Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-02-23
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Rodney's bewildered brain. !;
its my nephew, Ernest" cried she.
"As true as live and breathe. it's my
nephew Ernest. A cradle! Then he's
been and gone and married that artists
daughter, after all. But I'll be at the
bottom of the mystery, or I'll know the
reason why"
What be 1 a-goin' to do with the
cradle" vacantly demanded the unsuc-
Moulding, after waiting in vain for
some further advice.
''Take it to Jericho, for what care"
said Miss Esther sharply. only don't
bring it here. We want no cradles in
this house."
Jericho being manifestly out of the
question, Martin took the cradle back
to the warehouse, where Mr.. Newell
swore at him until he was out Of
breath.
And Miss Rodney, whisking on her
bonnet and shawl, hurried round to the
quarter Of the city, where she knew
her nephew had secured lodgings.
Married! and never to tell me-" said
she to herself. "a cradle. and never to
let me know. I wouldn't have believed
it Of Ernest. Some fine lady with fold
ed hands and rings on her fingers, and a
nurse to take care of her baby, I'll 60
bail. Poor Ernest; he never did have
common sense about those things"
1t was pretty, one-story cottage,
just on the edge of the suburbs, on
whose door Miss Rodney knocked-a
cottage where, as her quick eye at once
perceived, the window glass was fault
lessly clear, and the muslin curtains
daintily white. No one answered the
sound and, pushing the door open, Miss
Rodney entered
In little room, at the end Of the hall,
Mrs. Ernest Rodney stood, her sleeves
rolled up, her pretty arms Immersed
In soapsuds, while with one foot she
gently agitated the bread tray on the
floor Tin which lay a blue-eyed baby,
wide awake and smiling). Miss Esther
stood still and gazed at the fair, cherry.
checked little woman in her gingham
dress and checked apron, her curls pin
ned back and her energies devoted so
earnestly to the task of washing Err
nests collars and wristbands.
"Not such helpless fine lady as
thought" said Miss Esther. "a pretty
baby, too, and the very image of poor,
dear Ernest when he was a child"
Suddenly Mrs. Ernest, thrilled by the
unconscious electricity with which
ones presence, however unsuspected,
will inspire another, turned around.
"Who are you" she asked, with
slight start. How came you here?'
Il am your husbands aunt. my dear"
said Miss Esther, quite gently. "Will
you come here and kiss me? Yes, yes.
you are pretty-and you have a sweet,
truthful look. do not believe that it
was through your fault that Ernest has
kept me in ignorance of all this"
"Ipdeed-indeed, it was not" sobbed
lucy. "Oh, Aunt Esther, have
dr canned about seeing you so many
times-but you never folded me in your
arms like this. And you'll kiss the
bahy. won't you?'
~ shouldn't wonder" said Aunt Es.
ther.
And when Ernest came home, he
found Lucy all smiles and radiance, and
Aunt Esther tending baby as If she had
served life apprenticeship at the bust
hess.
"Aunt Estherv' he cried, starting
back.
Nephew Ernestw she retorted.
"You have discovered my secret!
cried he.
81 have"
"And who told you?"
1.-THE CRADLE" answered Aunt Esther.
with a laugh. as she pointed down to
that useful article Of household furni-
ture which, having at last blundered
into the right place, stood at her feet.
And oh, Ernest, she has forgiven us
both, and she has promised to love mew
cried Lucy, "and we are all happy!'
God bless the cradle, then-that Is
all have to say" said Ernest, rever-
ently.-New York Daily News.
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