The herald., 1898-04-15
MIXED THE BABIES UP

20 Jack. Jack! You are my one ray
Of hope amid Egyptian darkness!"
Little Mrs. Robbins precipitated her
self headlong upon her brothers manly
breast, regardless of the consequences
to very stiff and immaculate shirt
bosom.
ut 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 tonight, and that
Harry has been suddenly called out of
town on important business. Then this
morning the cook had al flare up with
Fanny, the nursemaid and took French
leave; Masterman & Co. have failed to
send the fan-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. Dawson saying she
is down with an attack Of la grippe and
cannot be present this evening, so one
table will be short, as it is nearly
o'clock, altogether too late to invite any
one else"
Jack succeeded in looking so sympa
thetic, however, that it was like a tonic
to his depressed sister, who soon rallied.
For you will help me out, won't you,
Jack?"
| "Sure, II 1 can. But though there is
considerable of me hardly think could
divide myself in two
"I'll let you off that If you'll go at once
down to Masterman & Co.'s, see the man.
ager or somebody, and demand that or
child fan or his life. And o! Jack, would
1t be an awful bore to take Rupert with
you in his little carriage? The poor child
is really suffering for breath of fresh
air, and 1t would be positive charity to
Fanny and me, who have a hundred
things to do.''
Now, if Jack Hardy had not been just
the big, unselfish, 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
1t with smile, too.
"Wonder If have the true paterfamil-
las air?" he thought, as he observed sun
dry quizzical girlish glances cast in his
direction. And, bless my soul! what if
I should meet her?" his mind reverting,
as it had done very often Of late, to a
fair compagnon de voyage, with whom
he had crossed the ocean three months
before, but whom he had never seen
since they parted on the wharf, their
homes being in different parts of the
country.
| But at this juncturd his meditations
were rudely broken by his coming into
violent collision with another wicker
equipage advancing from the opposite
| 1iroofton vyhinb vpioht 40 honn
a twin to the one he was wheeling.
"Cant We be after lookin' where you're
a-goin'? exclaimed the maid who was
the propelling power Of the second turn
out, and as he appeased her wrath with
humble apology and one Of his win
ming smiles, he discovered that they were
right abreast Of Masterman & Co.'s vast
emporium, where, everything is sold,
from paper Of tacks to diamond
| necklace.
This, likewise, appeared to be the OBJ
jective point of the nursegirl, who, as
Jack cried out in disgust, Have got
to tote the kid through all that crowd?'
volunteered: "No, sir; he's sound asleep
so We kin jst leave him right here In thu
vestabuliJ as I'm a-goin' to do mine, !" ant
She pointed to row of occupied and TN
occupied baby carriages lining the spa
cious entrances.
The shopgirN referred him to the floor.
walker, the floorwalker to the packer
and the packer to the manager; all o1
which consumed so much time that five
minutes heightened to fifty, and the elec.
trio lights were twinkling IN the street
when he at last emerged, the orchid far
buttoned up in his breast pocket, picked
out the perambulator with the dainty
pink lined, lace-covered top, and started
homeward.
why, Kathleen, what an age you hav.
been!" cried fresh young voice, as {
slight, sunny-haired girl ran down th'
steps of a handsome brownstone house
bent over a small carriage and lifted thu
tiny occupant in her arms.
"Come to auntie, darling! She will
give baby her supper and put her to be;
while mamma is away. Fetch the mill
up at once, Kathleen" ~
But 1t was veritable young tigres'
who, ten minutes later confronted thu
astonished girl and shook her until he
teeth chartered and the milk splashet
over her apron.
"Blessed mother! w-w-whativer Is tn
matter, Miss F1orence?" stammered poo