Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-07-04

woman that's bound to sleep on rose leaves,
md remember" softly, "if there's money
wanted to make her comfortable I've a
useless pile of it all ready for you to dip
nto."
81 guess we'll have enough of it. You
notice Daisy says she's collected life in
surance, and won't be burden to nobody
And lately I've been doing pretty well with
that stone post invention put some money
into"
Uncle Jerry was almost helpless with
rheumatism, but Jack was a most able
coadiutor, and by unblushing bribery and
corruption succeeded in securing one two
most decent rooms in the tall shanty called
by courtesy the hotel, for the use of the ex
pected guests There was much excite
ment among the residents when the APP
pointed day came, and the pretty, graceful
woman who stepped from the cars might
well have been terrified at the spec
tacle of platform crowded with
men, who eagerly watched her every
motion. But she had no thought for any
thing but the sleeping child beneath whose
weight her own slender frame seemed al
most bending. Such men as those who
watched her were too chivalrous to wait
for Uncle Jerry's slow approach, and half
a dozen sprang forward with an entreaty
to be allowed to help her. And in mo-
ment the lovely 3-year-old baby's blonde
curly head was resting on Jack Dinsmore's
shoulder, the sleepy blue eyes opened for a
! look at him, then closed again contentedly,
and the little mother, with "A grateful, con
fding glance, turned to look for her uncle.
Its Il genywine treat to see a first class
lady out here, and real live baby, even if
it's kinder weak and sickly," said one of
the gang of observers as they slowly dis
persed after enjoying the atfectionate meet
ing between uncle and niece.
1t was feeling they all shared. and the
gentle womanly influence so swayed the
crowd of men who filed the long tables at
the hotel that they were no longer the
reckless set who had been sitting there for
months. Changes in dress were not prac-
ticabe in every case, but soap, razors and
combs exerted their constant and humaniz-
ing power.
The baby grew stronger every day, and
the mother was wildly happy in watching
the change in her darling, who soon be-
came the idol of every one
The long hotel piazza, devoted to smok-
ers, was not a fit place for woman, and at
Jack s instigation some of the men ran out
rough balcony, or gallery, in front of
Mrs. Lanes room, and there like a queen
she held a little reception every even
ing, with Uncle Jerry as chaperon. All
her new friends worshiped the bright little
woman, and several who had no home ties
to hinder fell madly in love with her.
Some of these modestly realized the hope
lessness of their fancy and soon drew off,
watching with the others the wooing OF
two, who, whether hopeless or not were in
i g
Jack Dinsmore, the other a less popular
man, nicknamed for obvious reasons
"Beauty Mordaunt."
His remarkably handsome face and grace
full manners did not win baby Lily to his
cause, for the child never swerved in her
championship of the first man her sleepy
eyes fell upon when the cars brought hel
to her present home. And Jack adored the
child openly, but shyly concealed, OF
thought he did, the passionate love he felt
for her mother. Uncle Jerry guessed his
secret, and one day said to him suddenly
Women don't like dumb lovers, man; il
you want her, speak out; you have my con
sent full and free"
So, on this hint, which half kindled g
hopeS Jack tried to speak one balmy twi
light when he happened to be on her bal
cony alone with his adored while Lily
wrapped in warm shawl, slept on g
rustic bench. There was man." he be
gan, breaking a short silence that had faller
between them, and speaking in a con
strained tone that told his listener of 6
depth of feeling below the commonplace
words, "a man who'd never had anybody
to care for him since his father and mother
died, when he wasn't much more than
baby, and left him to be looked after OIL
not, just as it happened"
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