Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-15

was deeply and regrctfullN conscious
Of his crime
He mechanically removed from his
mouth an mlighted cigar, and pressed
his lips determinedly. There could be
no mistaking the words spoken in
Mrs Mclton's soft, motherly voice
Mr. Lloyd stopped still on the stair
case and deliberately listened.
Martha is coming with the baby to-
morrow on the l. o'clock train from
Albany" Mrs Melton was saying.
The rustling of note paper revealed her
source of information TO Mr.. Lloyd as
plainly a. if he were in the sitting
room itself
And To stay whole month"; cried
Miss Edith, the one remaining member
of the Melton family who as yet had
escaped. through no fault of her own,
the matrimonial halter Mr.. Lloyd toll
Grated Miss Edith because she was in
the house when he took up his resi-
dencc with the McltonS Il year ago
Next to babies. Mr. Lloyd abominated
spinSterS of certain age out of pure
fear of their possible designs upon in
npccut ana uu>uspccting bachelors.
"Ih"y can have the big spare room.
nnd'
Nj J.loyl did not wait to hear the
conclu~inu OF HE sentence, spoken in
Mr.. Mriton'> hearty tones. He stepped
quietly put OF the wide old fashioned
hallway int jhc twilight and mOodily
walked tn..lrd his law office. adjoin-
ing the courthouse nj the other end Of
the prosperous little county seat where
lie had won Il name for himself in the
few years he bad resided in Blairville
The spare loom was across the hall
from Mr.. Lloyd'S own ample and hand
somely furnished SnuGgcry. So Mar.
tina ana the baby" were to 20 in the
spare room. were they: The doors
We're to bang. the baby was to bawl
and all Of the members Of the house
hold were 10 run up stairs and down
again forty times an hour for eighteen
hours Il day and from Mr.. Lloyds un-
sympathetic and pitifully deficient un-
derStundiug as To babies. eighty-one
hours II night waiting on the baby"
making life miserable for the star
boarder and supposedly delightful for
everybody else: Not if John Lloyd
knew it. He would return to the ho-
tel in the village, at which he had
been Il central figure until the day he
had gone with the Meltons in their
big, rambling home on the hill among
the naples. Hotel life had its draw
backs, but the proprietor had been un-
der contract not to room dOting moth
ers and leathery lunged infants with
in hearing Of Mr.. Lloyd's apartment.
The next morning at breakfast Mr..
Lloyd'S silence and gloom were In
marked contrast with the animated
table conversation regarding the visit
Ors who We're TO arrive that day. lie
had tried a dozen times during the
meal to tell them that he was to give
up his room and return to the hotel.
but each time the words stuck in his
throat. He finally decided that he
would quietly return to the house dur
ing the morning put his things in or
der and later send for them with
polite note Of explanation at the sud
denness of his departure
True to his resolution, Mr.. Lloyd
crept into the house unobserved and
placed his effects in some semblance
Of order for removal With every
sound from below be fancied he dis
tinguished agoniZcd squeals In infantile
treble, mingled with the chorus Of
adult voices in soothing efforts TO quiet
the tempest. Warm and fustered for
a dignified bachelor OF thirty-fve, Mr.
Lloyd slipped down the side staircase,
out on the little porch to which led the
short cut up the Hill from the railroad
station.
None Of the family had observed his
burglariOus entrance or hasty exit, but
shades OF Blackstone. woman was
coming along the narrow path over the
rear lawn. directly up TO the little
porch IA woman in neat travelling
gown and carrying suit case.
Caught" groaned Mr.. Lloyd aloud,
and he felt II hot glow of shame and
vexation sweep over him. Here's
Martha 10y all that has TO do with
babies fat or lean, squealing or COO
ing
The feminine gender in the travelling
gown paused at the foot of the steps,
gaZed in amaZement at Mr.. Lloyd's
stern and heated features and display
ed from beneath a big hat the rosy
face of 4 very pretty girl. Mr.. Lloyd
had not seen her profile because Of the
hat, and now that 1t came into fnll
view he looked again and did not re-
move his eyes from the rogulsh ones
that sought his SO inqulringly.
Martha. SUPPOSE" he ventured,
impolitely, scornfully and audibly.
Sir The red lips parted haughtily,
and the trim figure Strengthened per
ceptibly il the travelling gown at the
strange salutation.
You're Martha. Mrs Melton's sister,
Of course. but whereas Mr. Lloyd's
voice dropped out OF hearing as sud
denly as his courage.
I'm not Martha" she answered
sharply
ITO be sure YOU are" insisted Mr..
Lloyd, very firmly. Where's the-the
baby"
"The WHAT" cried the young lady
wonderingly.
''The baby Martha's baby. Where is
he, she or it, or whatever you call
EN-" Mr.. Lloyd was desperate; but,
rs hoy ba bios and Girl ha bipS al look ed