OCR Text |
Show 1 in r r i r r f t t f f r r f if f r f f r f r f f r r f i r f f r n m 1 ACCOUNT OF BABY i I By MARGUERITE RAND. i !((0 Mil, by WtClurt Nwtppr Bradtcite ) Little Sirs. Fenway sat Alone In tier lirclty living room, too miserable cen I to wipe away the tears that rolleil J steadily down tier cheeks. Unheeded, I they splashed upon the new gingham II dress that she lnul bought only a neck J ago because Tom liked to see her In I pink and while. Even the baby's gurgling laugh out on llio porch could t rf not win a smile, from her; Indeed, It I -n tided to her wretchedness for was j not tho baby, that most adorable bit ( of humonlty, the cnuo of nil her trouble? "Oil, denr," wept Mrs., Fenway, "I wouldn't have believed' that Tom could tje so brutal I What shall 1 do? Oh, I'm so miserable t" Suddenly, like a ray of hope, came the thought of AuntMarcla. "Slro always helped mo out of my troubles nt school; perhaps she can think of some way to help me now." Dabbing sonic powder on her nose, i nnd hoping that no one would notlco her red eyes, she hurried to the tele graph station, and an hour Inter Aunt Marcln wus thrown Into consternation .by the following message: "Am In a dreadful trouble. Can't ynu come at once? Dot." The old lady was busy preserving peaches, but with visions of terrible S calamities before her, she left tin fruit to Its fate, hastily packed a hag and responded to her niece's call. "Well, Dot. what's the matter?" sho nsked as soon as the first greetings wore over. "Mercy I how you frightened fright-ened me,! Is the baby sick?" Dot shook hqr head. "Well, Is anything tho matter with Tom? Where Is he? For heaven's imkej tell me What tho trouble Isl" At thes-e 'questions the 'flood-gates opened again, and between sobs Dot . gnsped: "I don't know. He linwi't been home for thrco whole days and flights." Iv "Not come home I" echoed, Aunt Mart-la In nstoulshnicnt. . ."Why 9t" "We we quarreled," groaned Dot. "Just becturso I -1dve the' baby o. much. Ho says Kwoq't. go anywhere, or linvo any fun, .or or do anything." "Well", Is It true?" asked Aunt' Marcln Mar-cln briskly.-' - ''' i . ."Jlaybe It Js," acknowjelged .Dot. "But how cao I bear to leave my baby? He's so adorable. Why, Abnt JInrcIn, even when he's asleep It's lovely Just to sit by.hls crib and watch him broaching softly. Tom thought so . nt first, but now he wants to go out to theaters' and dinners, Instead of stnylng at home with our own lovely, precious baby." Wt- "Oh, good heavens I" ejaculated WAunt Murclu. "You don't suppose Tom .Fenway's whole naturo Is changed Just becauRo you and he have n baby, do you? Tom was always tho most popular fellow In town. Of course, ho Isn't going to settle down nt home with nothing to do but hang over n baby's cradle even as fine a baby as Tom, Jr.," finished Aunt Martin Mar-tin proudly. ' i "That's Just what he said that he couldn't spend all his -time hnnglng over baby's crib. Our own darling . bobyl Oh, wasn't ho brutal?" "Not a bit of It." laughed Aunt Marcla. "He's sensible. Now look . here, you don't want to lose Tom al- together, do yon?" i "No, nol" cried Dot miserably. "I couldn't live without Tom." Her eyes widened with sodden fear. "Why, yon (lont iiiinu "Yes, I do." Aunt Marcln's tono . was decisive. "Tom's bound to en-5 en-5 Joy life, and If you won't Bhnro his j pleasures, some one else will. You'd better make up with him, that's my '' ndvlce. Tho nurso Js competent tto i take care of the baby, Isn't stie?" I "Yes," Dot spoko" vfllowly, "she i knows more about babies than I do." j I do wont Tom tojcbraVjiotno, but' I j can't ask him to, I don'i belovo he i loves we or the baby, 'or he wouldn't liavo gono away." f "Nonsensot" Aunt Marcla laughed, i ruthlessly. "lou hate to glvo In, tlmt'tf nil; but you'll better pocket your pride. Doesn't he come to see the. M "No, not hero," sobbed Dot. "uis 5 paid he wouldn't until I wos ready to ( be what ho calls sensible. But, he I t-tops In the park every day when baby Is out with his nurse. I can see ' ' them from my window." I "Well," suggested Aunt Marcln, "can't you walk through tho park nnd pretend that you've met him by accident acci-dent ?" Dot pondered n moment, then a mis-rhlovous mis-rhlovous smllo brought out tho dimples dim-ples In her checks. Lute next afternoon Aunt Marqla wit sewing Jn tho living room when Dot danced In, her eyes shining nnd ii big box of roses In her hands. Upstairs Up-stairs n cheerful whistlo sounded ft. f A" I--"0!" Tom's room. W f " "It worked, didn't It?" said Aunt Marcla with n smile. "Oh, you old denr. let mo hug jou, exclaimed Dot Impulsively. "I'm so glad I followed your advice. Tom really loves baby Just as much as 1 do, but he has different ways of showing show-ing It. Now' I've got to dtess. for we'ro going to- the theater tonight. Tom says wo don't want to turn Into wtupld," .).U-fogy parents yet. We've . got to keep ourselves young nnd Joliy, I " especially on account of the baby." I ', "That's, right," called fAmU.JIurcln i ns Dot flew up tire stairs, "and while you'ro dressing I wilt pack my bag. i lvo cot to ft boat to those |