The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-09-06
The MOUTHS
OF BABES.
BY TROY ALLISON.
Copyrighted, 1907. by c. H. Sutcliffe.


row.
Drayton, sitting OH his garden bench
With a newspaper and cigar, turned
'oward the hedge that separated the
iwo gardens and located his visitor
che was evidently standing on some
thing high enough to enable her to
overlook the adjoining territory.
Drayton went over to the hedge and
looked down into some exceedingly
blue eyes, surrounded by fluff Of yell
low hair. surmounted by still fuffier
blue bow.
Hello he said. looking down from
his six foot height. "Where did you
come from?"
1--WE been here often and peeped
through" she confided Lift me
over" she commanded in the tone Of
one accustomed to being obeyed, hold
ing out her arms.
He lifted her over to his side of the
hedge. and she ran directly to his rus
tic seat.
I'm not prepared to entertain la
dies" lie stood with his hands in
his pockets and smiled into her up
turned face. What can | offer you.
madam"
"I'll take chocolate. please" She set
tied her skirts over her chubby little
legs and smiled back overwhelmingly.
Drayt0n looked dubious.
ERIN sorry TO say the chocolate
Is all out Wouldn't grapes dol" he
suggested.
Yes: dess dwapes will do very
aicely. thank YOU" And Drayton
imagined she was probably giving a
Tery good imitation OF her mothers
| manner.
When he returned from the house
with bunch Of grapes and huge
peach. he found that she had filled her
lap with his choicest roses and was
hugging them TO her face.
I'm doing 10 live here always. I'm
doing TO marry YOU" she announced.
Drayton. thlrty-sIx and bachelor.
actually felt his face turn red.
"Er-whcn:" he asked feebly.
Just us soon as you can Diet the be
dagement ring"
"0f course. of course. anything you
say, but what might be the name OF
my future wife,"
Louise It's mammals name too"
at would be lovely to have wife
named Louise. but you wouldn't like
my house. little girl It's full OF pipes
and things"
II could stay out In the darden with
the roses. and you could bring an um-
brelia and hold II over me when Ii
rained." she suggested resourcefully.
THAT would certainly be unique. !
see you would be able to plan things
like n real housewife should. but do
you think you could stand the pipes?"
You could keep all your pipes in one
room. and | could have a little blue
and white room and not have any
pipes. couldn't I? I never have any
pipes In my room"
That's the scheme. Wen plan that
blue and white room right away" he
agreed heartily.
His housekeeper was surprised when
the paperhangers came next day and
did the south room In blue. She was
still more surprised when the van
drove up with all the furnishings for
dainty little bedroom. She felt hurt.
considering how long she had been In
his service. II was special slight for
Drayton not 10 tell her. first Of ALL
that he intended 20 be married.
But Dray;on. following within. was
fitting mp the room according 10 the
chiId's fancy.
Late one afternoon he Strollej down
the garden path aud found little Louise
waiting for him TO lift her over tho
hedge.
"Your blue room is all finished. little
wife" he said. tossing her In the air.
TO her great delight. ITS ready for
you 20 look at. told the housekecper
a young lady was going 20 visit her
this afternoon.
"Arr there blue roses on the WALTZ"
she asked eagerly.
bushels IT thcm--and little white
friily curtains. and a dear little white
bed-and fairy tale pictures on the
wall"
"Oo-oo-but certainly do love
you" She chung TO his fingers as they
walked toward the house Did you
Diet the Sleeping Beauty pictureY'
"Yes-and Princess Goldllocks-It's a
grand rumu. all right"
swell. I'll marry you the first thing
tomorrow. aud nurse can send over all
my dolls and things"
"Tsn't this rathcr-sudden? Perhaps
your mother would prefer your waiting
until you are n week or so oiderT'
"No. indeed" aIrily. Mamma lets
me do anything I want-that is. most
anything"
"But she'll miss you. and your papa
will miss you"
"oh. didn't you knowf haven't
had any favvcr for n long time-most
'Ieven years. nearly"
Drayton took In the five.year-old dig.
nifty II her In an amused glance.
"But II you haven't any papa I'm
sure your mamma will get very lonely
II you marry so young"
| UItuf I'm going 10 bring her over