Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-04-09
AN EXCHANGE
OF BABIES
By AGNES E.sARR SAGE
(Copyrig t.

manly breast, feSafdleSS OF scOnSe-
quences to a stiff and immaculate
.shirt-bosom. lit 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 OrchidS-Which | ordered for a
first prize the baby has just cut a
tooth and is--well-not 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-
ate 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 off 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 a breath of fresh
air, and it would be positive char
'dred things to do.
Now, if Jack Vinton had not been
just the big, unselfsh 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 a 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 I should meet
her!" his mind reverting, as it had
done very often of late, to fair
compagnon de voyage with whom he
before, but whom he had not seen
since they parted at the wharf, their
homes being in different cities. Dear
little pocket Venus! She, too, had a
! 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, a twin to the one he was
wheeling.
"Begorra, and can't We be afther
lookin where you're again." 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 its gayly
dressed windows and deep, tiled yes
thule.
This, likewise, appeared to be the
objective point of the nurse-girl, who,
as Jack cried out in disgust: ''Cracky,
have / got to tote the kid through all
that crowd" volunteered: No, sir.
He's sound aslape, SO We kin jist fave
him right here in the restabull, as I'm
a-goin' to do mine" and she pointed to
a row of occupied and unoccupied
baby carriages lining the Spacious en-
trance,
''Hope the restabull' is safe
place." chuckled Jack as he To-
Gated his charge with the rest of the
waiting infants Anyway, | won't be
five minutes
But he counted without his host,
being sadly ignorant of the ways and
DELAYS of retail merchants The sales.
lady referred him to the floor walker,
the foor-walker to the packer, and
the packe1'Mto the manager; all of
which consumed so m~~h time that
five minutes heightened to so, and
the electric lights were twinkling in
| the. streetawhen 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 o fresh young voice, as
| a slight, sunny haired girl ran down
| the steps of handsome brown stone
| house, bent over 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 tc
auntie, darling! She will give baby
| her supper and put her to bed while