South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-03-13

LIVE sTo THAT ~ A LITTLE OUT
OF TUE USUAL cuANNgL.

We. Mother Ia, nor. Jack and l,
were sitting in Onrl -it,iug.room.
our beet r. ON, Int NIT per!o, for
mother would never call the little box
of IL room by sos ,lipni,ied u title.
and for tn, hunGredih time they were
telling me Whist they knew at INV life.
'Yun SCI. Birdie said mother. ne /
had always called Le,, it wss
stormy night and Jack had heen de-
tanned AT the siore--he ms cash boy
Al Cotton 4 Co.'S then -hnt just ma he
WAS rnnnipg mp the steps. about 7
O'Clock, lie met u woman hurr,ine
cow them. She brushed by with
out speaking ahd hs.swlien he reach
ed the door, aimi6st stumbled over a
basket, where you lay all .nusyled up
in warm h"nnels All, bu, you were
nice baby, my dear
PITY my mother hadn't thought
60 f! | sarcastically observed.
'Undoul'tedl, you would have
fared better than in our humble
home. said Jack, grimly.
WHY. Jack; YOU don't think |
meant that. do yon dear2' ] hastily
asked 1T made me teeI bad to
thlnk that my own flesh aud blood
would abandon me to the trust of
strangers-ihat's ALL
That was sew. n,een wear, ago to-
morrow night medituied mother,
unheed ng our conversation.
Yea, chimed l, aux qua to clear
the clond from Jack. f rehead and
YOU have always cal!e': it my birth.
day. and have always made the day
40 pleasant for NE, too. Let mo seer
l ratified on; you thought I mus be
about year old, anG 40 | am eigh-
tee i, Tomorrow. Have you made
my birih-cake yet, mother2'
Yes indeed. Aud that leminls
me that | must go out and see TO the
irosfing OF it, too, to right. No, Won
stay right here. Watch her Jack, for
she Is not to sec the cane until to.
morrow
L re reateL before her laughing
command, and see ng how soar Jack
stiIl looked. l determined to do nv
very test To make him behave like
his own old sell AGAIN. Perching
m'self on the arm of his chair,
leaned over. trying 10 tch his eve.
Gross, dear p lasked very sweetlv
NO he replied in IL tone that "a d.
yes, decidedly go: let me alone
III | was not to he rebntfcd.
Slipping nv arms around his neck,
| drew his face aronmd towards mine
You're sorry that YOU did not send
me To the Founding Home. rent
You? ll's enough to make any one
GRO :, To tlluk how he has been trou-
bled for seventeen wears just because
he Vas soti-hearied over u miserable
little baby, whose own people didn't
Care about keeping il! Are you sorry,
Jack?'
Are yon Bird?'
Tie suddenly Strengthened mp. with
look III his dark eyes | had never
noticed there before.
w bat have | to he sorry for?'
asked Wasn't | thrown into the
hands OF The dearest, kindest mother
and brother II girl ever bad?'
1es. dear-that ia. we have al
waNS meant Kindness. but still, | am
not yonr brother. Bird
Il know 1t. but [ love yo, ina, NJ
well, but some way. under The steady
look OF Jacks beautiful eyes. could
NOT go on with my nspal protestaiIons
of affection. as had ALWAYS been in
the habit OF doing, aud drew nv
arms away from about his neck.
Bu' | don't want you to. Bird he
said. SLOWLY, and then he went on.
eagerly NV darling, I want ,ou to
love me jnSt as we'll a. de- yVu. dear.
l want yon for NV own. very own.
Tor my vine, Bird Clasping me
close IN his strong arms. he told me
how happy C InlI make him by say.
ing thtt loved him.
And go strongly did he argue his
case. that somehow | vas won over
I" hls way OF thinking, and before the
great bIrthda, cake was frosted, Jack
and | were engaged.
i've accepted Jack as birthday
gut | whispered to mother as ran
out.
"A radiant look of surprised Joy
iaIriy illuminated her dear old face az
size cpmprchended the meaning of
my remark.
1T bias been the wish Of my life
she whispered, kissing me soltlv.
BE ready tor other birthday gifts, to.
morrow she called after me.
'Oh, happ' birlhda = whispered.
when tomorrow dawued, and /.
awakening, remembered NV promise
TO Jack. What better git could |
have asked than the gift OF dear
jacks lovc?'
Several little tokens were at NV
breakfast late, some very expensive
to", Tor since Jacks pictures had be-
gun to cell So well, aud orders po.r.