and
he, when he reachedthe door. almost
stumbled over a basket where you lay
all snugged up in wahn dannels. All, but
you were q nice baAy my dear!'
"Pity my mother hadn't thought SOP
| sarcastically obseryxa.
Undoubtedly youwpuid have Jared
better than in our humble home" said
Jack grimly. f
why Jack you don't think mean,
that, do you dear?f ] hastily asked,
1T made me feel badly to think m,
own flesh and blood would abandon
me to the trust of strangers, that's all. ;
!
morrow night" medl,afed mother. un
needing our conversation.
Yes" cliimed ia |, anxious to cleal
the cloud from jack forehead; ''anC
you have always called il my birthday
and have always made the dag so pleas
ant for me too. Let me sce," rattlet
on. You thought ! must have beer
about year old. and so am IL 10
morrow! Have you made nv bir,hda,
cake Yet MOTHER
Yes. indeed. And taa. reminds IN,
must go out and see,tp the fros,ing O
it too Tonight. No. saa stas righ
here. Watch her Jack for she ) not I,
See the cake until to-msrrow.
rctrrated before her laughing com
mand. and seeing how sour Jack still
looked / determined TO do ms very hes
to make him behave like his own oil.
self again. Perching myself on lh'
arm Of his chair leaned over. irwin.
To catch his eye.
Gross, dcar?' asked. very swrctly
No he replied in tone tbs, said
Yes. decidedly So; LEI me- alone.
But | was not ioibc rrbuil,d.
Slipping my arms around his neck
drew his lace around towards mine.
You r. sorry you didn't send me I,
the Founding Home. arn'l y"n: n,
enough To make any one cross 20 rhinl
how H. has b .cn troubled TO- >rvrnterI
years Just brcau>r i.r was >" s..it-h-ari
cal over m;Si.rahi. iii" t,a.., wn"..
people didn't care ab"nt krcpin:
il. Are you sorry. Jack?
Are You. Bird?'
He suddenly Strengthened up. look
in his dark eyes had never noticed
there before.
What have TO be sorry for"
asked. Wasn't thrown into the
hands of the dearest. kinde>t mother
ana brother girl ever had?"
YES dcar--that is we've always
meant kindness: hut still | am not your
brother, Bird.
Il know it. but love you just a
WE'LL" began, but some way under
the steady look of Jacks beautiful eyes
could not 90 on with my usual pro.
tcstaions of affection. rs had always
been in the habit of doing, and | drew
my arms away from about his neck.
But don't want you Ia. Bird he
said slowly, and then he went on eager
~: My darling, want you TO love
me just as we'll 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 birthday
gift" whispered to mother as l ran
out. .,r..
A GRADIENT 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. ''Bt
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 t.
Jack. What better gift could hay'
asked than the gift Of dear Jack
loye?n
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 pouret
in faster than he could execute them h
had begun to lie quite extravagant.
lie had gratiied an oft-expressct
wish of mine by having little cameo
earring. found in the basket in which
they first found me. set in ring TO
me for one of my birthday presents
II was an exquisite. clearly cut, cameo
and it had decidedly unique setting
SO had always INDUCED in the hop
that some time, perhaps. might lear
through it who my parents were. ;,
1t had evidently dropped into tn
basket by mistake for there was moth
ing else about me to identify me. Their
was none of the proverbial strawberr.
marks or moles SO often found on los
children In stories SO ! had only tn
| cameo to connect rue with the unknOw
past.
So I slipped it on my finger, an
| when Jack told me to keep 1t for q
engagement ring until he could prt
cure another it became donbly dear
me.
By-and-by, as soon as breakfast Wa
finished, much to my surprise and di!
appointment, my lover went up to hi
studio and remained invisible for tw
hours. .sg =. 49,
HE might have spent my birthds
with me. anyway" l pouted as l plot
ded upstairs feeling ''blue" enough