The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-22
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1 to town before dark. Shall I carry the little beggar for you?"
 'Oh. no--she Is not bit heavy and she is quiet now. She might cry if we changed her position"
 They trudged on through rustling leaves and soft Indian summer haze. three of the party chatting gayly; two. the young wife and the baby looking | Into each others eyes as if searching for Q new key to the problem of life. Sometimes Janet wished that the child would close it's eyes. She did not like 10 meet that trustful. clear-eyed gaze.
 Have you disposed of the young ster? asked Marsh Huntoon, as they sat down to dinner that night
 Janet stared and looked across the table at her husband. He lifted his eye brows inauiringly.
 ! HuntOOn's good humored laugh broke the awkward silence.
 What. Don't you know that our party was increased by one during our ride this afternoon? Rather a small 'one,' but. my. what lungs 1t has"
 Janet drew in her breath sharply. T wish you would not talk any more about 1t at present, good people. she said trying to speak lightly. i've started inquiries in quiet wax. l don't want the thing to get into the lpapers-because if no one claims lit- tie Elsie. think I-I shall keep her"
 Keep hery' gasped Mrs. Greenwait why, my dear girl, the place for child without name is founding asylum"
 Janet spoke very softly yet every word was heard, so complete was the silence.
 T shall give her a name-because once-Just once-I saw a line of chill dren walking, rows and rows, by twos, from an ayslum. I can't send her there"
 Mentally. she saw agln those clear. trusting, blue eyes.
 And I know you will all be kind enough to keep this quiet until--" there was just a slight, tense hesita- tion, until we decide what shall be done%
 Naturally. 1t was talked about, how ever. In boudoirs and at clubs the qles- ton was raised as what name little Elsie would acquire. Was 1t not bad enough to be facing a divorce resi- dence in the far West without acquir- ing an unnecessary encumberance at the crucial poment?'
 Within the Dalton bungalow on Long Island stranger things were happening No clue to the baby's parents had been found When Billy Dalton dropped down occasionally, as he had been do- ing for a year past to keep up appear ances, his first question was Anything new?' and this always meant anything new about the babys history And little Elsie would look up at him with reproachful blue eyes, as If asking. Why do you carer" And the worst of 1t was that Billy Dalton began to real ize that he did care. Janet had changed and. with an odd sort of Jealousy, he realized that 1t was little Elsie and not he who had brought about the mArve- lous and altogether desirable change. She was no longer bored. How could she be, with Elsie cutting a new tooth every few days, and such wonderful hampers of clothing to be bought, all ane handkerchief linen, narrow Val and embroidery? A more fastid- ous customer had never entered the shops to speculate on layettes, and with her own hands, Janet made eov- CTS for down pillows. silk tuftsd af- ghans and other foolish thing 5-while | the tongue of gossip waggeI gaily over the whole absurd episode
 One frosty December afternoon Dai- ton ran down to the bungalow and 4 found Janet standing at the window. The low spreading evergreens on the west side of the house was powdered | lightly with snow. and Janet turned to him with kindling eyes
 Billy shall have a Christmas tree for Elsie. She is so bright for her age. l do believe she will notice it."
 "oulte likely" responded Billy, with assumed carelessness as he laid aside his storm coat But in making your