Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-01-29
MY BIRTHDAY.


would never call the little box of room
by so dipnified title, and for the hun
dredth time they were telling me what
they knew of my life.
"You see, Birdie" said mother, as l
had always called her, lit was a stormy
night, and Jack had been detained at
the store-he was cash-boy at Cotton &
Co.'S then-but just as ne was running up
the steps, about Z o'clock. he met wO-
man hurrying down them. She brushed
by without speaking, and he, when he
reached the door, almost stumbled overa
basket. where you lay all snupged up in
warm fannels. All, but you were nice
baby, my dear"
"Pity my mother hadn't thought sos
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. ut
made me feel badly to think that my own
flesh and blood would abandon me to the
trust of strangers-thats all"
"That was seventeen years ago to-
morrow night" me,iitated mother, I'M
needing our conversation.
rs, CftlibtN L, huAlouS W CtCdI Vic
cloud from jacks forehead; "and YOU
have always called it my birthday, and
have always made the day so pleasant
for me, too. Let me seep | ratified on;
'you thought must have been about
year old, and SO | am eighteen to-mor-
row. Have you made my birthday cake
yet, mother"
"Yes, indeed. And that reminds me
that must go out and see to the FROST
ing of it, too, tonight. No, you stay
right here. Watch her Jack. for she's
not to see the cake until tomorrow"
retreat ed before her laughing COM
1hand, 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, l leaned over, trying to
catch his eye.
"Cross dear?" i asked, very sweetly.
"No," he replied, in a tone that said,
eyes, decidedly So; let me alone" But l
was not to be rebutfed.
Slipping my arms around his neck, l
drew his face around towards mine.
you're sorry that 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
wears. Just because he was so soft-hearted
over a miserable little baby, whose own
people didn't care about keeping it! Are
you sorry Jack p
Are you, Bird?'
He suddenly Strengthened up, a look
in his dark eyes l had never noticed
there before.
"What have l to be sorry for?" 1
asked.-"Wasn' / thrown into the
hands of the dearest, kindest mother
and brother girl ever had?"
"Yes, dear-that is, we've always
meant kindness; but still, l am not your
brother, Bird"
Il know it, but 1 love you just as WELL"
l began, but someway under the steady
look of Jacks beautiful eyes, could not
90 on with my usual protestations of
affection, as l had always been in the
habit of doing, and l 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 we'll as l 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 l could make him
by saying that l loved him.
And so strongly did he argue his case,
that somehow l was won over to his
way of thinking, and before the great
birthday cake was frosted, Jack and I
were engaged.
"I've accepted Jack as birthday gift"
4 whispered to my mother, as ! ran out
A radiant look of surprised joy fairly
illumined her dear old face, as she COM
pretended the meaning of my remark.
at has been the wish of my life," she
whispered, kissing me softly. BE
ready for other birthday gifts, to-mor-
row. she called out after me.
"Oh, happy birthdayr' 1 whispered,
when to morrow dawned, and !, awaken
ing, remembered my promise to Jack.
"What better gift could l have asked
than the gift OF dear Jacks lover"
Several little tokens were atmy break
fast plate, some very expensive ones, 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 extravaganza.
He had gratified an Ott-expressed wish
of mine, of having q little cameo ear
ring, found in the basket in which they
first undme, set in a ring, for one OF my
birthday presents. 1t was an exquisite,
clearly cut cameo, and had always in.
dulged in the hope that sometime, per-
haps, might learn through it who my
parents were.
1t had evidently dropped into the bas-
ket by mistake, for there was nothing
else about me to identify me. There
were 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 engage
ment ring till he could procure another,
it became doubly dear to me.
BY and by, as soon as breakfast was
finished, much to my surprise and disap-
pointment, my lover went up to his
studio, and remained invisible for two
hours.
"He might have spent my birthday
with me, anyway" l pouted, as l
plodded up stairs, feeling blue" enough.
knocked at the door of his studio. "Not
jvst now, my dear, I'm busy" came in
Jacks voice from beyond the door. An
cry and indignant, for he had allowed
me to spend my mornings there for two
months past, silently went to my own
room.
And / was angrier still when, not ten
minutes later, his door opened to admit
Miles Griffith, a fellow from the Artists
Club.
And then was ready to cry with vexa.
ton. They had always petted and
spoiled me, mother and Jack, and let
ne have my own way, so that could
:, not bear even this little neglect grace
iully.