The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-03-02
CHAPTER xII-contInued.

The next morning, with Glen as
ctcerone, 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 a memory you have for
trihes." said CollingefOrd, laughing.
May l sit DOWN.
Do" said Alix. She was perched
In the middle of a garden seat. On
each side Of her were piled various
stunfs and all the paraphernalia of the
sewing circle. Collingeford 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 1t 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 COllingeford,
waving at beribboned morsel.
No" said Alix.
Collingeford stared 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."
Alix laughed. "Tm just me now,
minus the deviltry and all that. Come,
TIL 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 a nurse
AID Glenn and many toys a baby was
enthrOned on a rug. There you are"
said Alix. There's my spice, deviltry,
sclntillatiOn and wit all done into one
roly-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
books? I'll have to think a minute If
you do"
"BOoby," said Allx, "come away"
But Collingeford seemed fascinated.
Ne squatted on the rug and poked
the mOnarch's ribs. Nurse, mother and
Clem few to the rescue, but to their
the monarch did not bel
low. He appropriated Collingeford's
f1nger. Il wonder if he'd mind if |
called him young 'un,'" soIiloquized
the attacking giant. Then he pulled
the baby's leg. when he grows up
tell him | was the first man to pull his |
leg. My word, he hasn't a bone in
his body, not even TOOTH"
Silly" said Glen, "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 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 strOde forward, gathered |
up the baby and marched away. Alix
and Glenn liked 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"
"No, mother" said AIix. "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 a mistake. l
positively loathe eating new things, no
matter how delicious and rosy and
they look"
"Are you speaking Of cabbages?"
Inquired the judge.
"No, babies," said Glen. "He want
ed to eat the baby"
Mrs. Lansing laughed. II don't
blame him." she said. "I've often
wanted to eat him myself"
Collingeford spent good deal of his
week at The Firs. Clem went to see
the baby daily as a matter Of course
and he went along, as he said himself,
rs another matter of course. Glen
talked to the baby, Collingeford to
Alix. He said to her one day, "I've
read in books about babies doing this
sort Of thing to gad-abouts-"
"Gad-abouts," interrupted Alix, sis
Just, but cruel"
"WeII, butterflies" compromised
COlIingeford. But / never believed it
really happened"
"Oh," said Alix, ut wasn't the baby.
Not altogether. You see, Mr.. Collinge-
ford, Gerry LansinG-Pm Mrs. Gerry
disappeared over year ago-before
the baby came. He thought I didn't
Ove him. might as well tell you
about it. ! believe in telling things