The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-20
BABIES NOT ALLOWED
Nv CATHERINE cooPE.

(Copyright, 1876 by the Mcclure Ne"Sp"
paper Syndicate) .
Mary Anne turned from the box OF
flce after securing her seat Tor the
matinee on the following Saturday
She would have left the foyer and
gone out for the pleasant 1aunt
through the shops but for the fact tnat
her attention was attracted to tne
Door little woman who stood forlorniy
holding q tiny infant In her arms
The woman had been arguing quietly
with the boxonice man, but to no
avail.
81 am sorry, madam. but infants IN
arms are not allowed in the theater.
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.
II cant 60 in with i'm and I've
paid my way in from Bexhill. My
friends are up there now. They'll be
wondering what's 'appened to me-"
Couldn't I take care Of the baby
while you go 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 her
charge, wondering what her impulsive
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.
A 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 1t to her.
''Is there anything I can do for
your he asked, and he seemed so
likely to know more than she did
about infants that Mary Anne smiled
gratefully. There may be pin stick
ing him-have you looked?"
Moo" said Mary Anne. II didn't
know just where to look"
Great Scott! Who dressed your
baby? Let me have look?" He took
the baby from Miss 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.
mo doubt you have several of your
own?' she vouched only half aloud.
"No-not guilty. am q doctor.
That is why l 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 wist.
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
f1ne mother" the doctor com.
But am not his mother" protest
ed Mary Anne with rush of color to
her cheeks. II 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 30 neat and dainty a
girl could take such wretched care AZ
! baby.
Mary Anne told him Of her adven.
ure with a shy smile. She marveled
low the baby had become wonderfully
'ontented In the doctors arms.
i suppose you wouldn't mind show.
ng me the number Of your seat for
saturday" Doctor Cosgrove asked
as they went toward the
heater with the sleeping baby. 81 have
,een intending to see Jack and the
His guilty expression told Marv
Anne that the pantomime had never
inferred his head before.
my seat is No. lad" she said
quickly. 'iu
Mary Anne blushed hotly and No.
or Cossrove burst into hearty laugh.
er when the little mother OF tho T.,
ant came beaming from the thea.
your misses has been an angel, 7
',sn l could give her as much han.
mess as she has given me TO-DAY"
l think you have done moraN,.
.. the man said quickly and cast =
lance at Mary Anne. "She IL No, -
ms, at present. he added. and
'ent over to the boxofice to see :,
Q could secure No. l3.D
. Inc smile in his eyes as he return.a
ner side told Mary Anne th,, ~