Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-12-26
AN EXCHANGE
OF BABIES
BY AcNEs-cARR SAGE
(Copyrigllt.)


(Copyright.)
ooh, Jack, Jack! You are my one
ray Of hope amid Egyptian darkness!'
And little Miss Henley precipitated
herself headlong upon her brothers
manly breast, regardless of conse
quences to q stiff and immaculate
shirt-bosom. 1T was so good of you
to come early, for never was woman
nearer the verge of nervous prostra.
ton. You know the Whist club meets
here tonight. and that Charlie has
been suddenly called out of town on
important business. Then this morn.
ing the cook had flare up with Ruth,
the nurse maid. and took French
leave; Silverman & Co. have failed to
send the fan-such beauty painted
In orchfds-which ordered for a
first prize: the baby has just cut a
tooth and is-well-nct quite so an
gelic as usual; while now. to cap the
climax. here comes a note from Mrs.
Sherman saying she is down with an
attack of la grippe and cannot be
present this evening; so one table
will be short. as it is nearly four
o'clock; altogether too late to invite
anyone else."
And when she paused from sheer
want of breath, all Jack could ejacu-
late was by Jove!"
He succeeded in looking so sympa-
thetic, however, that it was like a
tonic to his depressed sister, who
soon rallied. For you will help me
out, won't you, Jack?"
Sure If can," replied Jack.
I'll let you of If you go at once down
to Silverman's, see the manager or
somebody and demand that orchid fan
or his life. And oh, Jack, would it
be an awful bore to take Harold with
you in his little carriage? The poor
child is suffering for breath of fresh
air. and it, would be positive char
ity to Ruth and me who have a hun
dred things to do"
Now, if Jack Vinton had not been
just the big. unselfish kindly chap he
was he would certainly have refused
this last request. But as it was he
said: "All right; trot the kid OUT"
and said it with smile, too. Nor
would anyone have supposed him a
victim on the altar of fraternal affec-
ton, as he strobe down the crowded
avenue at the fashionable hour push
ing pretty pink and white canopied
perambulator, in which, under a soft
white fur rug, nestled that scrap of
humanity he called his nephew.
Wonder if have the true pater-
familias air" he thought, as he OBJ.
served the sundry quizzical, girlish
glances cast in his direction. "And
bless my soul, what if ] should meet
herr" his mind reverting, as it had
done very often of late, to fair
compagnon de voyage with whom he
had crossed the ocean three months
before, but whom he had not seen
since they parted at the wharf, their
ZONES being in different cities. Dear
title pocket Venus! She, too, had
married sister living in B, and said
she frequently visited here. Wish"
But at this juncture his meditations
were rudely broken by his coming
into violent contact with another
wicker equipage advancing from the
opposite direction. One which might
have been twin to the one he was
wheeling.
"Begorra, and can't We be afther
lookin' where you're a-gain'!" ex-
claimed the Celtic maid who was the
propelling power of the second turn
out, and as he appeased her wrath
with an humble apology and one of
his winning smiles, he discovered
that they were right abreast of Silver.
man & Co.'s vast emporium, where
everything is sold from a PAPER of
tacks to a diamond necklace. Most
imposing it was. too, with it's gayly
dressed widows and deep, tiled YES
thule.
Tbs, likewise, appeared to be the
objective Ont of the nurse-girl, who,
as Jack cred out in disgust: "Cracky,
nave got to tote the kid through all
hat e-owd:" volunteered: mo, sir.
Hes sound sslape, SO We kin jist lave
aim .igi.t here in the restabull, as I'm
a-goin' to do mine." and she pointed to
row Of occupied and unoccupied
caby carriages lining the spacious,e en-.
rance.
Hope the 'restabulr is a safe
:1lace," chuckled Jack, as he To-
ated his charge with the rest of the
Waiting infants. Anyway, won't be
i've minutes"
But he counted without his host,
being sadly ignorant of the ways and
delays of retail merchants. The sales
ady referred him to the floor-waIker,
The foor-walker to the packer, and
the packer to the manager; all of
which consumed so much time that
five minutes heightened to SO, and
the electric lights were twinkling in
the street when he at last emerged.
the orchid fan buttoned up in his
breast pocket, picked out the peram.
bulator with the dainty pink-lined.
lace.covered top, and started home
ward.
''Why, Nora, what an age you have
been!" cried fresh young voice, as
a slight, sunny haired girl ran down
the steps of a handsome brown stone
house, bent over a small carriage and
lifted the tiny occupant in her arms.
You have been long enough to go
down town and match that ribbon
twice over" Then, without listening
to the nurses excuses. Come to