Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10


into the controversy. Family councils were
held, and both babies were hurricdlv sent
for, inspected, analysed, and judgment
passed. Maiden aunts and interested cous
ms would insist that rcscmbanccs were I'M
mlStakabc on one side, and Immediately
sisters in law and stcpchildrcn on the other
side would veto the verdict
"The two families naturally got pretty
we'll acquainted. In spite of the occasional
quarrcls and jcalousics the two sets of
fathers and mothers became great friends.
Mrs. Courtenay and Mrs. Carlton met often
to sew ON the babies layouts; for since it
was never certain who was to do the dressing
of either the boy or the girl, it was advisable
that both mothers tastes should be con
suited. So they embroidered and stitched
and folded and tucked as they talked the
matter over. The fathers discussed the
same subject from a different point of view,
on board the train, every morning on the
way to business in New York.
so, finally it was decided, half in jest and
half in earnest. that the boy and girl should
be formally engaged to each other, in the
ancient royal style Two similar gold lock
cts were bought, each with diamond star
on the front, and each child received one as
a trothplight token. If the two children
should marry as planned, when they reached
the age of twenty one, 1t would settle all
property rights at least; although whether
the two contracting parties themselves
would ever consent to this arrangement was,
of course, another matter
THIS was the way matters stood when the
two children were thirteen months old.
The Courtenays 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
"One night, as the two women were sitting
sewing. discussing the inevitable topic, Mrs
Courtenay smcllcd smoke She spoke Of it
to Mrs. Carlton. who confirmed her slls-
picion, and the two went out into the hall
together to investigate. An overturned
lamp lay on the floor under the stairs; the
oil had spread over the carpet and was burn
ing fierccly. The inside of the closet under
the stairs was all afirc.
with simultaneous screams, the two
women started running upstairs for the
children. They we're almost out of their
heads with terror, and they fought their
way, crowding each other like maniacs up
to the top, equally anxious to rescue the
children. More correctly, | suppose, each
mother was anxious to rescue her own child.
By the time they reached the door of the
nursery smoke filled the hail. and the women
were frantic. They were beyond reason;
they acted automatically. They burst
through the door together.
"The childrcn'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 a word spoken after
they entered the room; but. as if by pre-
arranged plan, the mothers each chose diff
fcrent cot, grabbed the child it contained,
then rushed downstairs through the smoke
and flames till they were safe on the lawn.
"Thcn they turned and looked at each
other in wonder. At this time Belle had
been with the Courtcnays for some months,
and Bruce with the Carilons The affair
had been virtually decided forever But
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 i'm
pulse, Mrs Courtenay had saved Bruce, and
Mrs. Carlton had rescued 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
The fathers were never SO sure; but, from
that day. neither Mrs. Courtenay nor Mrs
Carlton doubted that she had her own child
AND So Miss Carlton concluded, "thcrc
will never be an answer to your CUES