The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-11
The EUening Story
Rosalind Junior.
(By Elsa Freeland.)

(By Elsa Freelandt
Fraser stood it just as long as he
could. as long as any normal person
could with any humanitarian instincts
whatsoever. Then he grabbed his hat
and started out grimly to find the
guardian of the child.
He had tried to concentrate on his
work for the past hour. His room was
at the rear of the first floor, the back
parlor of an old-fashioned broWnstone
residence. Outside, the view took in
rows of back yards, fences, clothes
lines, and numerous fire escapes.
1t was from one of the latter, three
stories up, that the cries emanated-
cries, nay, shrieks of protest. Fraser
flung up one of his windows and lean
ed on hands planted on the sill, his
eyes, searching the adjacent firma-
ment for the source of the yelis. All
he could see was an umbrella placed
on a fire escape at the aforesaid ele-
walton, and he could dimly descry be-
meath the umbrella a shape akin to
that of a papoose.
Finally to cap the climax, while he
gazed a young woman came to the
window at the fire escape, patted the
bundle, turned it over, adjusted the
umbrella and went away again. And
this she had done at intervals, but
the baby cried after few moments
of peace Therefore Fraser decided
the peace of the neiGhborhood was
kept undisturbed and one mother
warned that thinking people would
not stand such tactics.
He found the vestibule of the apart
ment house which owned that par
ticular fire escape. He had located 1t
with mathematical eXactitude and
pressed the right button. The name
was Chalmers. Up the stairs he went
with firm and unfaltering step, and
hn OnPnRd
Yes, it was the same young woman
too, only she appeared younger some
way Her hair was rumpled ana she
wore a. large apron Also, SEE was
amazingly good to look upon at shor'
How do you do?" began Fraser
somewhat vaguely for man with
mission in life. THE baby is-er--
crying"
shes teething"
1T is a ridiculous superstition to
say such a thing. Babies, healthy
normal babies, never object to teeth
ing. NV dear madam, L have listened
to that sound for the past noun
I'm so sorry" she interrupted feel
ingly and almost remorsefully. Il
was awfulIy busy and, you see, Eliza
! beth-that's my sister-told me she
must he left out in the fresh air and
not to mind if she cried because nor
NAL children always cry a little bit,
and it's good for them 1t exercises
their lungs.
do you mind if 1 come in just for
a moment" said Fraser eagerly I
assure you I'm not a book agent, but
II am very. very much interested in
the care and feeding and rearing of
children. In fact, I've got an order to
write a series of articles for mag
azine on the subject
Isn't the Iovely!" Her face fair
Iy glowed with quick appreciation
DO, please. come in. Wait a minute
while 1 get the baby. She is rather
whooping it ur bit, isn't she?"
Fraser took seat on the davenport
in the front room and waited. 1t
really seemed to be very nice apart
ment and furnished in very good taste.
He felt his wave of indignation sub
siding. BY the time the young woman
had returned with the baby he even
looked at it appreciattively- Evident
ly it was about six months old, a
plump, notwithstanding kiddie with
| large, challenging blue eyes and pro-
vocative mouth.
Isn't she darling? She's really
got so much individuality, you know,
that she resents being alone out there.
1 don't blame her a bit. Blessed angel
girl, Auntie's love lamb, disturbing
all the neighborhood with her cry
ing"
What's her name?" asked Fraser
cautiously
"RosaIind-the same as mine"
"Rosalind, junior, the gentleman
from AYon who wrote once upon a
time of a lady yclept Rosalind also
said a sweet low voice is an excellent
thing i'll woman. He paused, but
the baby did not get the point at all
She leaned back against the elder
Rosalinds shoulder and acted shy
and evasive.
Aren't they really wonderful peo-
ple?" began Fraser again interested
ly. You know, by Jove, I'm writing
about them, and 1 haven't studied
them closely at all One is apt to rely
too much on scientific data, I'm
afraid. instead of getting at the sub
ject-er-well. first hand, you know
You're not married, them" with
just the, Lint of a mischievous uplifr
of her lashes.
Not yet thoughtfully. I'm sub
ject to conviction, though, perfectly
nonpartisan. But 1 have made quite g
study of child culture You know
I believe absolutely in promoting in
dividualism in children. don't believe
at all in this Froebel business, or even
the ordinary household method where
!; the children are treated as little au-