Middletown transcript., 1916-04-08
CHAPTER XII-continued.


The next morning. With Glen as
cicerone. Collingeford went over to
The FRS to pay his respects to Alix.
they found her under the trees.
How do you do:" said Alix. THE
Honorable Percy. isn't tt?"
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
stnffs and all the raraphernalia of the
sewing circle. Collingeford sat down
before her and stared. Glen had gone
of iB search of game more to her
taste. Alix seemed to him very small
He felt the change III her before he
could fx 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.
"Dolfs clOthes?" said ColIingeford,
waving at u beribboned morsel
No" said Alix.
COlliDgeford 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. scindllatiOn 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
p9seuse; you now or the other one"
AK laughed. I'm just me now,
minus the deviltry and all that Come,
III show you what I've done with
TT
They threaded the frees and came
upon a mighty bower. half sun. half
shade, whore in the midst of a nurse
and Ctem and many toys a baby was
enthrOned or a rug. There you are"
said Alix. There's my spice. deviltry.
scinti!lAtiOn ard wit al, done into one
foly-poly."
We'll. I'm blowed." said Collinge-
ford, advancing cautiously on the
young monarch. do you want me to
to feel him or say anything about his
Fooks? I'll have to think u minute II
you do"
"Booby." said Alix. come away"
But Collingeford seemed fascinated.
He squatted on the rug and poked
the mOnarchs ribs. Nurse. mother aud
Glenn flew TO the rescue but TO their
amazement the monarch did not bel
low. He appropriated Collingeford's
hnger. Il wonder if he'd mind if |
called him young 'un.'" solilOquized
the attacking giant. Then he pulled
the baby's leg. when he grows up
tell him was the first man to pull his
leg Ny word, he hasn't a bone in
Ills body, not even a tooth"
Silly" said Clem. "of course not"
What are you staring at him that
way for?" said Alix. Can q baby
make you think? A penny for them"
II WAS just thinking" said CoIlinge-
ford grarely, that baby is positively
the only thing I've never eaten"
A horrihed 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 Glenn fixed their eyes on Colinge-
ford. He slowly withered and drew
bac4.
Then the judge and Mrs. lansing
came out to them. Coliingeford was
introduced. Mrs Lansing turned to
Alix. Have you asked Mr.. COllinge-
ford to stay to lunch? The judge has
asked himself"
NO. mother" said AHx. I'm
afraid we couldn't give Honorable Per
81 anything new to eat He says"
My dear Mrs. Lansing" interrupt
ed Colhngeford. its all a mistake. 1
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 Clem. HE want
ed to eat the baby"
Mrs. Lansing laughed. ~ don't
blame him." she said. "I've often
wanted to eNt him myself"
Coliingeford spent a good deal OF his
week at The Firs Glenn 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
tRlked to the baby. Colllngeford to
ak. He said to her one duy. 1--WE
read in books about babies doing this
sort of thing to gad-abOuts-"
'Gad-abOuts. Interrupted AK, 'Ts
Just. but cruel"
well, butterflies" compromised
COllingeford But never believed II
really Unopened"
oh" said Alix. 1T wasn't the baby.
Not altogether. You see. Mr.. ColIinge-
ford, Gerry Lansing-I'm Mrs. Gerry
disappeared over year agO--bcfore
the baby came. He thought didn't !
love him. ] might az well tell you
ahouf i believe In telling things.