The sun., 1910-01-30


pened by and gave me a hand
Heaven only knows what became ot
the carrie Re but I think the horses must
have made a wild break for home. And
that reminds me, / shall be glad to have
your brother run up to the house and let
them know that ] am all right and will
have to stay here. as You politely, insist
for a dav or more. It's Just beyond
Thomas Circle. on Massachusetts, avenue
you know. he cent miss it.
Couldn't I, when with all thst miracu-
lons finding sense we bad reached nv
home in a race with death by but hair
| drew q long breath, though il had been
hard for me to draw short ones. l stag
gered to my wabbling legs.
We'll see about that presently replied
Laura. as il to a spoiled child First
we went TO learn all we can about our
blessed baby. Then there will be supper
and then, who can. tell, there may be
another way"
Again caught that wstful look in her
ewes that L had noted at times when
John Darr's tenderness and trueness
became too obvious.
/ sat down again as il submerged in
Miss Laphoon's white smother, their
voices over their mysterious rites sound
ing far. far away. Then a delighted cry
roueed me.
Why. look here. al the bottom of the
basket exclaimed Miss Laphoon: "a
1t says, yes. it SAYS. 'Ss'h \. " What
ever can that mesn;"
ut means Mr.. Gizer's Congressional
district" answered Laura in a superior
way. The blessed baby must belong
TO some constituent Of his. What a
feather in his ca . ii would be il we could
restore the child 10 its home!"
NO trouble about that" responded
Miss Lhphoon I'm have papa put an
advertisement in every paper in the United
States, that il il can ever get in touch
with him" abe added reproachfully.
staggered to my feet. wabbled TO the
door; and then down | went.
As il through the SNOWY smother
heard a tender voice sob -Oh. what
q selfish little monkey l am" heard
from the hallway vigorous thumps and
stamps, reminding me pleasurabiy OF
my own desperate efforts to free myself
from my individual drift. in contrast
with the rest that was now lullingly en-
comprising me. Then | heard, l knew
no more, until an hour later l came to
myself. looking up from my own bed
into Laura's face.
ITS all right. George she said. "Mr.
Darr caine in just then, as / was expect
ing he would. He helped me with you
and then on he ploughed TO tell the Senator.
He has. already met Suss nne in societv.
She is SO grateful TO him now; it oouldn I
did lie sim but before wen. to sleep
| kept comparing the faces OF the two
girls so much alike. After ell Laura s
was the better. the more womanIy,
In fact, Susanne Laphoon's scorn OF
me had got en- my nerves. For the next
three days snow investment OF Wash
ington. during which the city sacrificed
every comfort and yet came near cap
itulatinS at that, held myself aloof from
our guest Nor was this restraint lessened
by her return home. for the girl had de-
veloped an everlasting friendship for
Laura Her young and skittish horses,
somewhat Chastened by cold storage.
were champing and stamping in front
OF our door at all hours. Darr came also.
but even that didn't lessen my aversion
to submitting myself TO her idea OF con-
alteration.
In a general way I came TO know that
the two girls were absorbed over the res
toration Of the blessed baby. now waxing
strong under tine care Of Mrs. Larcomb,
our landlady. True to her word. Miss
Laphoon had caused the Senator 10 raise
a printed hue and cry throughout the
land; but the only effect Of it was to fur
nish an alarming census Of the lost and
missing, within which. however, our
founding could not by any stretch Of the
fancy be included. Then came an sp-
pa rent lulI during which / sulked and
sometimes elept at the office and thought
much and bitterly OF the arrogance OF
wealth.
One day met dealer in supplies on the
street. He greeted me with a smile.
How does the machine work. he
asked. Its a living marvel, isn't it,"
was forced to ask him in turn TO ex-
plain. and thus learned that the week
before he had sent up to our house on trial
a reduplicating wonder that could turn
out any number OF copies OF a letter an
hour without half trying. I agreed TO
sign the modest Recommendation OF it
he suggested and then passed on. sorely
perturbed What did such literary ac-
tivity portendY
Fearing the W orst, went home so rnuch
earlier that afternoon that ! found Miss
Laphoon still in the possession she arro-
gated 10 herself. Something was
strangely missing besides her cordielity.
looked around; the mighty stacks Of
seed labels no longer encumbered LAURA 5
desk. went into the herborium-it
was empty. save for the miraculous re-
duplicator in the corner, much the worse
for wear. Then ] made pointed inquiry
Yes, indeed. the seed packages have
all been shipped" said Laura confusedly;
didn't i know? By this time tomorrow
every voter in Mr.. Gizer's district will
have visible proof OF the care OF a pa
ternaI Government for him. Oh. think
il is grand idea.-
-Yee. and he will know too what he
can do FOR a paternal Government in re-
turn added Miss LAphoon mockingly;
and that's a grander idea. IL takes
Laura and me to think and to do. We
don't POKE along through fog of routine.
never, worked 90 hard in my life
AT what. pray?" asked bllmtly.
AT getting OF that letter OF inquiry
regarding the blessed baby that we slipped
into eech and every one OF the forty
thousand seed packages"
You didn't, gaeped.
II Il