The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-17
The Euening Story
Infants Not Allowed.
(By Catherine Cooper


Office after securing her seat for the
matinee on the following Saturday.
1t was not often that she was so eX-
travagant as to pay five shillings for
seat in the stalls, but Mary Anne
preferred a good seat once month
to a gallery seat once a week.
She would have left the foyer and
gone out for the pleasant jaunt
through the shops but for the fact
that her attention was attracted to
the poor little woman who stood for
lornly holding a tiny infant in her
arms The woman had been arguing
quietly with the box office man, but to
no avail.
II have come all the way from
BexhilL" Mary Anne heard her say,
land both my friends are waiting for
me in the gallery. don't know what
to do" There was positive tragedy
in the disappointed, tired face.
81 am sorry, madame, but infants in
arms are not allowed in the theater.
1t is against the laws of the house"
There was finality in the young mans
voice.
The woman turned away and Mary
Anne knew that tears had welled up
in the woman'S eyes.
With her usual impulsiveness. Mary
Anne approached the woman and
made inquiry. The infant, more or
less dirty, crowded delightedly, COM
pletely obhvious to the disappoint-
ment he had caused his mother by
being so youthful
Il can't go in with sim 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 1 take care of the baby
while you go up and see the panto-
mime? 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. II 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 L will be back with baby
and you will have a lovely afternoon"
Mary Anne had gone quickly over, as
certained the time the performance
closed and returned to take the baby.
The woman was quite, overcome with
happiness. The sudden and uneXpect-
ed opening of the theater door before
her vision had almost bereft her of
speech. Mary Anne silenced her
thanks with a smile. Il had nothing
else to do this afternoon" she told
her, realizing with a sigh that he
glory of seeing the shops in Regent
street would have to be postponed.
She saw the woman through the door
way, 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.
Now" she pondered, shall I just
go down and sit quietly by one of
those nice fires and let this infant
sleep or shall have tiny look at the
shops?" She gazed anxiously down at
the face of the baby. 1t was even
then showing signs of coming discon-
tentment Also, Mary Anne's arms
were going to feel the unaccustomed
burden. The shops faded and she
went out, onto the Strand to get a bus
for Liverpool street station. She only
felt the mammoth task she had under
taken, when she attempted to get on
the bus. 1t seemed as if every one
therein had to assist her and the baby
to a seat. Extracting her fare was
another trial, but she managed final
ly, and the baby seemed willing to
remain quiet while the bus was in mo-
ton.
Mary Anne arrived in the station
and beside the warm fire without mis-
hap. She had not been comfortab bly,
ensconced there for paltry five min
utes before the infant showed most
positive signs of dissatisfaction with
Mary Anne's treatment of him. He
walled softly at first, but developed so
loud roar that many persons in the
waiting room stared or more truth
fully, 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 DIR. Holt
without loss of time. The fact that
the baby let slip the bottle his mother
had given Mary Anne brought a deep
flush to the girls cheeks.
A young man, who had been sur
reptitiously watching Mary Anne's
frantic efforts to pacify the baby
came over and picked up the fallen
bottle and presented it to her.
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 p
Moo" said Mary Anne. Il didn't
know just where to look
Great Scott! Who dressed your
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
mo doubt you have several of your
''No-not guilty. I am a doctor.
That is why 1 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
emotion 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.
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