The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-17
BABIES NOT ALLOWED
ev CATHERINE cooPE.

WWJSSS1O>S'~~~
,corvr;eb, 1915 by the Mcclure Ne"spd
paper SyndicateJ
Mary Anne turned from the box Vi
flee after securing her seat TOT 'ne
matinee on the following SATURDAY
She would have left the foyer anu
gone out for the pleasant Jaun'
through the shops but for the fact tha'
her attention was attracted to tne
poor little woman who stood foriorn's
holding a tiny infant In her arms
The woman had been arguing quietly
with the boxoffice man. but TO nc
avail.
81 am sorry, madam, but infants 10
arms are not allowed in the tneater,
It is against the laws Of the house.
There was finality in the young
mans voice.
With her usual impulsiveness Mary
Anne approached the woman and
made inquiry.
81 cant 90 in with i'm and I've
paid my way in from Bexhili. MY
friends are up there now. They'll be
wondering what's 'appened to me.
Couldn't take care Of the baby
while you 20 up and see the panto'
mime? have the whole afternoon
free. Do let me-
Mary Anne saw the woman through
the doorway, then turned with ner
charge, wondering what her impuislve
nature had got her into this time.
Mary Anne lived in the suburbs,
herself. She remembered the huge
open fires that she had seen In the
Liverpool station when she had come
in the morning to business.
She soon arrived beside the warm
fire without mishap. She had not been
comfortably ensconced there for pal
try five minutes before the infant
showed most positive signs Of dissatis-
faction with Mary Anne's treatment
of him. He walled softly at first but
persons in the waiting room stared
or. more truthfully, glared at Mary
Anne, while one or two men walked
disgustedly out Of the station.
The girl was distracted She
wished she had never wanted to see
Jack and the Beanstalk." She pinned
for knowledge of the care OF infants
and determined to study up Doctor
Holt without loss of time. The fact
the baby let slip the bottle his moth
er had given Mary Anne brought a
deep flush to the girls cheeks.
young man, who had been surrep-
titiously watching Mary Anne's fran
tic efforts to pacify the baby came
over and picked up the fallen bottle
and presented it to her.
''Is there anything I can do for
you?" he asked, and he seemed SO
likely to know more than she did
about infants that Mary Anne smiled
gratefully. There may be a pin stick
ing him-have you looked?"
MOO" said Mary Anne. Il didn't
know Just where to look"
Great Scott! Who dressed your
baby? Let me have look" He took
the baby from Miss Annes arms very
firmly but gently and Mary Anne
heaved a sigh Of relief. The young
man certainly knew how to handle a
baby.
mo doubt you have several Of your
own" she vouched only half aloud.
"No-not guilty. am a doctor.
That is why had the temerity to
offer my assistance There seems moth
ing wrong with the kiddie. Wouldn't
he take his milk"
mo" Mary Anne said with a visit
full smile that sent wave Of peculiar
emotion over the young man. "He
didn't seem to want It."
Maybe you gave it to him too hot"
suggested the doctor.
Hot! It was stone cold" She
gazed fearfully at the baby.
Gold milk for an infant! You are
nne mother, the doctor COM
mented.
But am not his mother" protest.
ed Mary Anne with rush of color to
her cheeks. 81 don't know a thing
about babies"
Quite unnecessary information"
laughed the doctor. somehow very
much relieved that Mary Anne was
not the infants mother. He had been
wondering how SO neat and dainty a
girl could take such wretched care Of
, baby.
Mary Anne told him Of her adyen.
ture with a shy smile. She marveled
now the baby had become wonderfully
In the doctor'a orrpe