The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-03
CUPID'S RATTLE.

They were not really aged-that Is
TO say, society had never been officially
informed of the fact If an engagement
signifies pledge given and taken, or if it
means that he has given ring to secure
an option on her, they were not engaged
But she knew that Brent loved her and
that some day she would marry him, and
he knew that she was the only woman lac
ever had loved or ever could love; that she
filed his life and made it perfect. And ho
was sure that she knew this In fact,
there was between them what our grand
mothers called an understanding.
Then there came a terrible mlsuader-
standing. He could not understand, and
she would not What it was all about,
how it began, neither could have told. He
thought that he was ten minutes late for
an appointment with her, and she thought
she didn L think, she lost or mislaid her
temper. ''And it grew, and it grew, y and
so began their tale of woe. She was out
several times when he called. So he stop
ped calling.
She refused an invitation to a dinner to
which she knew he was asked. He waited
an hour for her at tea, and when she
came into the room he left it by another
door anu fed from the house. She saw
him go, and her fRce fell.
Up to that time she had been prepared
to forgive him graciously when the proper
moment came, but when she saw him dis
appear through those portieres she knew
that she would never, never speak to him
again. He walked several streets, cursing
everything ia general and one woman's
intellect in particular. Then he retraced
his steps and hung round the house like
Veritable thief, waiting to see her come
out and get into her carriage.
When Mrs. Trenor's invitation to the
baby christening came, he wrote a regret
because she was going to be godmothtr,
but he did not send it. NO, by Jove!'
he said savagely 10 himself She needn't
think she can keep me away from every
thing. He accepted the invitation, and
sent the baby a silver rattle.
The Trenor parlors were fun when no
arrived, and she was not visible, 80 no
went out into the conservatory. = soon
there was a hush in the babble of voices,
and he looked through the window into
the drawing room His eyes in the win
dow saw none of the gorgeous details, be-
cause she, the beautiful godmother, was
coming into the room carrying the baby
The sweet voice of the godmother thrilled
one nearer, and then John Sherwood Ire
nor received the congratulations and good
wishes of his mother S friends, enduring
it all with a calm, grave aspect turning
his round blue eyes occasionally on his
gOdmOther to make sure that all was
right She held him in her arms, talking
W LAAA anu AOk 4AA4Al AyA4CC oAAl UAAAG0 AA-A
face in his fluffy lace gown, and it was
probably only an accident that it was sc
the very moment when Brent entered the
room. Mrs. Trenor hastened to meet him.
ooh, Mr.. Brent, you re just in time to
speak to Jacky before he goes back to the
nursery. So coed of you to come, and the
blessed lamb wants to thank you for the
beautiful rattle you sent him. He las
hardly let so of it once Doesn't Miss
Sherwood look lovely? But, then, she all
ways does.
His hostess ratified on, leading him
nearer and nearer to the little hero of the
occasion. The little hero was beginning
to be tired, and Miss Sherwood was CONF
pletely absorbed in entertaining him
'tMuvver's blessed lambl AIuvver's blue
eyesr' Mrs Trenor kissed the baby hands
raptUrously VIII little white bear thank
Uncle Jerry for the boo'ful rattle? Ism o
he blessed she added to Brent, and hut-
tered away, leaving the throe alone under
the canopy.
''How do you do, old boy2' Brent put
one finger into the little pink hand, and
S-months-old Jaoky held on to it with all
his baby strength. A gurgling, thronty
laugh bubbled out as he tried to put his
visitors finger in his mouth.
Miss Sherwood concealed the smile that
was twitching her lips by pressing light
kiss on the baby's soft bald head. She
had responded coolly to Brents frigid
greeting.
"a very pretty party, - he said in an
awkward society tune.
Meaning the babyf' she asked inno-
Gently.
Jacky had succeeded in implanting his
four little teeth in Brent's finger, and In
his delight over his victory he flung the
rattle on the floor. Miss Sherwood and
Brent both stopped for it, and through
each mind ran a fervent wish that they
,~f Q41A an
commonplace happened When they at
tempted to rise, they found that were inl-
prisoned. Jacky had seized the golden hair
in one hand and the crisp black locks in
the other Neither dared to use force TO
secure freedom. Babies were unknown
quantities to both of them. Perhaps Miss
Sherwood light have donesomething, but
she didn t.
'Hold on, old boyi Stop thati'' came in
snUthered accents from Brent, and even
more smothered was the remark of con-
demnation thae followed.
Jacky did hold ON, but not in ths sense
that Brent meant. He clutched both hands
more and more firmly, hammering them
together at intervals The gleeful ehuckles
and loud crOwings of her boy attracted
Mrs. Trenor's attention She hastened
across the room.
Oh, little bear; monte. noniei AIuvver's
blessing Muvver's little white bear
mustu It pull hair. -
She loosened the tiny fingers, but not be-
fore every one had observed the spectacle
of two very red faces being hammered to-
gether by 'Inuvver's little bear. OF
course every one laughed, and Of course
Brent and Miss Sherwood had to make the
best of it and laugh too Their eyes met,
and the laugh penetrated the haze of mis-
understanding in which they had drfted
for so many days as the morning sun pene-
trates the low dying fog ON the seashore,
sweeping it away and leaving no trace
There was not even anything to explain.
and when the engagement was announced
some people wondered whether Jacky had