The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-02-03

Lawrence X. Neville, Jr., aged six,
puffed his impatient way through the
kont hall and out upon the piazza,
careful, even then, to keep on the rug
and to close the screen door softly. for
upstairs in a darkened room Muvver-lov-
or lay in care of white-capped nurse,
who was perpetually putting her finger
to her lips and making frantic ges-
tures for silence If he SO much as
thought aloud.
Baby sister walled continually, and
BOY resentfully wondered why nurse
didn't make her keep still. He was
sure that kind of noise must dis
turb Muvver-lover far more than
Mttle whistling and slamming OF doors.
But perhaps it was because she was
lady-baby, he thought, as he settled
himself to watch for Daddy. FOLKS
had to be polite to ladies' He'd like
10 ask Muvver-lover, but they hadn't
let him see her for days and days. Al
ways before when she had been sick he
had been allowed to tiptoe in and rub
her head, and she had said it made her
better. But then there had been no
cross nurse.
The lad leaped to his feet as his
father came in sight, and raced 10
meet him. Daddy would make every
thing clear. The mans strong hand
closed over the small brown one, and
Neville smiled down into the wistful
upturned face; then straightway all
but forgot the child's existence. And
Boy, skipping along to keep pace
with his fathers swinging stride, for
the first time in his short life found
Daddy unresponsive. AS they ascend
ed the steps, Neville reused from his
abstraction to hear Lawrence say:
"Is 1t cause she's lady-baby, Daddy,
and we must be polite to ladies?"
1That's exactly it, Boy" he an
wered the last clause of the question.
Men must always be polite and con.
nderate to ladies under all circum-
tances. Run out now and play, and
be very quiet" A perfunctory kiss
aropped upon the lads cheek, and Dad
ny IlptOeu upstairs.
Boy gazed after him with a queer,
choky feeling in his throat till the
door to his mothers room closed be-
hind him. Then he stood still, trying
to understand what it all meant. Had
he done something to displease Daddy?
And didn't Muvver-lover love him at
all since sister came? He clenched
his fists and winked hard. He wouldn't
cry! If they didn't care, he wouldn't
sitaer.
A shrill whistle sounded at the gate
and he ran out to meet the boy who
sat Just across the aisle at school
mo, | can't have anyone come here,
because my mothers sick,' he eX-
planned with an odd little assumption
of dignity. 'I'm sorry, too, for it's
lonesome when your folks are sick"
Returning, he went to the kitchen
door. He wondered at black Susan's
tender manner and at her muttered
"Pore III lamb" as he dragged his
feet up the back stairs The playroom,
over %he kitchen, was fitted with all
eorts of things that boys like There
were a few simple tools that Daddy
was teaching him to use, and appar-
Rtus for light gymnastics, for Boys
parents cherished theories as to train
ing children. Just now the room
was crowded. his bed had been moved
from his pretty room next to mothers,
and there was cot, where Susan slept
10 look after him.
In one corner were the toys that he
was beginning to consider too baDyish
for a six-year-old; chief among these
was rag doll. To Boy, Molls bowed
head and detected air indicated grief
Ut being thus cast aside, and with ready
pympathy he took her in his arms and
sat down to mediate.
He was almost happy as he ran
downstairs at Susan's call He and
Daddy would have chat over dinner
and then it would be time to go back
to school, where there would be a de-
lightful half-hour in which he could
yell and whistle to his hearts content
But Daddy did not appear. Susan eX-
planned, as she brought his soup and
pushed Boys chair closey to the table
rYo' paw can't come now. He tole
ne to give yuh yo' dinner an SEN yo
back to school, lest yuh git late"
AS he ate his solitary meal, Boy
rondered why Susans cooking didn't
laste as good as usual. Even his fav
Orite pudding lacked flavor Then hi
rendered why Daddy didn't come, ano
why they got that baby, anyhow. Tt
be sure, If Daddy and Muvver-lovel
really wanted her, why he'd try tt
want her, too. But it really didn
seem to him they needed baby.
He clambered down from the table
and went back to the playroom, fol
last loow at Moll the only membeI
Of his small world that had not failet
him. He reluctantly laid her on hi
bed, and was turning away, when i;
mdden thought struck him. Why not
It was Friday, and teacher had ex
pressly said at noon that they nigh
bring their dolls if they liked. H
moe cura Mo1l would lilo n hatt n