Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-06

strain and some think it is breaking.
but | don't" She turned her soft
eyes on CollingefOrd and smiled.
There" she added, Il have been
polemic but one seldom has the chance
to spread the good fame of ones coun-
try. am glad you can give US a
week instead Of a weekend"
Collingeford heard someone speak
of Mrs. Lansir. and he said to Mrs.
J. Y, Il know Mrs LaIsing-a beau
tiful and scintilla ting young person
the sort of effervescence that flies over
to Europe and becomes the dismay of
our smart women and the fate of many
men,"
Mrs. J. Y. for a second was puz-
zled. That isn't Mrs. Lansing-it'S
Mrs. Gerry you're thinking of. Mrs.
Lansing is her mother-in-law. They
live next door,"
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.
"TIow do you do?' said Alix. "The
Honorable Percy, isn't it?'
what a memory you have for
trifes," said Collingeford, laughing.
May I 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. Collingcford sat down
before her and stared Glenn 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 restfuI 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.
az" said Alix.
Collingeford stared little longer
and then he broke cut with, Look
here, what have you done with her?
Over there, the young Mrs. Lansing
SPIGCJ dCf III J SCIl-lllIdIlOil anu w II
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 I'm just me now,
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 a nurse
and Glen 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
ITO feel him or say anything about his
looks? I'll have to think a minute If
you do"
Booty" said Alix, ''come away
But Collingeford seemed fascinated.
He squatted Oh the rug and poked
the monarch's ribs. Nurse, mother AID
Glen few to the rescue, but to their
amazement the monarch did not bel
low. He appropriated COllingeford's
finger Il wonder if he'd mind if l
called him a young 'un,'" sOlilGquiZed
the attacking giant Then he pulled
the baby's leg when he grows up
tell him [ was the first man tG pull his
leg. Ny word, he hasn't a bone in
his body, rot even tooth
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"
81 was just thinking" said Collinge-
ford graveIy, 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 Glen fixed their eyes on Collinge-
ford. He Slowly withered and drew
back
Then the Judge and Mrs. Lansing
came out to them. Collingeford was