The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-20
THE PROFESSOR AND THE BABY.

Mrs. Nicholson was standing in a dubiOu
attitude with the study door half oren, an,
! her eyes turning from the quiet figure 10 tn,
arm chair by the table TO another open doc
I in the passage behind ber, through which
! she could see flood ct sunshine and in tht
sunshine = cradle.
L don't feel quite easy she said 1 an
so afraid she would cry and no one heaI
her. | wish had net let the nurse go out
bat all you have to do coming iuto the
room and speaking mpressively, ALI you
have 10 do is TO ring the bell violently-vio-
lently, remembeT-fOT cook. For Heaven 5
sake, John, leaning on the table and stretch
ing OUT pretty hand to attract her brother 5
attention. look up, or speak. or answer me,
or you will drive me mad
What is it ali about. y gatha - The calm,
pactc, intelligent face opposite was lifted
gently and the thin figure was slipped on to
the rage to mark pause.
1t is baby, John said Mrs. Nicholson, in
q faltering voice, and with IDLE, angry tears,
rolling down her cheeks. Here have l. for
the last ten minutes, heen begging. implor-
ing ot you to remember baby not to nurse
her, ] wouldn't trust you but only ring the
bell il she cries.
Does that stop her? It seems simple
enough. think even can do that
But Mrs. Nicholson shook her head, stiN
weeping.
You may laugh at me or sEeer if you like.
Ii it were my own baby would say nothing
l would bear it all, buJ Emmy'sr
With patient sigh The gentleman at the
writing table pushed tt book away and lost
his place He looked at it in a bevildered
way
What is it. Agatha ? baby 0, Emmy's
BABY, Of course
and not one half, one hundredth part,
one thousandth part, as valuable in your
eyes broke in Agatha, with impetuosity
as the smallest the most unknown, the most
discovered star. You need not tell me ]
know it.
OF course frowning gently, everyone
/ knows that a star, however small-staTs are
famous according to their SIZE my dear j,
infinitely more value than one hair of a
baOy's head. l mean hastily
from an entirely scientific point of view
but as you were sayiug-you were saying
we're you Got'--a little dOubtfully-'some
bAilE hOphb al hulOt Iuudtc DhDt OF Elm
my's p
Mrs. Nicholson bah dried her eyes aud
was confronting him in al the cool splendo1
OF her pretty summer dress, and with the
calm determination of a woman who has
made up her mind
Yes. [ was she said only once for all.
John; if YOU call it a babe / will leave vour
house al once and never, never come back
and if you call it unfortunate, shall Ia ke
That hateful manuscript with me and burn il
at the kitchen fire. If it we're yours''--witr
impassioned irony--It might indeed be de-
scribed IN unfortunate; but Charles is the
best of husbands
Yes, yes, of course, my dear. said moth
ing against Charles; I did not know YOU
were talking about him. We can finish him
up tonight cheerfully If that is all Won
had better 90 out now, while it is fine. turn
ing his eyes to the dazzling sunlight for an
instant and then back to the blotted page.
You can tell me about Charles. you know,
when you come in. The best of husbands.
! don't know much about them, fear. but l
know a little about the best of wives
lie rose and laid his hand on the long.
with determination en- the neat manuscript,
The gray glove closed around his haGd gent
~ and clung to him, almost as if it we're
10th to leave tie thin worn fingers but he
patted it gently and laid it aside. Mrs. Mich
olson gave 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; the nurse has gone out and l have
put the cradle in the morning room by the
window. John, suddenly are you listen
ing? What did I say last?'
The morning roo N, Agatha
We'll, see .;ou are taking it in and for
getting those horrible stars; and how you
can compare star to baby, is past me-
i am sure I never did, he said gently.
Well don't interrupt me, John, or shall
never get out. What was l saying? Oh,
baby was in the morning room, and if she
cries, one soubd-you are to ring
your bell, this bell, John, for the cook. DO
you understand 2
Yes. believe so. l am to ring the bell
this bell-for cook
'Oh, hope you will, after a pause. Fan
cy,' her eyes filing with tears again, IF she
cried. and no one heard her Oh, John, you
will not deceive me a? You will try-and-
ring -
MY DEAR speaking with some dignity,
surely am not utterly destitute of common
sense. 1 have interesting work here
pointing to the manuscript and the books OF
reference heaped around him, but l sup
pose, after all, | am human
%. | hope So | think So cIied Agatha
ciaspine her hands 'only you might not
heac her, that was all moant.'