Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-08-02
An Estimate Reversed.

thing Is all right. Raise the shade,
please, Mr.. Clark"
| When Randall turned back she had
risen with the babe in her arms, Its
head pllowed on her breast. Then she
walked slowly up and down the apart
ment humming little lullaby. and
presently rs she sang the babe looked
up in her face and smiled.
Isn't 1t n dear?" murmured the girl
with her face bent close to the child's.
Mamma" cooed the little one and
put up its tiny hand and touched her
cheek.
And Randall Clark, standing back q
little, thought he had never seen E
picture that would compare with il
And his heart swelled in his breast.
SIS there anything l can do?"
softly asked.
Look at the pillow" she answered
"and see If there are any initials OF
the slip"
He bent over the ace-trimmed case
and scanned 1t closely.
"The letters are II. r. think" he
said. "They are little obscure. If
they are not IL. r. they are IS. b. or
perhaps ~. p There are so many
curlycues about them, you know"
The girl paused a moment and con
sidered.
How stupid" she suddenly cried.
"Why didn't l guess it before? IFS
Lydia Robbins little boy. Of course
Why. he's just the image of Lydia"
Eddy, Idly" cooed the babe.
"There, did you here that?" cried
Emily Tabor. "Isn't he sweet and
bright?"
"Mm-mamma," gurgled the littl
fellow with great display Of re,
gums and scattered white teeth.
The girl bent quickly and kissed him.
whereat lie gurgled again, and, launch
ing out wildly, caught tress Of the
beautiful brown hair in his chubby
fist.
please 90 to the telephone-in the
hall, Mr.. Clark" said the girl, "and
call up Mrs. Robbns-NIrs. Coleman
Robbins. Tell her that her Jamie is
here and waiting to be called for. But
don't alarm her."
I'm afraid l shall do 1t clumsily,"
said Randall. But he Obeyed.
She could hear the murmur of his
voice for little while and then he
suddenly reappeared in the room.
81 seem to have disturbed her dread
fully" he said land I'm sure she
doesn't believe a word l say. l think
she imagines it's some kind of a plot
to lure her away from home and then
rob the house. Can't you speak to her,
please"
"Why. yes" said the girl. as she
promptly proceeded to the phone.
There, put the receiver to my ear,
please. Is this you. Lydia? Don't
YOU know my voice? It's Emily Tabor.
I'm Mt Aunt Gresham's. Yes, jamie Is
here and he's all right. He was picked
up OH the street and brought in here.
Deserted? Yes. No nurse in sight.
He's all right say. Yes, yes. Listen"
She held the baby close to the phone.
Mamma" she murmured softly.
Mamma" cooed the babe. "There,
Lydia, did you hear that? Yes, of
course he's a dear. Certainly. Come
over and get your little man as soon
as you please. Good-by."
Randall hung up the receiver.
81 think Td'be ter co." he said.
The girl laughed.
"rhat's true heroic modesty," she
said. you are afraid to face the graf
itude of Lydia Robbins" Her voice
grew grave. "Shell never know just
how much she has to be grateful for"
she softly added.
"TO you," said Randall with equal
gravity.
"This sounds like mutual admira.
tion," laughed the girl again. "Be.
sides auntie would never forgive me
If didn't invite you to stay to dinner.
She wants to meet you. VIII you stay
that Is. IL you have no Other engage
ment."
II have no other engagement" Ran
dali briskly asserted as he settled him
self in an easy chair.
She let the loose strands of her
glorious brown hair brush the baby's
dmpled cheek.
81 understood you were to 60 with
Jack Manning on his long trip through
the Florida Interior" she softly said.
"Never had any such idea," said
Randall Clark.-W. r. Rose IN Cleve.
land Plain Dealer.