New Britain herald., 1915-12-04
How Madge Told Dicky the News.

l headlines without in the least know ing what they were, and threw it down wearly.
 A book and magazine shared the same fate. I had made Dicky angry | by giving up a delightful country trip with him for the sake of keeping a l business appointment with Mrs. Helen | Brainerd Smith, president of the Lo- l tus Study club. After he had left me angrily for a long walk, Mrs. Smith had called me up and airily asked to postpone the appointment because the day set was the one for the coming of her masseuse.
 No wonder I could not settle myself to read. Hot angry tears came to my eyes as I remembered my day, such an annoying one. The woman in the apartment opposite had an gered me by her insolence and in gratitude in the morning, Harry Un- derwOOd had annoyed mo by forcing his presence upon me while I was riding on the stage, and now this un- pleasant experience had come.
 How I longed for the country out ing which Dicky had prosposed. If l only I:neW where Dicky was. I told myself, ! would eat any amount of hum bio pie in the hope that we might 80 after all. But he had said he would be late. and I knew that if he did not go to bed before midnight there would be no use planning any outing. Diclly, like most men, is cross if he is sleepy, and to so on the proposed trip would mean arising carly the next morning. No, there was no use wasting rc- grets. The outing was gone. l set tied myself again in my chair and. picking up book, determined to read and forget my troubles. The door bell rang before I had finished the first page
 I know Katie was busy in tho kitchen so ! opened it myself. The man and the woman from the apart ment opposite stood in the hall, both in evening attire.
 The woman's face flushed as she met my astonished gaze. I was glad she had the grace to be ashamed of herself. She knew that I must have overheard her drawing comment to her maid in the morning when I had called at the door to inquire about her baby
 Their Related Thanks We want to thank you for all you l dld TOT the baby last night" the man | sald Ill rapid, embarrassed fashion,
 Believe me, we are deeply grateful"
 NO thanks are necessary" I re- turned stiffly, for the memory of his Wlfe's attitude of the morning ranklcd The baby was brought, to us in convulsion. We simply did the best | we could do for it. as we would have done for any child in a similar emer- l gency. I am glad to see that it must l be fully recovered or you would not l be leaving it.''
 I could not resist that malicious little thing. I owed them somethinr for the wife's discourtesy. Besides. I was repelled by the callousness of these parents in leaving for an eve ning's pleasure a baby who had beer so near death the night before
 "Oh, the baby, is much better tht physician says The man wiped hi forehead nervously as he spoke. "Th, trained nurse is still there, and she has our telephone number"
 Our engagement is one we coult hardly break" drawled his wife speaking for the first time. 1T ar sure the baby will be all right
 am sorry we did not see you thi morning.
 There was no possible reason fol your doing so,' I returned with m, voice as frigid as I could make, it l had no intention of disturbing you
 1 simply wished to inquire after baby The maid could have told me, an< when she left the door I went away
 for I was in a hurry"
 Not for worlds would I have ac
 knowledged to this woman that
 had heard her bored words to th
 maid-"Oh, the woman from acros the hall. l suppose I shall have t.
 see her, and had rushed away oi
 that account
 II think the machine is here" I'll
 woman turned to her husband
 knew she was not anxious to prolon, the interview
 Yes, we must go," the man said
 You will understand that we ar very grateful for all your kindness
 He lifted his hat and bowed ceremon
 iously
 1 Thank Nou.' i said. perfunctoril1 l Good night" and closed the doc upon them.
 Thank goodness that incident wa
 closed! I felt that l never wished { see cltner of them again. To my Der - sona! grievance against the woman
 dlscourtesy was added the repugnanc
 l felt to a father and mother wh
 could go to any social affair whit - their baby was in such danger.
 l sat down again to my book. br
 the picture of the sick baby with n
 mother near it stayed before my eve h If ever baby came to me, I told m, self fiercely. I would not leave it il = no matter how pressing the engage n ment was
 @ ] resolved to wait for Dicky. eve = if he were very late. I felt that