about her, and they all eried out, * Yes, \es,

let us take 1t to him.”

A wild gladness overspread her face. Tler lips quivered, her eves sparkled. Some sudden resolve had come to her. She drew her hand ncervously across her cyes ; then, turning to the hittle ones about her quickly, she asked—

“YAnd it I let vou take my child, to him —what will you do? "

They were quict for a moment. Then the elder child, who had spoken bhetore, said

“1will carry him cver o carctul. can come too."

1 ocan come, too,” she murmured ; | can come, too "

Silently she placed her baby in the Tittle airl's arms. "The children trooped down the hill towards the house, the woman fol-

Y ou

lowing them with hesitating steps. The children had reached the cot- | L

tage gate, and the woman stayved without, lTooking through the hedge- row, and watchmge her hittle one with anxious care. One of the children, carrving the baby i her arms, crossed the Tawn towaids old TTolloway's Lrvourite rose-tres, “Marion.” Phere was just room for the child 1o stand bencath the orcat coverimg of green leaves and flowers. Then the otner cnldren ran to the porch. They cried out, * Grandtather! orandfather! Many happy returns of the day! many happy returns ol the day

The old heard their and came to door. Tow children danced and shouted ! Thev oot of both of his hand-

mian \'()i(fi(‘:% the those

. 0 bV N \

coat, and, vith merry lonohter,

40 THE STRANTD 116G 121N/

pulled him across the lawn to his favourite tree. Then cvery ittle tongue became stlly as though waiting for him to spealk. He lookedat the picture before him, There, beneath the cover of blossoms, stood a little airly Tooking up at him with a face lit un with smiles. She held out to him a baby. Scarcely knowing what he did he took the child from her arms into his own, and covered 1t tiny lace with kisses. He Tooked round about him, not knowing what to do or whither to turn, but his lips were mutter- Y One name.,

Again the children took hold of him and - pulled him along the path towards the wicket gate. They opened it and the woman was sull standing there, her pale face now flushed, her dim brighter still.

“Mavion ! Marion ! the old man eried. She fell on hix shoulder, with her arms about his neck. Just then the ~chool bell rang out, and away the chinldren ran up the hill, their voices ~houting all the wav, Many happy returns of the dav, erandfathor ! raany happy returns of the day ! Che old man, caressing the child hecarried iU Jlose to his broasg, with his daugh- armes - still ciinging to - his

neck, walked up the path- The

oncee CVUS

a4

(5 Y -‘ - L2l s

Dol on the rosc-tree secemed to peep out from all the other ermmseon blossoms. Thcy cntered the house together,