, 1880-03-15
The New Years Party,

"Then you won't go, Alice?"
"No, Herbert so sorry-but
the baby!''
"Oh, hang the baby = and Herbert
flung out of the room, slamming the
door behind him.
Alice stood looking at the door,
growing winter and winter. Then she
gave heart breaking cry, fell on her
knees by the cradle, and holding her
face in her hands, sobbed bitterly.
She had looked forward so long to
going to this New Years party. 1t was
given by Mrs. Mountjoy, one of the
leaders Of society in Washington, and
all that was eminent in politics, diplo-
macy, or literature, as we'll as distin-
guished in the fashionable world, was
sure to be there. She had been kept
so much at home since baby had been
born that she really felt the need of a
little variety and relaxation. But baby
had been threatened with Group week
before, and the fond mother had not
vet recovered from her fright. Baby,
she admitted. was now better, "but
not fit" she declared, "to be left, ut
least with only the nurse to look after
it. Nurses are so careless, everybody
had told her, even the best of them"
So she had not asked Herbert to give
it up also, and even said there was no
reason he should stay at home; but
still, in her heart of hearts, she had
hoped he would.
He said Hang the baby yes,
he did, darling" she murmured, with
indignant emphasis, as she bent over
the little unconscious sleeper. "It
was your papa who said that, and he
has gone to brilliant party with such
thoughts of his wife and child Did
you come, dearest, to estrange as from
each other p
This awful idea called for bitter
signs.
Herbert had said such beautiful
things i'll her trusting young maiden
hood. Never should their lives run
in separate channels, as those of some
married people of their acquaintance
did, never Joy be accepted that
did not make them one;" never a
barrier should como between them"
And now to feel that this wee babe,
with its golden curls, that this beauti-
full little helpless creature should part
them as never strong hands could
She pictured the gay assemblage.
and her Herbert dancing with fair
young girls, smiling on others, and
leaving her to die of heart break.
Her imagination, always too vivid,
viewed him in the midst of his tri-
umphs, until her misery took almost
the form of madness.
"He didn't want me to CO." she
cried; "he acted as if he didn't, and
then he pretended to throw all the
blame on dear, helpless baby"
Suddenly she heard the sound of
carriage wheels outside; they stopped
at the door; the bell rang, and fairy
like figure stood on the threshold of
the room in all wistfulness of expect
ancy, with dimpling smiles and laugh
ing eyes.
"Oh, Mabel y cried Alice, starting
to her feet with glad cry. "This is,
indeed, a surprise. I'm so glad you've
come. My darling sister !"
Forthwith ensued scene of raptur-
GUS welcome. Then the baby was ex-
hibited, and one would not have
dreamed that tear had ever stained
the cheek of the proud mother. The
visitors trunks were ordered to be car
ried upstairs.
"But where's Herbert? In the
study ?" said Mabel, at last.
All the light went out of her sisters
eyes; her hands fell.
"Hev vhe is out, DEAR"
GOOD ! Don't be angry, because
I'm glad, for we can have such nice
little chat. You didn't expect me?"
"Of course I didn't"
"Well, didn't think of coming, as