Western cyclone. [volume] (Nicodemus, Kan.) 1886-1887, 1886-10-07
BABY'S PAPAsHERBERT.


habyr'
oh, hang the baby" and Herbert
flung out of the room, slamming the
door behind him. Alice stood looking
at the door, growing whittier and winter.
Then she gave heart breaking cry, aud
fell on her knees by the cradle, and hid
ing her face in her hands. sobbed bit
terly.
She had looked forward so long to this
particular party. It was given by Mrs.
Mountjoy, one of the leaders of society.
She had not asked Herbert to give it up
also, and even said there was no reason
why he should stay at home; but still in
her heart of hearts she hoped he would.
"He said Hang the babyP yes he did,
darling" she murmured, with indignant
emphasis, as she bent over the little I'M
conscious sleeper. ''It was your papa
who said that, and he has gone to bril-
liant party with such thoughts of his
wife and child. Did you come, dearest
to estrange us from each otherf'
This awful idea called forth food of
bitter tears. She pictured the gay as
semblage and her Herbert dancing with
young girls, smiling on others, and leav-
ing her at home to die of heart break.
Her imagination, always too vivid, viewed
him in his triumph, until her misery
took almost the form of madness.
"He didn't want me to Co." she said;
''he acted as if he didn't, and then he
pretended to throw all the blame on that
dear, helpless baby.
Suddenly she heard the sound Of car
riage wheels outside; they stopped at the
door; the bell rang, and fairy like
figure stood Oh the threshold Of the room
in all the usefulness of expectancy, with
dimpling smiles and laughing eyes.
ooh, Mabelw cried Alice, starting to
her feet with glad cry. "Thie is indeed
a surprise. I'm so glad you come. My
darling sister"
Forthwith ensued a scene Of rapturous
welcome. Then tho baby was exhibited,
and one would not have dreamed that
tear had ever stained the cheek OF
the proud mother. Then the
visitors trunks were ordered to be car
ried upstairs.
"But where's Herbert? in the stndy?"
at last Mabel asked.
"He's out, dear"
Good! don't be angry because I'm
glad, for wecan have such nice little
chat. You didn't expect me-"
"Of course didn't"
"Well, didn't think of coming, as you
know for n month. But I thought it
would be so nice to surprise you"
"Oh, I'm so glad"
"And then Paul is coming" she said
blushing, 'next week to stay amonth; he
has business here, and he wanted me so
bad to be here, too. | DECLARE" she said
laughing, "Tll have to marry him soon
to get rid of him"
"Oh, Mabel don't marry him unless
you are certain you'll be happy" cried
Alice, hysterically. "Be sure, first, he
won't go to parties and leave YOU
alone-with the ba-by?' she sobbed.
"Whst! is Herbert at party?" quer-
ried Mabel, quite subdued.
Eyes, he is; and when [ told him |
could not 60 on account of the baby, he
said hang the BABY Yes, you little an
gel, your own father said those
awful words-and then he sl-slammed
the door"
Hes viper" exclaimed Mabel, with
vehemence "You ought to have gone.
But Herbert has no right to behave as
he did, and he must be punished" and
Mabel threw her wraps on the bed, and
took her seat by the glowing fire. 1T
won't do to let him get the upper hand.
All! | have it! I've thought of splen-
did plan. You are to so to the party"
"Mabel! ImpossibleW
Quite possible In fact, it must he
done. You must let Herbert see that
you are as pretty as anybody and quite
as much to be admired. You shall wear
one uf mine-one of the N ost bewitching,
bewildering of dresses-bought from
my last allowance from Uncle Curtis.
Only to see it Will throw you into costa
sizes. Worth never composed anything
more lovely"
In less than hour Mabel led her sis
ter to the great French minor and laugh
ingly introduced her to the loveliest and
best dressed woman she had ever seen.
Alice trembled little when she found
herself actually on the way to Mrs.
Mountjoy's; but her sister had conquer
ed, and her heart was hardened by Her
bert's emphatic expression concerning
the baby. She was treasured, however,
by Mrs. Mountjoy's hearty welcome
"tm SO glad you've come, my dear"
she said Your husband said he fear
ed baby would keep you at home; but
told him that was all nonsense. You
did right TO reconsider the matter"
Herbert, like many handsome society
VYaav. -. - IsAkI.