The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-23
BABIEs NOT ALLOWED
ev CATHERINE cooPE.

downright, 1915, by the Mcclure
paper Syndicate) =.
Mary Anne turned from the oox VI
fee after securing her seat 10, INC
matinee ON the following Saturday
She would have left the foyer anu
como ont for the pleasant ]aun.
through the shops but for the fact tna'
her attention was attracted to 'ne
NOR little woman who stood forlornly
holding a tiny infant In ner arms.
Tho woman had been arguing qulet!
with the boxoffice man. but 10 no
avail.
~ am sorry. madam, but infants In
arms are not allowed in the theate,.
II is against the laws of the mousse
There was finality in the youns
mans voice.
with her usual impulsiveness Mary
Anne approached the woman anu
made inquiry.
az can't 20 in with i'm and I've
Maid nv way in from Bexhill MY
friends are up there now. Theyll pe
wondering what's 'appened to me.
Couldn't I take care Of the BABY
while you 60 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 ner
charge. wondering what her impulslVe
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 plned
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
err 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 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 stick
ing him-have you looked?"
MOO" said Mary Anne. 81 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 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 a doctor.
That ia why had the temerity to
offer my assistance There seems moth.
ing wrong with the kiddie. Wouldn't
he take his milk"
NO" Mary Anne said with q wist.
full smile that sent wave Of peculiar
emotion over the young man. HE
didn't seem to want It,"
Maybe you gave 1t to him too hot, "
suggested the doctor.
Hot! IL was stone cold" She
gazed fearfully at the baby.
Gold milk for an infant! You are
a fine mother" the doctor com.
mented.
But am not his mother" protest.
ed Mary Anne with a rush Of color to
her cheeks. 81 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 so neat and dainty q
girl could take such wretched care Of
q baby.
Mary Anne told him Of her adven.
ture with shy smile. She mar-eled
how the baby had become wonderfully
contented In the doctors arms.
Il suppose you wouldn't mind snow.
Ing me the number Of your seat for
Saturday." Doctor Cosgrove asked
tentatively as they went toward the
theater with the sleeping baby. 81 have
been intending to see Jack and the
Beanstalk.'
HIS guilty expression told Mary
Anne that the pantomime had never
entered his head before.
MY seat is No. 14-D," she said
quickly.
Mary Anne blushed holly and Doc.
tor Cosgrove burst into hearty ,auyh.
ter when the little mother OF tho in.
rant came beaming from the tina.
| ter.
Your misses has been an a,re,, 7
wish could give her as much han
piness as she has given rue TODAY
4 think you have done more-for
u.s." the man said quickly. and cast a
glance at Mary Anne. She ia mot INV
misses'-at present." he added ana
went over to the boxofice to s.e a,
40 could secure No. 13-D "
The smile in his eyes as he returr.,
70 her side told Mary Anne th,, "