New Britain herald., 1915-11-26
How the Party Broke Up With ;
 Startling Scene.

FTank, we must go nome.
 Little Mrs. Lester stood before her husband, her face anxious, her voice strained. knew that her anxiety about leaving her baby alone had reached a point where she could no longer hide 1t.
 GO home" Dicky's voice broke in. aggrieved, astonished. ITO think any = l body should suggest such a thing at a party of mine. I'm surprised at you, Daisy.'
 We were all seated in the living room again. Harry and Lillian Un- derwood, Frank and Daisy Lester, Dicky and I. From every point of view save one, our little chafing dish l supper had been a decided success. 1 That exception concerned myself, however. It was Harry Underwood's s 1 unpleasant persistence in forcing his presence upon me-,
 The sandwiches were all eaten, and 1 the chafing dish was scraped clean of | the rarebit, although I wondered how they could possibly eat the stuff. The beer and ale bottles with which Dlcky l had liberally stocked the tables were ] empty, and the whole supper had been one continual cross-fire of | laughing and testing.
 You will surely wait for some 1 coffee and cordials. Katie is coming wi ith them now"
 I knew that must second Dicky's s l words. I felt guilty, however, in | urging Mrs. Lester to stay, even | though with my inexperience of | babies I thought she was foolishly anxious
 "Oh Mrs. Graham, I don't believe l I can wait for anything. I am get 1 ting so nervous. I know it's awful to be so silly, but just can't help it" Daisy" Her husbands voice was stern, his face looked angry. Do stop that nonsense. We are certainly not going home now.'
 His wife seemed to shrink into herself Her pretty face, with it's worried look, was like that of little girl grieving over a, doll. I felt a sudden desire to comfort her.
 Mrs. Lester's Fears.
 T think you are worrying yourself unnecessarily, Mrs. Lester,' I said in sn undertone. We were sitting next each other, and I could speak to her without her husband overhearing sWhen you telephoned the maid an hour ago, the baby was all right, wasn't she?" .I V :: l Yes, know" she returned de- Jectedly But. | have heard such dreadful things about maids neglect ing babies left in their care. Sup pose she should leave her alone in the apartment, and something should | catch fire and -
 Don't imagine such horrible things" l said sharply. eff you have had your maid year you either | ought to be able to trust her or you should discharge her. But I think you have heard exaggerated stories. l Now, for instance, in the apartment across the hall there is a maid who 1 takes devoted care of baby. I do not know who the people are, but the mother is out nearly every afternoon, and the maid is really most painstak- ing in her care.'
 "Oh, I know, I know; but suppose the baby should be taken i'll suddenly The maid would never know what to do."
 Would you, I wonder?" l did no speak the words aloud, but they flashed into my mind. She appeared such a child mother, this pretty little woman.
 } .see here, Daisy!" Lillian Gale
  Drink your coffee and your cordial Then pretty soon, if you feel yor really must go, I'll gather up Harr! and start for home. Then you car make Frank go.' "You are awfully good, Lillian, Mrs. Lester looked gratefully up a inc older woman. 1T know I am sill, as I can be, but you can't know hoy
 I am imagining every dreadful thin . in the calendar"
 "I know all about it, Mrs. Under
 wood returned shortly, almost curtly
 and walked away toward the grou
 of men at the other side of tn I apartment. ,"I never knew that she ever had = child" Mrs. Lester's eyes were wid
 with amazement as they met mine.
 Neither did l." Purposely I mad
 my tone non-committal. From tn
 look in Lillian Gales eyes when Mr' Lester told us in my room Of the wa ;. the baby looked asleep, l knew tha
 some time she must have held a bab
 of her own in her arms.
 "Not Your Baby!'' But I detest gossip, no matter ho'
 kindly-if, indeed, gossip can ever b
 termed kindly. I could not discus
 Mrs, UnOeTWOOO dlldlIS WILL c1il
 one. especially when she was gues
 Of mine.
 , "But she must have had a bab
 some time," persisted little Mrs. Les
 ter. Her anxiety about her own bab = appeared to be forgotten for tn .' moment. ct must have been a chil A of that awful man she divorced, (
 who divorced her. I never did gt
 that story right ".'
 T looked around the room. How