The midland journal., 1916-02-25
CHAPTER xil-continued.


The next morning, with Glenn as
cicerone, Collingeford went over to
The Firs to pay his respects to Alix.
They found her under the trees.
How do you do?'' said Alix '"The
Honorable Percy, isn't it?''
"What memory you have for
trifies," said Collingeford. laughing.
May sit DOWN."
''Do," said Alix She was perched
In the middle of garden seat On
each side of her were piled various
stuffs and all the paraphernalia of the
sewing circle. CoIlingeford sat down
before her and stared. Glen had gone
of in search of game more to her
taste. Alix seemed to him very small.
He felt the change in her before he
could fix in what it lay. She seemed
still and restful in spite of her flying
fingers. Spiritually still. Her eyes,
glancing at him between stitches, were
amused and grave at the same time.
"Dolps clothes?'' said Collingeford,
waving at a beribboned morsel
''No," said Alix.
Collingeford stared a little longer
and then he broke out with, Look
here, what have you done with her?
Over there, the young Mrs. Lansing
spice, deviltry, scintillation and wit
-blinding. Over here, Mrs. Gerry
demure and Industrious. Don't tell me
you have gone in for the Quaker pose,
but please tell me which is the
poseuse; you now or the other one" I"
Alix laughed .sI'm just me now,
minus the deyiltry and all that. Come,
I'll show you what I've done with
it,
They threaded the trees and came
upon mighty bower, half sun, half
shade. where in the midst-of a nurse
and Glen and many toys baby was
enthr0ned on a rug. There you are" !"
said Alix. There's my spice, deviltry,
scintillation and wit all done into one
roly-poly."
"Well, I'm blowed," said Collinge-
ford, advancing cautiously on the
young monarch. do you want me to
Ito feel him or say anything about his
looks? I'll have to think minute If
you do.'
"Booby," said Alix, 'come away"
But Collingeford seemed fascinated.
He squatted on the rug and poked
the monarch's ribs. Nurse, mother and
Glenn flew to the rescue, but to their
amazement the monarch did not bel
low. He appropriated Collingeford's
finger. II wonder if he'd mind if
called him young 'un,' soliloquized
the attacking giant.
'sSilly," said Glen, "of course moi" !"
"What are you staring at him that
way for?' said Alix. "Can a baby
make you think? A penny for them"
81 was just thinking" said Collinge-
ford graTely, ''that a baby is positively
the only thing I've never eaten"
A horrified silence greeted his re-
mark. The nurse was the first to re
cover. She strobe forward, gathered
up the baby and marched away Alix
and Clem fixed their eyes on Collinge-
ford He slowly withered and drew
back.
Then the Judge and Mrs. Lansing
came out to them. Collingeford was
introduced. Mrs. Lansing turned to
Alix. "Have you asked Mr.. Collinge-
ford to stay to lunch? The judge has
asked himself"
mo, mother" said Alix. 'I'm
afraid we couldn't give Honorable Per-
cy anything new to eat He says"
MY dear Mrs. Lansing" interrupt
ed Collingeford, "it's all mistake.
positively loathe eating new things. no
matter how delicious and rosy and
blue-eyed they look"
"Are you speaking OF cabbages?"
inquired the judge.
"No, babies" said Glen. "He want
ed to eat the baby
Mrs. Lansing laughed. 81 don't
blame him." she said. "I've often
wanted to eat him myself"
Collingeford spent good deal Of his
week at The Firs. Glen went to see
the baby daily as a matter of course
and he went along, as he said himself,
as another matter of course Glenn
talked to the baby, Collingeford to
Alix. He said to her one day, ''Pve
read In books about babies doing this
sort Of thing to gad-ahnuts--'