Mexico Missouri message., 1916-02-24
CHAPTER XIl-continued.

The next morning with Glen 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. 1.-THE
Honorable Percy, isn't it?'
"What a memory you have for
trifes," said Collingeford, laughing.
May / sit DOWN."
do" said Alix. She was perched
in the middle of a garden seat. On
each side of her were piled various
stuffs and all the paraphernalia of the
sewing circle. Collingeford sat down
before her and stared. Glen had gone
off 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.
DOLLS clothes?" said OollingefOrd,
waving at a beribboned morsel.
mo" said AliX.
CollngefOrd 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
binding. 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"
Alix laughed. "Pm just me now,
minus the deviltry and all that. Come,
I'll show you what I've done with
it."
They threaded the trees and came
upon a mighty bower, half sun, half
shade, where in the midst of q nurse
and Glenn and many toys a baby was
enthroned 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 bowed" said Collinge-
ford, advancing cautiously on the
young monarch. "Do you want me to
to feel him or say anything about his
looks? I'll have to think a 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 Colllngeford's
finger. II wonder if he'd mind if 1
called him young 'un,'" soliloquized
the attacking giant.
"Silly," said Glen, "of course not"
"What are you staring at him that
way forT" said Alix. "Can a baby
make you think? A penny for them"
II was just thinking" said Collinge-
ford graVely, 'that baby is positively
the only thing I've never eaten"
A Mortified silence greeted his re-
mark. The nurse was the first to re-
cover. She strobe forward, gathered
up the baby and marched away. Allx
and Glen fixed their eyes on Collinge,
ford. He slowly withered and drew
back.
Then the judge and Mrs. Lansing
came out to them. COllingefOFd was
introduced. Mrs. Lansing turned tC
AliX. Have you asked Mr.. Collinge
ford TO stay to lunch? The judge has
asked himself"
mo, mother" said Alix. "I'n
afraid we couldn't give Honorable Per
cy anything new to eat. He says
"My dear Mrs. Lansing" interrupt
ed Collingeford, Its all mistake.
positively loathe eating new things, NJ
matter how delicious and rosy anC
blue-eyed they look"
"Are you speaking Of cabbages?'
inquired the judge.
"No, babies" said Glenn "He want
ed to eat the baby"
Mrs. Lansing laughed 81 don
blame him." she said ''I've oftel
wanted to eat him myself"
Colingeford spent q good deal of hi
week at The Firs. Glen went to Sc
the baby daily as a matter of cours
and he went along, as he said himself
as another matter of course. CleI
talked to the baby, collingeford t
Alix. He said to her one day, CIV
read in books about babies doing thi
sort Of thing to gad-abouts-"