Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-08-18
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. '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 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
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.
'Dolrs 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. sclntillation 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. I'm just me now,
minus tie 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 a nurse
and Glen and many toys a baby was
enthroned on rug. There you are"
said Alix. There's my spice, deviltry,
scIntillation and wit all done into one
roly-poly."
well, 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
looks? I'll have to think a minute II
you do"
"Booby," said AliI, "come away"
But Collingeford seemed fascinated.
He squatted on the rug and poked
the monarch's ribs. Nurse, mother and
Clem few to the rescue, but to their
amazement the monarch did not bel
low. He appropriated Collingeford's
finger. "I wonder II he'd mind IL l
called him q young 'un,'" soliloquized
the attacking giant.
"Silly," said Glenn. 'of course not"
"what are you staring at him that
way for" said Alix. "Can a baby
make you think7 A penny for them"
II was just thinking" said Collinge-
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 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
introduced. Mrs. Lansing turned to
Alix. Have you asked Mr.. Collinge-
ford to stay to lunch? The Judge has
asked himself"
mo, mother" said Ali1. I'm
cy anything new to eat. He says
my dear Mrs. Lansing" interrupt
ed Collingeford. ats all 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. 81 don't
blame him." she said. ave 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,
as another matter of course. Glenn
talked to the baby. Collingeford to
Alix. He said 10 her one day, I've
read In books about babies doing this
x<,H1 ~ tfi,,p to Ond- hOufa-H