The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-02
" HANG THE BABY"
It Didn't Sound Nice From the
Lips Of the Wife.

"Then you won't go, Alice?"
mo, Herbert-I am so sorry-but
the babyn'
80, hang the babyr' and Herbert
flung out of the room, slamming the
door behind him.
Alice stood looking at the door, grow
ing winter and winter. Then she gave
a heart-breaking cry. and fell on her
knees by the cradle, and hiding her face
in her hands, sobbed bitterly.
She had looked forward so long to
this particular party, twas given by
Mrs. Mountjoy, one OF the leaders of
society, and all that was eminent in
politics, diplomacy or literature, as
well as distinguished in the fashionable
world, was sure to be there. She had
been kept at home SO much since baby
had been born that she really felt the
need of little variety and relaxation.
But baby had been Threatened with
Group the week before, and the fond
mother had not yet recovered from her
fright. Baby, she admitted, was better,
''but not fit, she declared, ''to be left,
at least with only the nurse to look
after it. Nurses are 80 careless, every
body had told her. even the best of
them"
She had not asked Herbert to give it
up also, and even SAID there was no
reason why he should stay at home;
but stillin her heart of hearts she hoped
he would.
He said, Hang the babyr yes, he
did, darling she murmured, with in
dignant emphasis, as she bent over the
little unconscious sleeper. cit was
your papa who said that, and he has
gone to a brilliant party with such
thoughts of his wife and child! Did
you come. dearest, to estrange us from
each other?'
This awful idea called for flood of
bitter tears.
Herbert had said such beautiful
things in her trusting girlhood. ''Never
should their lives run in separate chan
nels, as those of some married people
of their acquaintance did-never iov
be accepted that did not make them
one-never a barrier should come be-
tween them"
And now to think that this wee babe,
with its golden curls, this beautiful lit
tie helpless creature, should part them,
as never strong hands could She pic
tured the gay assemblage and her Her
bert dancing with young girls, smiling
on others and leaving her at home to
die of heart break. Her Imagination,
always too vivid, viewed him inhis tri-
umphs, until her misery took almost
the form of madness.
''He didn want me to CO." she said,
she acted as if he didn't. and then he
pretended to throw all the blame on that
dear, helpless babyn'
Suddenly she heard the sound of car
rage wheels outside; they stopped at
the door; the bell rang, and fairy
like figure stood on the threshold of
the room, in all the usefulness of eX-
pectancy, with dimpling smiles and
laughing eyes.
80, Mabel" cried Alice, starting to
her feet with a glad cry. This is, in
deed, a surprise. I'm so glad you
come. My darling sisterp'
Forthwith ensued scene of raptur-
GUS welcome. Then the baby was ex-
hibited, and one would not have
dreamed that a tear had ever stained
the cheek of the proud mother. Then
the VISITORS trunks were ordered to be
carried up stairs.
"But where's Herbert? In the
study?' at last Mabel asked.
'He's-out, DEAR
'Goodl don't be angry because I'm
glad, for we can have such nice little
chat You didn't expect me-"
"Of course didn't"
"Well, l didn't think of coming, as
you know, for month. But l thought
it would be so nice to surprise you"
80, I'm so glad!'
"And then Paul is coming" she said,
blushing, "next week, to stay month
he has business here, and he wanted
me so badly to be here too. Ideclare, "
she said, laughing, I'm have to marry
him soon, to get rid of him."
40, Mabel! don't marry him unless
you are certain you'll be happy!' cried
Alice, Historically. "Be sure first he
won't 90 to parties, and leave you
alone-with Che ba-byr she sobbed.
"What! is Herbert at partyP"
queried Mabel quite subdued.
eyes, he is; and when / told him /
could not 60 on account of baby he said,
'hang the ba-byr Yes; you little
angel your own father said those awful
words-and then he sl-slammed the
door"
"He's viperw exclaimed Mabel,
with sudden vehemence. IA nice way
to treat a wife like you-a baby like
that! But why couldn't you leave the
baby?"
because he was threatened with the
Group last week"
"But he's well enough now-sleeps
delciously. He'll not wake up all the
night, perhaps. And the nurse would
have taken good care of him"
81 should have been thinking of fire,
Group and all that"
20, nonsense! You ought to have
gone. But Herbert has no right to be-