The Washington herald., 1916-01-15
DAILY SHORT STORY.
ROSALIND JUNIOR.
By ELSA FREELAND.

could. as long as any normal person
could with any humanitarian instincts
Whatsoever. Then he grabbed his hat
and started out grimly to ind the
guardian OF the child
He had tried to concentrate on his
work for the past hour. His room was
at the resg of the first floor, the back
parlor of an oId-fashioned brownstone
residence. Outside, the view took in
rows Of back yards. fences, clothes
lines. and numerous FIRE escapes.
II was from one of the latter, three
stories up, that the cries emanateo-
cries, nay. shrieks OF protest Fraser
nung up one OF his windows and lean
ed on hands planted on the siIl, his
eyes searching the adjacent armament
for the source of the yells- All he could
see was an umbrella placed on q FIRE
escape at the aforesaid elevation, ana
he could dimly descry beneath the
umbrella shape akin TO that Of
papooss.
Finally, to cap the climax, while
he gazed a young woman came to the
window at the FIRE escape, pstted the
bundle, turned II over, adjusted the
umbrella and went away again. And
this she had done at intervals, but
the baby cried after a few moments
of peace. Therefore Fraser decided Il
was distinctly up to him to see that
the peace Of the neishborhood was
kept undisturbed and one mother
warned that thinking people would
not stand such tactics
He found the vSstfbule of the apart-
naent house which owned that par
ticuiar fire escape. He had located Il
with mathematical exactitude and
pressed the right button. The name
was Chalmers Up the stairs he went
with firm and unfslterinE step, and
faced the door. II opened at his ring
Yes, IL was the same young woman.
too. only she appeared younger some
way. Her hair was rumpled and she
wore a large apron. Also. she was
amazingly good to look upon at short
range.
How do you dor began Fraser
somewhat vaguely for a man with a
mission in life The baby is-er-
crying"
She's teethins-
TT is a ridiculous superstition to
say such a thing. Babies, healthy. nor
NAL babies. never object TO teething.
My dear madam. 1 have listened TO
that sound for the past hour"
I'm so sorry" she interrupted feel
ingly and almost remorsefully. Il
was awfully busy and. you see, Eliza
beth-that's my sister-told me she
must be left out in the fresh air and
not to mind II she cried because nor
NAL children always cry a little bit,
and It's good for them 1t exercises
their lungs"
DO you mind IL come in just for
a moment" said Fraser eagerly Il
assure you I'm not a book agent but
l am very, very much interested in
the care and feeding and rearing Of
children. In fact. I've got an order 20
write series of articles for a mag
azine on the subject"
isn't that lovely" Her face fair
ly glowed with quick appreciation.
DO, please, come in. Wait a minute
while I get tho baby. She is rather
whooping it up a bit, isn't sheT'
Fraser took seat on the dsven-
port In the front room and waited. II
really seemed to be a very nice apart
ment and furnished in very good taste.
He felt his wave OF indignation subs
siding. BY the time the young woman
had returned with the baby he even
'ooked at II spprecistiyely. Evidently
! IT was about six months old. plump.
healthy-looking kiddie with large,
challenging blue eyes and a provoca-
tive mouth.
isn't she a darling? She's really
got so much individuality. you know,
that she resents being alone out there.
N don't blame her a bit, Blessed angel
/ =
~ neighborhood with her crying"
Whats her manner asked Fraser
cautiously.
"Rosalind-the same as mine"
"Rosalind, Junior, the gentleman
| from Avon who wrote once upon a
time Of lady yclept Rosalind also said
! a sweet low voice is an excellent
thing in woman" He paused, but the
| baby did not get the point at all She
~. n
4 lind's shoulder and acted shy and
evasive
Aren't they really wonderful peo-
ple7" began Fraser again interestedly.
You know, by Jove, Tn writing
! about them. and ! 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"
ryou're not married. them" with
just the hint of mischievous uplift
i of her lsshes.
Not yet" thoughtfuily. I'm sub
ject to conviction, though. perfectly
nonpartisan. But have made quite a
study of child culture. You know,
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 su-
donations. merely there on sufference.
Children are royal guests" He smiled
at the baby piacatingiy. Little royal
guests of life at large"
| But you don't like them on Ere
escapes-
! He looked at her with appreciation.
| realizing that she did have a sense Of
humor and had rather got him there.
TITS the concrete THAI rattles us,
| isn't it," he began, when d key sound
ed in the outer door and some sixth
! ssnss told him the baby's mother was