New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10

od,arcnfs Of the two babies, was prousn'
= a"a .p'' cnrtrovcrsv. Family councils were
h l''lJ and both babies were hurrIediy sen.
for inspected, analyzcd, ana lude'"."'
naescd Maiden aunts and interested oous
IL World insist that reSemblanccS wei VI
rn;stakablc on one side. and imine''id.tSy
sisters in law and Stcpchildren on inc o'"''
side would veto the verdict.
aThe two families naturally got PEI
well ACQUAINTED. In spite OF the occds'o''',
ouorrcls and jcalousics. the two sc'S ~
fathers and mothers became great iriellns.
Mrs Courtcnav and Mrs. Carlton met oilc''
to sew on the babies layoutS; tor since j,
was never certain who was TO do the dressing
Of either the boy or the girl, it was advisable
that ho,h mothers tastes should be con.
sultcd So they embroidered and stitched
and folded and tucked as they talKeG tnc
matter over. The fathers discussed the
same subject from different point Of view
on board the train. every morning on the
way 70 business in New YORK.
$50. finally it was decided, halt IN jest ana
half in earnest. that the boy and girl should
be formally engaged to each other, II, inc
ancient royal style Two similar goa JOCK
cts we're bought. each with diamond star
on the front. and each child received one as
q trothplight token. II the two children
should marry a. planned. when they reached
the age of twcnty-onc, 1t would scttle an
propc. tv rights at least although whether
the two contracting parties themselves
would ever consent % this arrangement was
Of course. another matter.
THIS was the way matters stood when the
L two children were thirteen months old.
The Courtcnays and the Carillons had gone
away TO the Maine coast for their summer
vacation taking one large cottage for the
two families. The children slept up stairs.
zone night. as the two women were sitting
sewing. discussing the inevitable topic. Mrs.
Courtcnav smcllcd smoke. She spoke 81 II
10 Mrs. Carlton. who confirmed her SITS
picion. and the two went out into the hall
together TO investigate. IN overturned
lamp lay on the floor under the stairs; the
oil had spread over the carpet and was bum
ing fercely. The inside Of the closet under
the stairs was all afire.
with simultaneous screams. the two
women started running upstairs for the
children. They were almost out Of their
heads with terror and they fought their
way. crowding each other like manlacs up
to the top equally anxious to rescue the
children. More correctly, | suppose, each
mother was anxious 10 rescue her own child.
By the time they reached the door Of the
nursery smoke filled the hall. and the women
we're frantic. They were beyond reason;
they acted automatically. They burst
through the door together.
The chldrcn's cots stood side by side.
and the way was clear to both. The mothers
knew perfectly well which baby was in each
cot. There was not word spoken after
they entered the room; but, as If by pre-
arranged plan. the mothers each chose DIT
fcrcnt cot. grabbed the child it contained.
then rushed downstairs through the mosc
and flames till they we're safe on the lawn.
Then they turned and looked NJ each
other in wonder. 1T this time Belle bad
been with the Courtcnays for some months.
and Bruce With the Carilons. The affair
had been virtually decided forever. Bur
when the two women came TO their senses
they found that. without reason or will.
without conscious intent that they could
remember. acting merely upon blind mr.
pulse. Mrs, Courtcnay had saved Bruce and
Mrs. Carlton had res uci Belle. And. with
out even discussing it. understanding each
other and themselves without words. each
mother knew that She had acted upon IN
stinct. and that her instinct had been true.
r. I.ssf ff.Ifn