The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-08-20
TWO PERAMBULATORS.
By AGNES CARR SAGE.
hOH, JACK, JACK! You are my one

ness" And 1ttle MIS-. HtHlty PioSiPi
tated herself headlong upon her broth
er's breast, regardless of consequences
to very stiff and immaculate SHIRT
bosom. 1T was so good Of you to come
early, for never was woman nearer the
verge of nervous prOstration. You
know the Whist club meets here TO-
night and that Charlie has been sud
ienly called out of town on lmpor-
iant business. Then this morning the
cook had a nare-up with Ruth, the
1ursemaid. and took French leave; Sill
yerman & Co. have failed to send the
:an-such beauty painted in orchids
which | ordered for first prize; the
baby has just cut tooth and is-well-
not quite so angelic as usual; While
now, to cap the climax. here comes
note from Mrs. Sherman saying she is
down with an attack Of la grippe and
cannot be present this evening; so one
table VIII be short, as it is nearly four
o'clock. altogether too late to invite
anyone else"
And when she paused from sheer
want Of breath all Jack could calculate
was "By Joye!'
He succeeded in looking so sympa
thetic, however, that it was like tonic
to his depressed sister, who soon raj
lied. For you will help me out; won't
you, JACKIE"
"Sure; if can. But, though there is
considerable of me, l hardly think l
could divide myself into two, and the
fellows in camp decided that golf and
basket ball were more my forte than
cooking. Too apt to sugar the soup
and salt the Strawberries"
"Then you sha'n't make the coffee or
turn out the ices" laughed Mrs. Henley.
"Tll let you off that if you'll go at once
down to Silverman's, see the manager
or somebody and demand that orchid
fan or his life And, oh, Jack, would it
be an awful bore to take Harold with
yor in his little carriage? The poor
child is really suffering for breath of
fresh air, and it would be a positive
charity to Ruth and me, who have a
hundred things to do"
Now, if Jack Vinton had not been Just
the big, unselfsh, kindly chap he was
he would certainly have refused this
last request. But as it was, he said:
"All right; trot the kid OUT" and said
it with smile, too. Nor would anyone
have supposed him victim on the
altar of fraternal affection as he strobe
down the crowded avenue at the fash
ionable hour, pushing before him a
pretty pink and white canopied per-
ambulator, in which, under a soft white
fur rug, nestled that scrap of humanity
he called his nephew.
wonder if l have the true pater-
familias air?' he thought, as he OBJ
served sundry quizzical, girlish chances
cast in his direction. "And, bless nv
soul, what if I should meet herr" his
mind reverting, as it had done very
often OF late, to fair compagno de
voyage with whom he had crossed the
ocean three months before, but whom
he had not seen since they parted on
the wharf, their homes being in diff
ferentcities. "Dearlittle pocket Venus!
She, too, had a married sister living in
B. and said she frequently visited
here. WISH
But at this juncture his meditations
were rudely broken by his coming into
violent collision with another wicker
equipage advancing from the opposite
dlrecuon. One which might have been
twin to the one he was wheeling.
"Begorra, and can't we be afther
iookln' where you're a-goin'!" ex-
claimed the Celtic maid who was the
propelllng power of the second tiny
turnout, and as he appeased her wrath
With humble apology and one of his
winning smiles, he discovered that they
were right abreast of Silverman C Co.'S
vast emporium, where everything is
sold from paper of tacks to a dia-
mond necklace. Most imposing it was.
too, with it's gayly dressed windows and
deep, tiled vestibule.
This, likewise, appeared to be the OBJ
Jectlve point of the nurse girl, who. as
Jack cried out in disgust: "Crackv.
nave got to tote the kid through all
that crowd" volunteered: mo. sir.
Hes sound aslape, so we kin list Fave
him right here in the restabull, as I'm
a-goln' to do mine," and she pointed to
row of occupied and unoccupied baby
carriages lining the spacious en-
frances
Hope the 'restabulr is safe place."
chuckled Jack, as he located his charge
with the rest OF the waiting infants.
Anyway, won't be five minutes"
But he counted without his host. be-
ing sadly ignorant of the ways and de-
lays OF retail merchants. The saleslady
referred him to the floor walker, the
floor walker to the packer. and the
packer to the manager; all of which
consumed SO much time that five min
utes heightened to so, and the electric
nights were twinllling in the street
when he at last emerged, the orchid fan
buttoned up in his breast pocket, picked
out the perambulator with the dainty.
plnk-lined, lace-covered top, and start
ed homeward.
why, Nora, what an age you have
been!" cried fresh young voice. as u
slight, sunny-haired girl ran down the
steps OF handsome brown stone house.
bent over small carriage and lifted the
tiny occupant in her arms. you have
been long enough to go down town and
match that ribbon twice over" Then.
without listening to the nurses ex-
cuses: Come to auntie, darlingi She
VIII give baby supper and put her to
bed while mamma is away Fetch the
milk up at once, Nora" And off she
tripped, with the rosy little creature
Cuddled close tn bernool,