The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-02-26
BY LOUISE LAMPRAY

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Browne regarded her son with a lool
grave in its perpleXity. Bobs adoret
his pretty mother because she never
laughed at him; also because she haC
big blue eyes and a mass of fluffy rec
gold hair precisely like "A princess in 8
fairy tale. Therefore, as a matter OF
course, the pepper and salt terrier was
brought to hcs to be christened
Call him Rags" suggested Captain
Frederick Lawton, the navy officer
who CHANGED that morning to be at
tendant This had happened so OTTER
of late that dowagers were beginning
to suggest in penetrating undertones
that dear Mrs. Browne were really
thinking of marrying again she could
not do better than to take Captain
LaWton, suitable in age, good looking
and quite Independent of his proSes
sion. And every one knew that Mrs
Browne had but little besides that
! ramshackle old plantation in Louisi-
ana or was it Maryland?
Bobs had overheard one or two of
these suggestions and, revolving them
in his seyen-year-old brain. had come
to the conclusion that something por-
tentous WIS impending This or some
thing else made him regard Captain
Lawton's suggestion with vague disfa-
vOs
Il don't like that" he said shortly
at might seem disrespectful, you
know"
He turned Il sturdy blue back on
them and trudgcd off, with the meek
terrier under his arm. Presently came
in sight fresh faced young subaltern.
Hello. Bobs Where are you going
with what's his Nance"
lie hasn't got any yet" said Bobby
sobcrly. "That old Captain Lawton
said to call him Rags but shan't.
How would he feel if his father had
named him Rags, I'd like to know
THAT is ii question which Captain
Lawton has probably never consid-
cred" answered Charters gravely.
But you might call this little beg
gar after General Kitchener"
"Is General Kitchener great SOL
der"
1.-THE greatest next to Bobs," averred
the lieutenant. And that settled it.
| Henceforth it was Bobs and Kitchener
to all the American colony.
! Meanwhile, as the gossips had sur
missed, Bobs' mother was bordering in
the remote depths of her subcon-
seriousness the question of accepting
Captain Lawton. There were times
when she felt longing for the home
and position which he could give her
1t would be home for Bobby, too-Bob-
| by, who looked at her with his big, hon
est, adorng gray eyes, so like his faith
er's But, curiously enough. as often as
! those eyes met hers she felt q strong
distaste for Lawton, with his precise
speech and immaculate uniform.
She had no idea that Bobby was also
considering the merits of a prospective
stepfather, but he was.
"Mr Chartcris," he said one day,
"you aren't married, are youY
Charters blushed all over his boyish
face Not yet he said.
Because said Bobby with deliber
alton, i've been thinkn' it over, and
l believe I'd rather have you for Il
father than anybody that's here now"
Charters gasped. ITS very good of
you, I'm sure" he said, smotherng an
impulse to laugh, but your mother
might have something TO say about
that"
Pooh! She wouldn't mind said
Bobby superbly shed like you any
amount better than that old navy cap
tain. Ny father was "A cay'lry or Ger,
and his swords hangin up in the libr'y
at home I'm goiu' 10 Wear il when |
grow up. but ! won't he in the navy.
A mans no good less he can ride
Bobby's tone was that of long set
tied conviction, and in his heart Char
teris. subaltern of hussars. with n
medal won in Africa, may have agreed
with him. Al any rate. when he made
third that day in IL group otherwise
consisting of Mrs. Browne aud Captain
Lawton the latter inWardly cursed
the inclination of the subaltcrn to talk
of cross country hunts in England.
rough riding on the plains and wild
dashes over the African kalroo All
the more violent was his emotion as
he saw the rare color come into Fair
fax Brownies face.
lie was the best rider | ever saw"
Charters said at the conclusion Of
one of his stories, "A big, gypsy look
Ing chap--one Of those men who don't
seem to come from any place in par
ticular, though | believe he was born
in New York; chap that was always
sure to do great thih~s some day, by
Jove"
Charteris' eye had fallen on a para
graph In the paper on his knee.
"What is it?" inquired Mrs Browne,
interested.
1.-THE very man. He's in Brighton
Just back from South Africa"
Nobody noticed that as the group
separated Bobby secured the newspa-
per and studied it carefully.
Arrived at the hotel, he begged the
clerk for a sheet Of paper, an envelope
and a stamp and, producing a stubby
pencil from his trousers pocket, COM