The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-28
now MR.. NICHOLSON mIsLAID THE BABY
CHAPTER I.

HVN MN, A1OnVIJOJR B1DtiA1D 1ttG DAD
London Society
CHAPTER l.
Mrs. Nicholson was standing in dubious
attitude, with the study door half open, and her
eyes turning from the quiet figure in the arm
chair by the table to another open door in the
passage behind her through which she could
see flood of sunshine, and in the sunshine
cradle.
Il don't feel quite easy" she said, 81 am so
afraid she should cry and no one hear her. l
wish had not let nurse 80 out; but all you have
to do" coming into the room and speaking i'm
pressiyely, "all you have to do is to ring the
BELL violently-violently, remember-for cook
For heavens sake, John,F leaning on the table
and stretching out pretty hand to attract her
husbands attention, look up, or speak, or
answer me, or you will drive me mad!7
'What is it all about, Agatha2' The calm,
'qeid, intelligent face opposite was lifted gently
and the I'M finger was slipped on to the page to
mark pause.
1T is baby. John, said Mr5, Nicholson in a
falterine voice and with idle, angry tears Milling
down her cheeks. Here have I, for the last ten
minutes, been begging and imploripg of you to
remember baby: not to nurse her l wouldn't
Docs that stop herr 1t seems simple enough
think even can do that"
But Mrs. Nicholson shook her head, still,
weeping. m
If it were my own baby / would say nothing,
would bear it all; but Emmy'sw
With patient SIGH the gentleman at the writ
ing table pushed the book away and lost his
place He looked at her in a bewildered way
what is it, Agatha9 d baby ., Emmys
baby of course"
And not half, one hundredth part, one
thousandth part valuable in your eyes"
broke in Agatha, with impetuosity," as the
smallest, the most unknown, the most undis
covered star You need not tell me- know it.
"Of course frowning gently, every one
knows that star, however small-stars are not
famous according to their size, my dear, is of
infinitely more value than one hair of baby's
head I mean, hastily speaking from the
entirely scientific point of view but as you were
saying-you were saying, We're you not'--a little
doubtfully--' something about that unfortunate
babe of Emmy'sg'
Mrs Nicholson had dried her eyes, and was
confronting him in all the cool spendor of her
pretty summer dress, and with all the calm de-
termination of a woman who has made up her
mind,
Eyes, ] was" she said; ''only, once for all,
john if you call il a babe will leave your house
at once, and never never come back; and if you
call it unfortunate ] shall take that hateful man
Rscript with me and burn it at the kitchen fire.
If it were yoursn-with impassoned irony-'it
Charles is is the best of fathers, and he has
always been the best OF husbands"
"h es, yes, of course, my dear said nothing
against Charles. l did not know we were talking
about him. We can finish him up tonight "
eheerfully. IF that is ALL you had better go
out now, while it is fine" turning his eyes to the
dazzling sunlight for an instant and then back to
his blotted page. You can tell me about
Charles, you know, when you come in The
best of husbands l don't know much about
them, fear, but know a little about the best
OF wives
He rose and laid his hand on the long, slender,
soft gray glove that was leaning with determi-
nation on his neat manuscript The gray glove
closed round his hand gently and chung to him,
almost as if it were loath to leave the thin worn
fingers; but he patted it gently and laid it aside
Mrs. Nicholson gave a faint sigh, but when she
spoke again she spoke with less decision and
more pleading.
1T is not Charles, indeed it is not it is the
baby. Nurse has gone out, and have put her
cradle in the morning room by the window.
John" suddenly, are You listening! What
did say lastF
''The morning room, Agatha
well" with sigh of relief, ~ see you are
taking it in and forgetting those horrible stars
and how you can compare a star TO baby, y
parenthetcally, us past me
~ am sure l never did," he said gently.
swell, don't interrupt me, John. l shall
never get out. What was l sayingl Oh, baby
is in the morning room, and if she eres-makes
one sound-you are to ring your bell-this bell
JOhn-for cook: do you understand
yves believe so. 1 am to ring the bell--this
bell-for cook
"Oh, Hope you will, " after pause Fancy"
her eyes filed with tears again, IF she cried.
and no one heard her. o John, you will not de-
ceve met You will cry-and-ringf
my dear" speaking with some dignity, sure
ly / am not utterly destitute of common human
ity or common sense l have interesting work
here, - pointing to the manuscript and the books
Of reference heaped around him; but suppose,
after all, am human
20. l hope SO, think So cried Agatha, clasp
ing her hands; only you might not hear her;
that is all | meant"
"Then think he said, with gentle sarcas-
tic smile, that yon may dismiss your fears;
they quite croundless"
VERY well " said Agatha, moving in hest
tnting way to the door Il am satisfied; am
trying to be satisfied; don't forget
NO. cheerfully, Il will take a leaf from
Charles's book the best of huebands,"
"Ohn-the gray glove had closed on the handle
of the door but released it again-''the Payn-
ters are coming tonight, so you must not go out
star gazing"
IAN right" obcdiently; "eoodbye."
Good bye" The bright face, that had NJ
most disappeared round the door, came back
.gain, and leaned against the worn velveteen of
.ho astronomers coat; Tor minute the lips were