Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-01-31
UNCLE HORACE
Took the Baby to the Club In It's Night
Gown,

alike to him-but that was before his
sister Lii came home for visit and
brought her baby. The day she was
to arrive Horace was even unkind en-
ough to say that he would be glad to
see Lii. but that he wished she would
leave the baby behind. "a baby al
ways keeps house all stirred uD," he
complained; they are either crying or
hungry or sleepy or in some abnormal
state and you are expected to sympa-
thize with all their woes" His moth
er only remarked severely in reply
that he had once been a baby himself
and one of the very worst she had ever
raised.
When the triumphant procession ar
rived, bringing Lii and the baby from
the station. Horace kissed his sister
and then stared at the white bundle in
her arms. Now, know you want to
see the baby right away" she said, and
began removing layers of gauze yelling
from the face of the infant. When the
little pink face was uncovered Horace
nerved himself to look and think of
some flattering remark that would sat-
isfy the mother He went up gingerly.
George! It's really pretty, isn't 1t?
cried, in untactful surprise. Lill and
the other members of the family, from
his father down. all looked at him re-
sentfully. "Of course it's pretty-it's
a beautiful child"
Horace tried to retrieve himself. IL
meant that it's nice to look at-not red
and squashy looking. 1t can open its
eyes, too, and it's all fuzzy on top OF
it's head
These unhappy observations only
dragged him lower in the esteem of the
family. please call my h"Oy she and
not it," Lill said, resentfdiiy. You
needn't be so surprised, either, because
she is pretty" Horace tried to ex-
plain anew that he really admired the
baby, but he was in disgrace. The
family elbowed him away from the
baby and left him out of the conversa-
tion with ostentatious neglect.
But the baby-with the perversity OF
it's sex-took great fancy to Uncle
Horace. II soon preferred him to any
other member of the family, and would
even leave its mothers arms for ms.
When she saw him or heard his voice
she smiled ecstatically and gurgled like
little brook. This sort of thing won
Horace. From 2 state of indifference
tc his niece he came to be her widest
chcm3ion. He gave her all sorts or
Gif.:, from rattle to tiny ruby ring;
he learned to talk the goo-goo Ian :
guage and he became perfect nuis-
ance in his whist club, where he would
stop the lead while he told stories of
the beauty and cleverness of the baby
One evening Lill had put the baby to
sleep, turned the gas low in the room
and gone downstairs to join the family
in the library. She stole upstairs
again in about half an hour to see If
the child was covered and still sleep
ing. The family were startled by a
shrill scream. Lii came flying down
stairs to say that the baby was gone
Everybody said this could not be so,
and they went upstairs to search for
the baby. who couldn't walk and could
only hitch across the floor at about a
, spail's rate of locomotion. But tha
baby was gone, nevertheless. Inc
family were quite sure no one could
, have come in at the front door since
Horace went out to his whist club, just
after the sister had left the baby. Some
kidnaper had stolen in by the pack
stairs or climbed over the porch-none
of the family was really surprised that
the baby had been stolen, for they be
lieyed so firmly in its beauty and cleV-
erness that they were sure everybody
must covet it
The grandfather hurried to the po-
lice station, the aunts went out TO give
the alarm to the neighbors LII ana
her mother alone sat down by the emp
ty cradle and gave themselves up to
their grief. There was the souhu Vi
an oDening door and footsteps on the
stairs. Horace came into the room
carrying the baby in his arms. IL was
wrapped in its cloak and a blanket
"Oh. YOU found my baby!" Lii crleu'
She and her mother implored MIN 10
tell how he had got it away from the
kidnapers. They begged to know the
story
Horace was bewildered. why ne
said 81 just wrapped the baby up and
slipped over to the whist club with her,
I wanted to show her to the folks.
was afraid you wouldn't let me take
her if ! asked. you are such hlhnS
about her. They thought she was a"-
fully cute. too"
l. = no