Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-07-08
MY BIRTHDAY.

our best room, but not parlor, for
mother would never call the little box
OF a room by so dignified title, and
for the hundredth time they were tell
ing me what they knew OF my life.
"You see, Birdie, said mother, as
had always caIlad her, 1T was a
stormy night and Jack had been de
tanned at the store-he was cash boy
at Cotton & Co.'S then-but
just as he was running up the steps
about seven O'Clock he met woman
hurrying down them. She brushed by
without speaking, and he, when he
reached the door, almost stumbled
over a basket where you lay all snug
gled up in warm fanuels. All, but
you were mise baby, my dear"
"Pity my mother hadn't thought
SOL | sarcastitally observed.
Undoubtedly you would have Jared
better than in our humble home,
said Jack, grimly.
why, Jack, you don't think that
do you, DEAR" | hastily asked. II
made me feel badly to think my own
flesh and blood would abandon me
and trust me with strangers, that's
ALL"
THAT was seventeen years ago to-
morrow night" meditated mother
unheeding our conversation.
ayes" | chimed in, anxious to clear
the cloud from Jack forehead; "and
You have always called it my birth
day, and have made the day so pleas
ant for me, too. Let me see, | rat
tied on; lyon thought | must have
been about a year old, and so | am
eighteen tomorrow. Have you made
my birthday cake yet, mother"
YES, indeed. And that reminds
me | must 90 out and seetu the frost
ing it, to night. No, you stay right
here. Watch her, Jack, for she is not
to see the cake until tomorrow"
retrcated before her laughing COM
mand, and seeing how sour Jack still
looked. | determined to domy 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, dear?" asked, very sweet
~;
mo" he replied in tone that said,
"Yes, decidedly so; let me alone
But | was not to be rebuffed. Slip
ping my arms around mis- neck drew
his face around toward mine.
You're sorry you didn't send me
to the Foundlings' Home, aren't you?
It's enough to make any
one cross to think how he has been
troubled for seventeen years just be-
cause he was so soft-hearted over a
miserable little baby whose own peo-
pie didn't care about keeping it. Are
you sorry, Jack?"
Are you, Bird?"
He suddenly Strengthened up, a look
in his dark eyes | had never noticed
there before.
What have to be sorry for2" |
asked. "Was not thrown into the
hands of the dearest, kindest mother
and brother a girl ever had?'
"Yes, dear-that is, we've always
meant kindness; but still / am not
your brother"
Il know it, but | love you just as
well, | began, but some way under
the steady look of Johns beautiful
eyes | could not go on with my usual
protestations OF affection, as / had al
ways been in the habit of doing, and |
drew my arm away from about his
neck.
''But | don't want you to, Bird, he
said slowly. and then he went on
eagerly, "AIy darling. | want you to
love me Just as well as do you. |
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
birthday cake was frosted Jack and |
were engaged.
Eve accepted Jack as birthday
gift, " | whispered to mother as ran
out.
A radiant look of surprised JOY fair
iy illuminated her dear old face as she
comprehended the meaning of my re-
mark.
at has been the wish of my life, !"
she whispered, kissing me softly. BE
ready for other birthday gifts to-mor-
row" she called after me-
ooh, happy birthday" / whispered
when tomorrow dawned, and |, awak-
ing, remembered my promise to Jack.
what better gift could | have asked
than the gift of dear Jacks lover"
Several little tokens were at my
breakfast plate; some very expensive,
too, for since Jacks pictures had be-
sun to sell so well and orders poured
IN faster than he could execute them
ne had begun to be quite extrava,
CAN'T
He lad gratified an oft-expressed
wish of mine by having a little cameo
earring, found in the basket in which
hey first found me, set in ring for
ne for one of my birthday presents.
1t was an exquisite, clear-cut cameo,
and 1T had decidedly unique setting;
so | had always INDUCED in the hope
hat sometime, perhaps, | might learn
through it who my parents were.
1t had evidently dropped into the
basket by mistake, for there was moth
ng else about me to identify me.
There were none of the proverbial
strawberry marks or moles so often
ound on lost children in stories, so |
lad only the cameo to connect me
With the unknown past.
So siippedit on my finger and when
Jack told me to keep it for an engage
ment until he could procure another
It became doubly dear to me.
By-and-by, as soon as breakfast
was finished, much to my surprise
and disappointment, my lover went
up to his studio and remained invisi-
BILE for two hours.
"He might have spent my birthday
with me, anyhow" / pouted as
plodded up stairs feeling "blue"
enough.
/ knocked at the door of his studio.
came in Jacks voice from beyond the
door.
Angry and indignant, for he had al
. lowed me to spend my mornings there
or two months past, silently went
20 my own room.
was angrier still when ten minutes
later his door opened to admit Miles
Griffith, fellow from the Artists
Club. Then was ready to cry with
vexation They had always petted
and spoiled me, mother and Jack, and
let me have my OWE way, so that /
could not bear even this little neglect
gracefully.
AT last was determined to be mean
enough to listen and hear if could
what they were talking about SO earn
sstly in the studio.
Me, found out at once, for Jack
had Just spoken my name as guiltily
...,s nv co.. 80 fba lauhaia A die