Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-05-12
CHAPTER XIl-Continued.

CHAPTER XII-Continued.
The next morning, with Glen as
cicerone, ColIingeford 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
trifes," said Collingeford, laughing.
May l sit DOWN."
'no,N 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 cEcle. Collingeford sat down
before her and stared. Glen had gone
off in seatch of game more to her
taste. AliXI seemed to him very small.
He felt the change in her before he
could fix in what it lay. She seemed
still and res tful 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 CoIlingeford,
waving at a Oeribboned morsel.
NO" said AliX.
Collingeford> stared little longer
and then he broke out with, Look
here, what haEe you done with her?
Over there, the young Mrs. Lansing
spice. devptry, scntillation and wit
--blinding. Over here, Mrs. Gerry
denldre 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 I'm just me now,
minus the deviltry and all that. Come,
III 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 Glenn and many toys a baby was
enthroned on a rug There you are"
said AiX. There's my spice deviltry,
scintillatiOn and wit all done into one
Coly-poly."
"WelI, 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"
BOBBY" said AIx, 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. Il wonder if he'd mind if l
called him young 'un" soliloquized
the attacking giant.
silly" said Glen, "of course not"
What are you staring at him that
way for?" said Alix. Can a baby
make you think? A penny for them"
II was just thinking" said Colinge-
ford graVely, that a 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. Alix
and Glenn 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
Aix. Have you asked Mr.. Collinge-
ford to stay to lunch? The judge has
asked himself"
mo, mother" said Aix. I'm
afraid we couldn't give Honorable Per
cy anything new to eat. He says
MY dear Mrs. Lansing" interrupt
ed Colingeford, ITS all a 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.
mo, 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. Glen went to see
the baby daily as a matter OF course
and he went along. as he said himself,
hs 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-"