The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-06


aleade.
sling that valise around my neck,
madam-Cecile, throw that cloak over my
arm and take those children by the
| handr
A DUP in enc hand. a child under the
same arm, cloak over one shoulder and
| fffty-pound valise slung around his
neck, firmly gripping another child who
was dragging still another and with a
magazine strongly gripped in his even
teeth one might have thought that Mr..
Pembroke would escape recognition, but
alasi not 50.
As he passed the parlor cars happening
to glance upward, he looked straight into
the eyes of Miss Rodney, whose sacred
confidence had been so treacherously be-
trayed by Mr.. Dudley Strong. He had a
| panoramic vision of three instantaneous
| expressions: recognition, bewilderment
and horror In mis- involuntary start his
grip on the pup slightly relaxed, and fear
ful of dropping him he found 1t neces-
sary to stoop for an instant and renew
his grasp.
DO on. papa!' urged the 2-year-old he
bore.
Mr.. Pembroke went on" his patrician
face vyng with the scarlet Innings of the
golf cape on his arm. At the end of the
car he almost ran against Mr. Strong,
who was standing by the lower step.
| Penny, Penny gasped that gentle
man, who ever would have dreamed of
! itr'
rs 1T my twain. papa?' lisped the 2
year-old.
"Out of the mouths of babes" quoted
Mr.. Strong sadly, Fastening into the
! car
| As he toiled aboard the coach Mr. Penn
broke was unpleasantly conscious that
the perspration was tre<ling down his
| face; also that the infant which he bore
was maintaining his balance by one hand
! in his hair and the other on his collar.
/ Some strange inner consciousness made
him dsagreeably aware that the child
retained crushed chocolate in either
! chubby fist in spite of all of which. how
| ever, Mr.. Pembroke had an odd sensation
OF triumph which was balm to the other
score.
| He felt a growing desire to know more
of these cropping ones whom he had
| rescued.
! Unfortunately the summer traffic had
almost filled the car and on entering
Mr.. Pembroke found, to his dismay, that
the only available seeats were single and
scattered. Almost at the same moment
the train began to draw slowly out OF
| the station.
where shall we slt?" exclaimed the
pretty mother in dismay. An old gentle
] man who was sitting alone arose politely.
Wont you and your husband have this
seat, ma amp he inquired, then turning
/ to Mr.. Pemproke he added colloquially:
! you an your wife an the baby en- sit
here an you en- scatter the rest of the
young 'uns along the car. | know haoW
it Is when you're tryin' to move the nun
! familyP he pursued sympathetically.
"Oh, thank you so much! she replied
with an odd culver in her voice. Mi.
Pembroke feeling the need of immediate
action, placed the twins in adjoining
seats and, another passenger obligingy
moving, Cecile and the two older children
were promptly installed Returning to
! deposit the now ponderous 2-year~old win
its mother, Mr.. Pembroke was shocked at
the unmistakable evidences of mirth
about her mouth and eyes.
AREN'T we leaving ahead of time? she
inquired, glancing at her wrist watch in
surprise.
II think not" he replied; "the train is
scheduled to start at p. m"
why, nor she exclaimed, ut leaves at
2:1C."
An icy wave of apprehension swept
through the laboring mind of the misera-
BILE Mr.. Pembroke
1.-The Adirondack Express" he began
family His voice died away at the look
of horror that the words produced.
1.-The adirondack Express-why--
Don't tell me that | have rushed you
aboard the wrong train!' gasped the
agonized Mr. Pembroke
For answer she dropped her face into
| both hands, There was moment
silence, while the cold perspiration poured
from Mr. Pembroke In steady little rills.
CHANGING at her in alarm his heart sank
as he noticed the conclusive heaving of
I her shoulders, but the sight, while agon-
izing, aroused all of his latent chivalry.
"M-M-Madam," he began desperately,
when suddenly she raised her face and ne
saw that it was crimson with laughter,
whereat he wilted back against plush
| cushions Onu1bed and SDeechleSS.
I'VE were going to Boston-'she be-
| gan when overtaken by fresh outburst
, of mirth that lasted until Mr.. Pembroke,
whose knowledge of such matters was
confined to theory, began to fear hys-
4erics. commissions, coma and death. Feel
ing the critical necessity of interrupting
the emotion he began to speak
MADAM, as this ridiculous blunder was
all due to my absurd and officious med
ding, you will permit me to telegraph
to Albany for tickets on the Boston d
Albany. also to conduct you there per-
sonally | am Percival Pembroke of Bos-
ton. and it will
! "PercivaI Pembroke, the famous arch
! aelogist?" she interrupted, looking up
with a sudden awe.
| 1.-THE fame Is oVerrated-p
mo it isn't" she contradicted. How
/ extraordinary--we are to be neighbors
llater on, you know. l have taken Bould-
err Cottage at FaWn Lake, anu we were
going up from Boston next week. | am
Mrs. Henry Lawton.''
| 1t was Mr.. Pembroke's turn to be sur
prised.
Your husband was the late Chief JUS
tice Lawton--v' he exclaimed. why,
he was one of my fathers old friends
Yes" she replied demurely. He was
twenty years older than II
I'VE were going to visit my cousin In
Boston for three days" she resumed. ito
give my servants an opportunity to get
the cottage In order. 1t was a rather in
convenient arrangement, but l had let
| my town house from the first of June and
really had nowhere to go!''
Even as she spoke a daring plan was
formulating in the reviving brain of the
| archaeologist For the first time since
| his lmpulsive youth he spoke without
pausing to weigh his words.
ut seems to me Mrs. Lawton that 1t
would greatly simplify matters If you
| would wire to your Boston relatives that
you have decided to 81 1::Sctly 20 fawn
Lake, and then consent to occupy my
cottage until yours is ready. ] can make
| myself quite comfortable in yours until
it is put in order
Her pretty brows puclSered as she gazed
meditatively at the fleeing panorama
without Then the mirthful CLEAN which
| Mr. Pembroke was unconsciously growing
| 10 RELISH returned to her blue eyes
| But my cottage is all fresh paint"
II thoroughly enjoy the odor of new
paint" remarked Mr.. Pembroke menda-
| ciously
bod anf-