El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-11
Married Life the First Year
No z67 Hl@. Baby'S By Mabel Herbert Urner

|, fatherinIaw, Helen took it up and tried
TO soothe it. But it had never screamed
so loudly, its face had never seemed SO
red nor its mouth so large. Helen was
miserably conscious that Mr.. Curtis was
watching it critically. she tried TO
shield its face in her arms, out it per-
sisted in wriggling around so it could
be plainly seen. 1t was all she could do
to repress her own tears of anger and
modification.
Martha" Proposed.
'And what are you going to call it,
her fatherinlaw asked, quite upper
turbed. when the baby stopped to catch
its breath.
I'VE haven't talked of that yet"
Helen answered, with as much cold
dignity as under the circumstances
she could assume.
You haven't talked of it YETI"
brusquely- why, the child is--how
old? Four weeks, isn't it?''
-Four weeks and five days"
well, it must be named. 1t must be
named and christened at once. Call it
Martha-that's my mothers name.
What do you say to that, Warren?
Martha-after your grandmother Cur
tis?"
Why I'll leave that to Helen"
Il don't think I should like Martha"
Helen said, quickly.
Catherine" Next.
"Then how about Catherine? War
ren's great aunt was Catherine-Cather-
inc Curtis. and a very fine woman. too.
That would be an excellent name. YOU'D
better decide right now on Catherine"
Mr.. Curtis" Helen's voice was icy.
Warren and 1 would prefer to name
our baby ourselves. And now, since you
have awakened It. If you viii kindly
go into the other room, perhaps I can
quiet it again. 1 don't think I CAP
while you are here"
It was the first time any member of
Mr. Curtis's family had ever had the
courag to speak to him like thai. lust
what clustering reply he would have
made, they never knew, for Warren
quickly touched MIN on the arm and
drew him into the other room.
Come. father, Helen is nervous and
unstrung, and it's so hard for her when
the baby cries. She really isn't well
enough to see anyone yet"
We'll. evidently the child has In
herited some of her temper. from the
way it screams" Mr. Curtis retorted
angrily.
Helen Protests.
making any comment. There was moth
ing to be gained by antagonizing mis-
father He only wanted to mollify him,
to get him off quietly without any fur
Their scene. He succeeded at last and
hurried back to Helen in the nursery
She had almost quieted the baby, but
her own eyes were full of angry, In
dignant tears
Dear, you mustn't mind father, that's
only his way"
.fOh. that's what you always say. But
for him to come here at this time and
deliberately wake the baby and upset
me-
Yes. I know he shouldn't. It was
most uncalled for
And that he should presume to name
our baby In that peremptory, off-hand
way"
yes, I know" he admitted. sooth-
ingly. lit was objectionable, but try not
TO think about it any more
The Point Evaded.
1t was not until later in the evening
that he said, doubtfully:
Il suppose we should name the baby
soon"
Yes, but not now. I'd like to wait
little longer-a few weeks more
She didn't want to explain, even to
him, that all the names she had
thought of were for beautiful, golden
haired. laughing babies; not for the
poor, homely little baby that was now
in her arms. And she
wanted TO wait until it was a little
older hoping that it would be little
less unattractive.
Perhaps he understood, for he pressed
her hand close in mis- as he said,
quietly: Il
Very well, dear; we'll wait