Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-22
THE DAILY STORY
Incubated Romance


George Cooke looked over the morning
mail as 1t lay on the breakfast table be-
side his lngerbowl. There were several
letters for him. one for his sister and
one for his mother. At his mothers re-
quest he was attending to her correspond
cnce, while she was away on visit. and
he promptly opened the envelope adj
dressed to her.
The communication was from the dlrec-
tors Of a large hospital and It's contents
were particularly interesting to the young
man reading them It put into his nos
session bit of information regarding
his very early life. and he wondered why
his mother had never told him of II. He
finished the letter and then reread It,
THE directors Of the hospital" 1t ran
in part "arc planning a celebration in
honor Of the hftieth anniversary Of the
laying OF its cornerstone. Among the in.
teresting things arranged for the week
will be reunion of the Incubator ch'l-
dren Il has taken care Of and sent out
into the world We have a record OF the
birth of a son to you George Cooke. on
November g. 1857. II he ls now living and
can find It convenient to he here during
our celebration week we Will be glad to
pay HE expenses to and from this city
"Tll CO." said the young man to him
self when he had finished the letter.
Funny mother never told me ! was an
incubator baby"
That day he wrote 10 his mother and
inclosed the letter from the hospital. lie
told her OF his intention and asked her
10 Join him and attend the reunion with
him He had intended TO take HIS Naca-
tlon at about that season OF the year. ana
as he had planned no trip In particular
this one would be novel and interestinE
wen show them that I'm very much
alive. won't me- mother" he asked when
some weeks later he Joined her on the
way to the eastern city where he was
born
And none the worse for your early
days in the small glass house my son,
returned Mrs. Cooke proudly, looking up
at the tall young man at her side.
81 wonder II there will he many Eradu-
ates there? he laughed.
Graduates? What n name for them
GeorRe Well. remember several little
ones who were there while YOU wer"
growing strong in the care of the good
nurses. might even remember the
names II | heard them again"
And no doubt I'll meet ono or two FOND
parents who will remember little George
Cooke, ELI mother?
Mrs Cooke nodded.
on the day of the reception to former
incubator bnbiCs George and HIS mother
sought the hospital with pleasurable an
ticipation. The Nouus man had attended
class reunions fraternity reunions and
even family rcrnions, but this was
novelty. 1t dated too far back for him
to remember anv Of his colleagues.
rho guests ranged from young men
and young women Of his own agc TO chill
dren of one. two and three years, Hut
George was particularly interested in
looking up and meeting tho graduates
who'had rccn in the incubators when he
was there.
Through an old surgeon. friend Of
his mother. he was presented to Virginia
Lawson, q tall slender girl.
You. too" she asked, showing two
dimples in two pink cheeks
''Nes; dent YOU remember me"' the
young man asked.
The old surgeon left them together. and
at least ono of them decided that he did
not care whether or not he met other
members of his graduating class" This
pretty young woman would keep him
busy during the reunion days.
Mother thought it was very silly OF
me to come" Virginia told him when
they had strollcd out together to view
the grounds about the great stone build
ings.
"And my mother had never even told
me of my fragile beginning" young
Cooke explained. 1T was only through
my having opened the letter from the
directors that | learned OF II. Something
promptly told me To come" he added, not
without intent oc purpose.
Love of adventure-noyelty OF situa-
ton brought me-" said Virginia.
"Where is your home now?" Cooke
asked.
"In NirGina--lm the namesake Of my
State" she laughed. "I happened TO be