The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-10-02

sleep all night; preferably Geral
senior, but-and this was what tn
trouble was all about-he had a dru
store, and no one could be truste
with the precious prescription factor
from a. m. until IL p. m. daily bu
himself. Priscilla was left to anus
herself as best she could.
Suddenly someone threw up a wiz
dow in the building next door an
strains of music came floating owe
to her. She raised her own windoy
in order to hear better. 1t was
waltz, and, looking up, she caught
glimpse now and then of passini
dancers.
Gerald junior was sleeping now. Sh
took away the bottle, covered hin
snugly-and then she went to he
desk. Long ago she had tucked ava.
an engraved card somewhere in /;
pigeonhole. She found it under tn,
baby's weight chart.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reginald St Clair
| STUDIO DANCING
Glasses Tuesday and Friday
From until IL.
| Private Lessons as Arranged.
Nestor Building. Philadelphia.
How she had coaxed Gerald to go
He used to love dancing! How mar
riage changed men! 1t was different
with women. They didn't lose all 70
nance in two short years.
Then she thought of something. Why
not go to dancing school alone? Many
women did,
She rolled baby's bed as quietly as
she could to the window and pulled
the shade to the top. If she left a
bright light burning in the room she
could look over at him after every
dance to make sure he was all right.
In a few minutes she was dressed
in a year-old white gown and black
slippers and stockings, but she felt
like Cinderella in satin and crystal
going to her first ball.
She glanced at the clock. Nine!
And Gerald wouldn't be home until
eleven! Two hours to enjoy herself!
II only-she looked at his picture on
the mantel and sighed-if only he
were little different and cared for
some of the things she did!
The preliminaries were a little try.
ing to timid Priscilla, but the delight
of dancing more than made I'D for
the effort. AS she had planned, after
every dance she went to the window
for a peep at the baby, who lay, as
she had left him, sound asleep in his
bed close to the window.
Priscilla laughed softly to herself
How splendidly her plan had worked!
Two hours of pleasure like this once
week would keep her going hun
dreds of lonely evenings at home
alone. What Gerald does not know
does not hurt him!" she reflected
smiling. I'm not doing anyone in the
world bit of harm"
The class work on a new one-step
took a little longer than usual, and
by the time it was over Priscilla was
frantic with anxiety She made
straight for the window and looked
down at Baby Gerald's window.
She put her hand suddenly to her
mouth to sti1e a scream. She was
Just in time to see two masculine
arms lift baby from his bed and dis
appear.
She had locked the door and no one
else but Gerald had key. But Ger
aid had no pepper-and-salt clothes. and
the two arms that held her precious
baby were encased in rough tweed!
Priscilla ran! Like a fash she was
down the stairs, out on the street,
then up the stairs of her own build
ing. The door of her apartment was
standing open and-Gerald Junior was
gone!
She tried to reach the telephone. hut
the floor was waving and everything
was dancing before her eyes. She sat
down an instant until things should
get steadier-then quietly tainted
away.
The next morning Gerald senior sat
holding one of Priscilla's hands. Baby
Gerald lay cooling in his crib and
everything seemed delightfully."- peace
full and happy to the little woman in
bed. III you don't mind. Gerald
dear. will you please tell me all over
again how you rushed home for babv
when you got the message your
grandmother was passing through
town and wanted to see her onlv
greatgrandson?" -,
So he told her again.
Whose coat had YOU on. dearr'
Sans, my clerks. had only ten
minutes to get to the train and in nv
rush | got the wrong one"
And you're sure you don't mind
my going to dancing SCHOOL,"
Yes. l do mind! 1t was a shame
you had to go alone. After this wen
get Sally to stay Friday nights TO
look after the baby and well go fox.
trotting together"
Copyright. 1a15. by the Mcclure News
paper SyndicateD
Failure Because Of Pover,v