The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-10-28
t" HANG THE BABY"
II Didn't Sound Nice From the
Lips of the Wife.

sThen you won't go, Alice?''
NO, Herbert am SO sorry-but
the baby!"
20, hang the baby!" and Herbert
flung out of the room, slamming the
door behind him.
Alice stood looking at the door, grow
inc whittier and whittier. Then she gave
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. Itwas gwen by
Mrs. Mountioy. one of the leaders of
society, and all that was eminent in
politics, diplomacy or literature, as
well rs 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 so 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. at was
your papa who said that, and he has
gone to 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 a 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 a ioy
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'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 babyn'
Suddenly she heard the sound of car
rage wheels outside; they stopped at
the door; the bell rang, and a fairy
ilke figure stood on the threshold of
the room, in all the wistfulness of ex-
pectancy, with dimpling smiles and
laughing eyes.
20. 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 sister,
iot ttHWltn enSueu scene OF raptur-
Gus welcome. Then the baby was ex-
nlblted, 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 Herbertp In the
study?' at last Mabel asked.
"He's-out, DEAR
Good! don't be angry because I'm
gao, for we can have such nice little
chat You didn't expect me-
'Of course l didn't
well, didn't think of coming, as
gon know, for month. But thought
would be SO nice to surprise YOU"
70, I'm SO glad!''
!, And then Paul is coming" she said,
piushlng, next week, to stay month;
nc mas business here, and he wanted
iue SO badly to be here too. ldeclare,"
me Sa said, laughing, "Pll have to marry
aim soon. to get rid of him.
U, Mabel. don't marry him unless
you are certain you'll be happy" cried
Ace, hysterioally. 'sBe sure first he
won't 60 to parties. and leave you
1on,e-with the ba-by!n she sobbed.
" nat! is Herbert at partyP"
queried Mabel quite subdued.
les, ne is; and when I told him I
spalu .ss not go on account of baby he said,
ang ang the ba-by!' Yes; you little
angei Your own father said those awful
door, '' i0 'i-si''i''noo ''i0
eua, 80
mesa vipern exclaimed Mabel,
= s'ul sudden vehemence. "a nice way
tba., ueat wife like you-a baby like
eaby'" w '01'0A you 'save ene