Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-08-30

She was silent. He felt that hs
must rise to the emergency with tn
umphant unconcern.
'It is very pretty baby"
She smoothed back loose curl
from the little apple blossom Of a face
lying back on her arm.
He made a desperate move.
"Boy or grip
Carolyn raised her eyelashes indig.
nantly and looked at him.
REX Craddock," she exclaimed, un-
der her breath. "How on earth should
l know? You actually think it be-
longs to me, don't you never in my
life met such a cold-blooded, bare
faced presumption as you possess. Do
you know what you've done7 You've
kidnapped this baby"
Craddock stared at her in crushed
speechlessness, conscious Of a wild.
riotous Joy somewhere inside of him.
1t didn't belong to her.
II saw you with 1t, Carol he be-
gan, as she paused.
"Don't you dare to call me Carol"
she flashed back at him, and the old
lady across the aisle moved uneasily.
ut belongs to the RathburnS Mrs.
Rathburn leaves on the 4:45 for
Wheaton, and had gone to buy her
ticket, so watched the baby for her.
when you scared It into a fit nearly.
She will be nearly wild when she
finds I am not in thedepot with It."
A bright idea struck Craddock.
''I'll take it back" he volunteered.
She met the proposition with scorn.
Take 1t back, indeed! He take Il
back, when he carried the poor little
darling like a sack OF meal and let
Il screech all the time.
cit didn't screech," he protested.
cit only cried a little, and don't
mind that. I can get off at Evanston
and take the first train back to the
city. It's asleep, anyway"
Carolyn shook her head resolutely.
'1They might arrest you for kidnap-
ing. Serves you right, too, but I'll
take it back myself, for Mrs. Rath-
burns sake"
"Then l shall 60, too," announced
Craddock. "It's too heavy for you to
carry, Carol"
Don't call me Carol, Mr.. Grad
dock. You have no right to-"
cit isn't my fault that I haven't"
groaned Craddock. eff you make a
jump like that again when 1 speak
you'll wake the kid"
Don't call it kid Isn't It enough
that you've run off with 1t, without
insulting 1t? Your college life hasn't
improved you"
He looked at her steadily.
Perhaps a few years out in Ari-
iona will, then," he said, bitterly. 81
leave in a week or So"
1t was glorious to note the change
in her face. He laid on another coat
"a man must see the world. 1t will
do me good to rough it. And If any
thing should happen, it won't matter
much now. shall rather enjoy dan
gerous life."
Her head bent lower over the baby.
Last year it would have been diff
ferent," he went on. "But when a
fellow has all the heart knocked out
Of him"
Don't" The baby stirred and
frettsd, and she laid it back on her
lap while she drew off her gloves In
order to arrange its rumpled bonnet
and cloak
Half unconsciOusly his gaze strayed
to her left hand. She wore his ring.
1t was not solitaire, merely a boyish
affair he had given her years ago,
with tiny cluster Of forget-me- nots
on 1t, In turquoise and pearls. And
she wore it yet.
The train was entering Evanston.
Craddock rose resolutely and TOOK her
umbrella and book from the seat be-
side her. The old lady was looking,
but he bent over Carolyn's blonde
head defantly.
Sweetheart, let's dent" How the
old boyish words came back to him.
II love you SO, CdrO[
She did not answer. They had
reached the pretty stone depot. He
helped her lift the baby and the old
lady smiled approvingly, but Carolyn
was silent. When they stood on the
platform a moment later he took the
soft, little bundle from her with gen.
tie insistence.
"Wil you wear the ring until I
come back from Arizona In the fall,
Carol" he asked. She raised her
blue eyes to him, and they were full
Of tears.
REX, believe you kidnapped Gu
pid," she said, as they took the train
back to the city together. - Utica
Globe.