The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-17

my way In from Bexhin. My friends are
up there now. They'll lie wondering
what's appened to me-
Couldn't / take care of the baby while
you go up and see the pantomime? l
have the whole afternoon free. Do let
me-" Mary Anne's heart tugged violently
as she saw the great JOY shine in the
tired. little woman's eyes. Il will take
charge OF him and bring him back here
for you. Come. we will ask the box office
man when Jack and the Beanstalk
will be over. and / will be back with
baby and You will have a lovely after
noon" Mary Anne had gone quickly
over. ascertained the time the perform
ance closed and returned to take the
baby. The woman was quite overcome
with happiness. The sudden and uneX-
pected opening OF the theater door be-
fore her vision had almost bereft her OF
speech. Mary Anne sienced her thanks
with a smile. II had nothing else to do
this afternoon she told her. realizing
with a sigh that the glory of seeing the
shops in Regent street would have to be
postponed. She saw the woman through
the doorway. then turned with her
charge, wondering what her impulslve
nature had got her into this time.
Mary Anne lived in the suburbs her
self. She remembered the huge open
fires that she had seen in the Liverpool
station when she had come in the morn
ing to business.
Now she pondered. shall I Just go
down and sit quietly by one of those
nice fires and let this infant sleep or
shall 7 have a tiny look at the shops. 8"
She gazed anXiously down at the face Of
1.-THE baby. 1t was even then showing
signs OF coming discontentment Also
Mary Anne's arms We're going TO feel
the unaccustomed burden. The shops
faded and she went out onto the Strand
10 get a bus for Liverpool street sta
ton. She only felt the mammoth task
she had undertaken when she attempted
to get on the bus 1t seemed as II eyery-
one therein had to assist her and the
baby to seat. Extracting her fare was
another trial, but she managed finally,
and the baby seemed willing to remain
quiet while the bus was in motion
Mary Anne arrived in the station and
beside the warm fire without rnishap
She had not been comfortably ensconCed
there for a paltry five minutes before the
infant showed most positive signs of dis
satisfaction with Mary Anne's treatment
of him. He walled softly at first. hui de-
Veloped so loud a roar that many persons
IN the waiting room stared or. more truth
fully. glared at Mary Anne while one or
tw" men walked disgustedly out Of the
station
The girl was distracted. She wished
she had never wanted to see Jack and
the Beanstalk." She pIned for knowl-
edge of the care OF infants and deter
mined to study up DR. Holt without loss
of time The fact that the baby let slim
the bottle his mother had given Mary
Anne brought deep flush 10 the GIRLS
cheeks
young man. who had been surren-
utiously watching Mary Anne's frantic
efforts to pacify the baby came over and
picked up the fallen bottle and presented
it to her.
rs there anything 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 sticking 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 Mary Anne's arms very firmly but
gently and Mary Anne heaved a sigh of
relief. The young man certainly knew
how to handle a baby.
NO doubt you have several of your
own she vouched only half aloud.
"No-not guilty. L am a doctor That
is why ! had the temerity to offer nv
assistance. There seems nothing wrong
with the klddie. Wouldn't he take his
milk?'
NO" Mary Anne said with a wistfuI
smile that sent a wave of peculiar emo
ton over the young man. He didn't
seem to want it,
Maybe you gave it to him too hot -
suggested the doctor.
Hot. 1t was stone cold" She gazed
fearfully at the baby.
Cold milk for an infant, You are a
fine mother" the doctor commented.
But l am not his mother" protested
Mary Anne, with rush Of color to her 1
cheeks. Il am taking care of him for
a poor little woman who came in to 60 |
to the pantomine and couldn't get in with |
her baby. l 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 wonder
ing how so neat and dainty a girl sould |
take such wretched care OF a baby.
Now. / will give you instructions, II !
you listen carefully he continued laugh |
Ingly, glad to see the distressed look van |
ishing from Mary Anne's eyes. Go to !
the woman who has charge Of the wait |
ing room. She will just be making her |
afternoon tea. Ask her to put his bottle |
In the kettle for a few minutes, then |
bring 1t back to me-"
II think I can manage that
Mary Anne told him with q shy smile !
She marveled that the baby had be-
come wonderfully contented il the /
doctors arms.
When she returned with The ~armud (
pot,le Of milk and the baby ergeris |
put his little hands about it. Mary |
Anne heaved aonthsr sigh of relief.