Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-04-20
The Baby
BY EDWARD L. REcKARD
BY EDWARD L. K


Mr.. John Lloyd suffered the guilt Of
IN eavesdroppcr. and for the moment
was deeply and regretfuliy conscious
OF his crime.
He mechanically removed from his
mouth an unlightcd clgar. and pressed
his lips de~tcrminedly. There could be
no m%istnklng the words spoken in
Mrs. Melons soft, mothcrly voice.
AIR. Lloyd stopped sull on the stair
case and deliberately listened.
martha Is coming with the baby to
morrow on the y O'Clock train from
Albany" Mrs. Melton was saying.
The rustling OF note paper revealed Der
source Of information 20 Mr.. Lloyd as
plainly rs n he were in the sitting
room itself.
And 10 stay a whole month"; cried
Miss Edith, the M remaining member
of The Melton family who rs yet had
escaped, through no fault Of her own.
the matrimonial halter. AIR. Lloyd toll
Grated Miss Edith because she was In
the house when he took UP his resi-
douce with the Melons a year ago.
Next TO babies, Mr.. Lloyd abomlnatcd
splnsters Of certain age out of pure
fear Of their possible designs upon in
noccnt and ~unsuspccting bachelors.
They can have tie big spare room,
and
Mr.. Lloyd did not wait to hear the
conclusion OF the sentence, spoken in
Mr.. Melton's hearty tones. lie stepped
quietly out of the wide, old fashioned
hallway into the twilight and moodily
walked toward his law Office. adjoin-
ing the courthouse at the other end Of
the prosperous little county seat where
he had won a name for himself in the
few years he bad resided in Blairville.
The spare room was across the hall
from Mr.. Iloyd's own ample ana hand
somciy furnished snUggcry. SO Mar
tina and the baby" were to 90 in the
spare room, were they? The doors
were % bang. the b0by was 10 bawl
and all Of the members Of the house
hold were to run up stairs and down
again forty times an hour for eighteen
hours Il day and, from Mr.. Lloyd's un.
sympathetic ana pitifully deficient m
-der5tandlng as to babies. cighty-oue
hours n night, waiting on the baby"
making life miserable for the star
boarder and supposedly delightful for
everybody else? Not If John Lloyd
knew it! lie would return to the ho-
tel In the village, at which he had
been Il central figure until the day Inc
had gone with the Melons in their
big, rambling home on the hill among
the naples. Hotel life had its draw.
backs, but the proprietor had been IN
der contract not to room doting moth
crs and leathery lunged infants with
IN hearing Of Mr.. Lloyd's apartment.
The next morning at breakfast Mr.
LlOyd's silence and gloom were II
marked contrast with the animated
table conversation regarding the visit
ors who were to arrive that day. II,
had tried n dozen times during thG
meal to tell them that he was to Civ,
up his room and return to the hotel
but each time the words stuck in Iii.
throat. lie finally decided that Inc
would quietly return to the house dur
ing the morning. put his things in or
der and later send for them with O
polite note Of explanation at the sud
denness Of his departure.
True to his resolution. Mr.. Lloyd
erept into the house unobserved and
placed his effects in some semblancC
of order for removal. With every
sound from below be fancled he dis
tlnguishcd agonized squeals in infantil,
treble. mingled with the chorus o
adult voices In soothing efforts TO qule
the tempest. Warm and clustered TO
n dignifed bachelor OF thlrty-hve. Mr.
Lloyd slipped down the side staircase
out on the little porch to which led tn
short cut up the hill from the ~railroa,
station.
None of the family had observed hi
burglarious entrance or hasty exit. buI
shades OF Blackstone, n woman wa
coming along the narrow path over til
@ a lawn. directly up to the llttl
porch IA woman in a neat travelin
gown and carrying Il suit case!
Caught! groaned Mr.. Lloyd alou(
and he felt n hot glow Of shame an
vexation sweep over him. "Here'
Martha, by all that has TO do wit
babies. fat OF lean. squealing or COO
ing!"
The feminine gender in the ~travelin
gown paused at the foot Of the steps
gazed In amazement at Mr.. Lloyd
stern and heated features and display
ed from beneath n big hat the ros
face Of a very pretty girl. Mr.. Lloy
had not seen her profile because Of I'll
hat. and now that It came into fu
view he looked again and did not n
move his eyes from the roguish one
that sought his so inqulrlngly.
martha, I supposeT' he ventureC
impolitely. s~cornfully and audlbly.
'Sirv' The red lips parted haughtill
ana the trim figure Strengthened pei
coptibly in the travelling gown at I'll
strange salutation.
you're Martha. Mrs. Melton's siste.
OF course. but wherc's"- Mr.. Lloyd
voice dropped out Of hearing as SUE
denly as his courage.
I'm not Martha" she answere
sharply.
ITO be sure you are,' insisted Nj
Lloyd. very firmly. where's the-th
bahy?"
"The whatY' cried the young lad
wondcrlngly.