The state journal., 1885-01-24
How Mr. Nicholson MiSIld The Baby
CHAPTER /.

Mrs. Nicholson was standing in du-
bious attitude, with the study door hall
open, and her eyes turning from the
quiet figure in the arm chair by the ia
Die to another open door in the passage
behind her, through which she could see
food of sunshine. and in the sunshine
a cradle.
II don't feel quite easy" she said;
Il am so afraid she should cry and no
one hear her. wish had not let nurse
90 out; but all you have to do, coming
into the room and speaking impressively,
"all you nave to do is to ring the bell
violently - violently, remember - for
cook. For Heavens sake, John, lean
ing on the table and stretching out a
pretty hand to attract her husbands at
tention, 'look up, or speak, or answer me,
or you will drive me mad y
"What is it all about, Agatha?' The
calm, placid, intelligent face opposite
was lifted gently, and the thin finger was
slipped on to the page to mark a pause.
1T is baby, John" said Mrs. NichoI-
son. i'll faltering voice, and with idle,
angry tears, rolling down her cheeks,
"Here have !, for the last ten minutes
been begging, imploring of you to re
member baby; not 70 nurse her, l
wouldn't trust you, but only ring the bell
If she cries"
'Does that stop herr It seems sim
pie enough. l think even l can do
that"
But Mrs. Nicholson shook her head,
still weeping.
'"You may laugh at me or sneer if you
like. If it were my own baby l would
say nothing, l would bear it all; but
Emmy's !"
With patient sigh the gentleman at
the writing table pushed the book away
and lost his place He looked at her in &
bewildered way.
What is it. Agatha babyl 0, EN-
my's baby, Of course"
"And not one halt, one hundredth part,
one .thousandths part as valuable in your
eyes" broke in Agatha, with impetu-
ousity, Gas the smallest, the most un-'
known, the most undiscovered star
You need not tell me; know it.
'Of course" frowning gently, "every
one knows that star, however small
stars are famous according to their size,
my dear. is of infinitely more value
than one hair of baby head. | mean
-hastily-''s speaking from the entirely
scientific point Of view; but as you were
saying-yOu were saying, were you not
"a lutte doubtfully something about
that unfortunate babe Of Emmy'sT'
Mrs. Nicholson had dried her eyes, and
was confronting him in all the cool splen
dor of her pretty summer dress, and
with the calm determination OF woman
who has made up her mind.
''Yes, was, i" she said; only once for
all, John, if you call it babe l will
leave your house at once and never,
never come back; and if you call IL un-
fortunate | shall take that hateful manu-
script with me and burn it at the kitchen
FIRE. If it were yours" with impas
stoned irony lit might indeed be
described as unfortunate; but Charles is
the best of fathers, and be has always
BEEN the best OF husbands
Eyes, yes, OF course, my dear. l
said nothing against Charles; | did not
know we were talking about him. We
can finish him up to night" cheertuliy
IF that is all you had better go out now,
while it is fine, )" turning Lis eyes to tie
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 l
don't know much about them, | fear, but
know little about the best OF wives. -
He rose and laid mis- hand on the lorg,
slender, soft gray glove that was leaning
with determination on his neat manu-
script. The gray glove closed round his
hand gently and chung to him, almost as
if it were 10th to leave the thin worn
fingers; but he patted it gently and laid
Sigh, but when she spoke again she
spoke with less decision and more plead
ing.
TT 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 listeningH What did l say lastT'
"The morning room, Agatha.
well" with a sigh OF relief Il see
YOU are taking it IN and forgetting those
horrible stars: and how you can compare
star to baby" parenthetically, rs
i am sure 1 never did,, he said
gently.
"Well, don't interrupt me, John, or l
shall never get out. What was saying
Oh, baby is in the morning room, and
if she cries-makes one sound-you are
to ring your bell-this bell, John-for
cook; do you understand -
eyes. l believe so. am to ring the
bell-this bell-for cook. -
"Oh, | hope you will, after pause.
Fancy" her eyes filling with tears
again. .'if she cried, aud no one heard