The Portland daily press., 1899-08-12


not like to kiss him. petce be With thy
shy, modest SOUL The Christ child come
into thine henrtl
Two passengers on Baby's left had en-
durcd these escapades with patient and
stdterlng dignity. When a boy Is pro-
foundly conscious thnt he is--well, a
man, and yet blind and unfeeling
world conspincs to treat him as-well, q
child--he mus protect himself and assert
his position. Which he does, to the de-
light OF everybody with any sense Of
humor, by refusing Indignantly to be
kissed by his mother or sisters In public.
by severely checking any natural tenden-
cy to enthusiasm about anything except
sport, by allowing II to be understood
that he has, exhausted the last remaining
pleasure and is fairly burned out. Dear
boy, and all the time ready to run mile
to see a cavalry regiment drill and tor
mented by secret hankering after the
geological gardens. These two had been
nice little chaps two years ago and would
be mainly fellows two years hence. Mean
while they were provoking and required
chastisement or regeneration. Baby was
to them kid" to be treated with CON
tempt. and when In the paroxysm OF de-
had tilted one OF the young mems hats
that blase ancient replaced it In position
with bored end weary air. How Baby
had taken ~ the situation cannot
guess, but he had his mind on the lads,
and suddenly, while they were sustaining
an elaborate concern, he flung himself
back and crowed-yes, joyfully crowed--
Sith rosy, jocund countenance in the
ptbftaQ nf fhn s,ft thf nrta "a fts,e
One raised his eyebrows, and the other
looked at the roof In despair, but | had
hopes, for wso could resist this bub-
bling. chortling mirth? One laughs a
glad, boyish chuckle, and the other tic
kles- Baby Just at the right spot below
the chin--has baby at home after all
and loves it-declaring aloud that he Is q
Jolly little beggar." Those boys are all
right There is sound heart below the
little afectations, and they are going to
be men.
This outburst OF his majesty cheered
us all nightly, and young woman at
the top OF the bus, catching his eye.
waved her hand to him, with happy
smile. Brown gloves, size GA. perhaps
6, much worn, and jacket also not Of
yesterday. but everything is well made
and in perfect taste. Milk white teeth
hazel eyes, Grecian profile-what win
some girll-and let me see, she takes off
a glove-yea, is wearing an engagement
ring; lucky fellow, for she must be
good with those eyes and that merry
smile. A teacher, one guesses, and today
of, and then the three-her mother, that
dear woman with hair turning gray-will
go upon the river and come home In the
sweet summer evening, full Of content
AS soon as he gets rise in the Office
they will marry, and she will also have
her gift, as every woman should. But
where am l now ?-fet that baby bear
the blame.
We had one vacant place, and that
was how he intruded on our peace, but
let me make one excuse for him. 1t is
aggravating to stand ON the edge of the
pavement and wave your umbrella os-
tentatiously to bus which passes you
aud draws up Is yards ahead, to make
your dangerous way along a slippery
street with hansoms bent upon your life,
to be ordered to hurry up" by the inn
patient conductor and ignominiously
hauled on to a moving bus. For an elder
ly gentleman OF military appearance and
short temper il was not soothing, and he
might have been excused word or two,
but he distinctly exceeded.
He insisted in language Of great direct
ness and simplicity that the conductor
had seen him all the time; that il he
didn't he ought to have been looking;
that he (the coIoneD was not fox ter
ricr, to run after q bus in the mud; that
the conductor was an impcrtinent scoun-
drel and that he would have him dis
missed, with other things and words un-
worthy OF even a retired Anglo-Indian.
The sympathy of the bus did not go out
to him, and when he forced himself in
between the lawyer and Grannie, and,
leaning forward with his hands on his
cane, glared at US impartially, relations
were strained.
A cut on his cheek and bristly white
mustache half hiding, half concealing, n
cruel mouth, did not commend the new
passenger to peaceable company. Baby
regarded the old man with sad attention,
and at last he Indicated that his fancy is
to examine the silver head of the colo
nel's cane. The colonel, after two mo-
ments' hesitation, removes his hands and
gives full liberty. On second thoughts.
he must have got that cut in some stiff
fight. Wonder whether he is V. G..
Baby moves the cane back and forward
to a march of his own devising, the colo
mel actively assisting. Now that l see
it in a proper light his mustache is
soft and sets off the face excellently.
Had it not been the cut puckering the
corner of the upper lip, that would have
been q very sweet mouth for a man, or
even for woman. Baby is not lifted
above all human weaknesses-preserve
us from perfect people-and he indicates
a desire to taste as well as handle that
silver head. The colonel is quite agree
able--the most good natured man you
could meet in a days journey-but
Baby's guardian objects, and history
warns us of the dangers which beset a
collision between an absolute monarch
and his faithful commons. We were all
concerned, but the crisis is safe in the
colonels hands. He thrusts his hand
within the tightly buttoned frock coat
and produces q gold hunting watch
crested, did You notice-and-yes just
what every father has done for his
baby since watches were invented-he
blew; the lid flew open. Baby blew, and
the lid few open faster and farther.