The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-11-03

pulling down the blind prepara-
tory to the lighting OF the lamp, is
ready TO testify that the young man
was dressed In summer snit OF light
gray. tan shoes and straw hat with
a blue ribbon; tnat he approached the
cottage of the Kingsleys opposite,
without hesitation, opened the screen
door without ringing, and--that Is all
she knows about the case.
She Is perfectly correct as far as
she goes. After closing the screen
door behind him, he tripped up the
stairs, with his straw hat in his hand.
went to the rear end of the upper hall,
and entered the bedroom on his right.
Near the threshold he stopped, gazed
inlently into the large mirror over the
dresser, smiled, and then continued on
his way direct to the dresser, after ar
rlying at which, he looked at himself
IN the mirror as he pulled his reddish
mustache, aud arranged the stray hairs
Of his head at the part (which was In
the mlddlel He then opened the up
per drawer Of the bureau took out Il
brush and comb the former OF which
he tried on his light hair; took out a
pair of lady's gloves, which he tossed
back again; took out "A purse, which he
examined and threw abruptly in one
corner Of the drawer, and turning
about crossed the room and dlsap-
peared behind gay curtain that hung
over a doorway.
AT the very moment that the young
man disappeared from the bedroom,
Mrs, Kingsley's voice might have been
heard probably was heard lin the
lower hall. 1t was not Il monologue.
Another voice penetrated the stiffness
Of the seaside cottagean infants
voice which Mrs, Kingsley strove to
sllbdue by reiterated reference to
bottle Of milk which mamma would
presently produce.
There -there-mamm get his bot
tie right away mamma put him down
and get his bottle-there there
AS this dialogue proceeded (the
baby's side OF which we leave to be
imaglnedl, Mrs. Kingsley and her son
passed up the stairs, through the up
per hall and entered the bedroom from
which the young man had just dlsap.
peared.
The mother laid her baby on the
bed near the gny curtain suspended
over the doorway, lignted the gas and
turned ii low, and few down again to
prepare the refreshment for which her
son was still pouring forth his pas.
slonate petition.
The bottle with which Mrs. Kingsley
presently returned Is worthy OF de-
scrlptlOnn0t for its naked self, be.
cause It was an ordinary nursing bot
tie, but on account Of the manner In
which II was prepared for use, II was
enyeldped In a knit wnslrag, fastened
with safety pins, the object not being
to conceal Its nnkedness, but to afford
means of fastening the bottle In
place on the pillow, TO which II was
pinned ut the base, aud thus allowed
to rotate and accommodate itself to
the movements Of the child, without
getting beyond his reach
The baby having been laid with his
back TO the dim light and his face to-
ward the gay curtain, the bottle was
pinned in place, and Immediately nj.
lence fell upon the Kingsley cottage
The sheet was gently laid over the
tiny form. dozen mother touches, too
rapid to be followed and too subtle to
be explained, were laid here aud there
about the child, and, as quietly as a
spirit might have come aud gone, the
mother left the room.
Lulled by the strong probability thnt
the infant had been left on the thresh.
old of repose, Mrs, Kingsley went soft.
ly down the stairs, as though her foot.
steps on the carpet might wake him,
Her mind was filed with visions of Il
quiet rock In the hammock swung In
shady corner of the veanda
As she reached the lower hall, these
selfish thoughts were harshly disturbed
by the sounds of suppressed laughter,
and the vague outlines OF two female
figures close to the screen door.
"fhe idea" said one voice. "I'd as
soon ask her as not"
ITS awfuly good Of you. And
what u cute yeranda for such an af- |
fair!--sueh delightful place to hang
the lanterns" said the other voice.
Mrs. Kingsley stood still She di-
yined what was In store for her She
asked herself whether there was any
more Sleep for the baby Then she
sprang forward and opened the door
why, Mrs. Kingsley, do you know,
we have come to ask the queerest
thing of YOU"
"Oh, Miss Knickerbocker, said Mrs.
Kingsley
yes. and my friend, Miss Van Ey-
era. Miss Van Evera Mrs. Kingsley.
DO You know, we have been surprised
by Miss Van Eyera and her friends
Il bicycle party from town-and we
have such utterly forlorn occommoda
tions at our little cottage, that mamma
insisted ! should come aud ask you
the most absurd thing
Isn't it too funny! But, Mrs. Kings
ley, | do think you have the most de-
llghtful verauda," said Miss Van
Eyeru.
1T is pleasant" Rssented Mrs,
Kingsley, putting her head into the
hall, to hear whether or not the baby
was crying,
1T is really too good OF you, Mrs
Kingsley" continued Miss Knicker,
booker. DO you know, they have all
brought lanterns with item, and If we
might hang them about the yeranda-
we will not, of course, give you the
least trouble about lt--and then, II we
might have the use Of your kitchen to
prepare the refreshment-just take
possession, you know, and come and