The Twin City star., 1918-08-10

he can't have q perpetual birthday ali
summer"
Jane put her treasures back into the
basket. II must be going" she said.
rising quickly. at is getting very late.
My boy won't have any birthday pres
ent at all If stay here any longer"
That's sol" he agreed reluctantly.
"But won't you let me go with yOu2'
Jane considered moment, then
looked up into his steady gray eyes.
Mothers very touchy about my talk
ing to strangers, and the sky's been
our only ntroduction-that and the
car. But she's dotty on uniforms-,-a
soldier to her Is a combination of mar
tyr and saint--so I guess you may
come and see Stephen get his pres
ents. Do you happen to know where
the HamptOns live?'
"Yes. I'll take you there II you
really don't mind my going"
Before long they turned into the
driveway of very pretentious country
house. Jane was startled.
"Where are we going?"
'"TO the HamptOns.'
"Why-I don't understand. Surely
they can't live here. l thought they
were poor"
'They used to be, but somebody left
them some money. But surely that
doesn't make any difference, doessit?
They're the same people, not changed
bit, and boys are the same the world
over"
That's true" answered Jane, bit
dubiously.
"And I do think you'll miss some
thing II you don't know Mrs. Hamp-
ton. She's the finest woman know"
They had come to the door now.
"All right" said Jane, stepping out OF
the car. "But / was thinking Of the
sarsaparilla."
In the big sunny living room Jane
was to discover something. The photo
graph in a silver frame on the read
ing table and that Of little boy on
the wall were evidently the same per-
son, and encountering the eyes Of the
officer, she realized that he was the
Original of both.
AS this information conveyed itself
to her brain, and the consciousness OF
fearful blunder was sending the
very blood to her cheeks, Mrs.
Hampton came in. Jane waited for no
introduction. "Tve made terrible
mistake" she cried, pointing to the
basket. "I've come to give your little
boy his birthday present, and even ear
muffs and sarsaparilla would be better
than the stuff l have brought"
Then suddenly she laughed uncon-
trollably. "Oh, wait till tell dad.
Won't he just die. though! Bean
shooters, marbles, peanuts! Oh, my!
For an army officer, toov' u.
"Dearie," said Mrs. Hampton, don't
feel distressed about 1t. Your mother
has always kindly remembered Steve,
but she never came out to see us, and
l think she lost track of time. We
always made good use of the things
she sent, and saw that some one got
IllcIi, DuL VIC uCNCI hhCu W lluA ASA
by explaining"
"Feel distressed! Oh, goodness! I
don't feel distressed! 1 think it's
splendid joke"
Mother and son nodded at each other
and smiled. If there was anything in
the world they admired, it was sense
of humOr.
Besides" said Stephen, 'it's the
best birthday I've ever had. I'm going
to give your mother a special note OF
thanks for sending me the incest pres
ent in the world"
And the gray eyes were too full Of
meaning for Jane to question what he
meant.
"That's true, DEAR" said Mrs. Hamp-
ton, smiling. Hes carried your pic
ture since. you were a little girl with
curls. He said you looked so jolly"
Jane smiled gratefully and held out
her hand.
"That's splendid of you. Suppose
YOU 20 back home with me and show
mother how little Stephen has grown
up," she said.
"rd love to-" he answered, ."and in
cidentally I'll mention to her a real
birthday present want sometime"
But Jane, flushing, had nothing to
answer to this.