The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-20
the BABY
By OLIVE BARTON.

(Copyright, 1914 by the Mcclure Newspa-
/ per Syndicate)
The great singer was spending her
| short vacation in an unusual way.
1t might be said also that 1t had been
none Of her own choosing. What did
she know of baby food, or mending
holes in Johnnie's stockings as big as
buckwheat cakes? How did she know
how many days Fossie should wear
the same petticoat?
The whole three were in bed now.
and the great singer relaxed luxu-
riously. She knew no one in the
| town, so there was little danger OF
callers.
| Her thoughts were as busy as the
fingers of the little maid of all work,
now doing dishes audibly in the
kitchen. She was thinking how odd
it was for her to be there at all.
A telegram had been responsible.
! Sister Jane and her husband William
had been called away by trouble in
| Williams family. There had been no
one else to ask to look after the chill
dren. She had never even seen the
baby!
Steps suddenly sounded on the
little front porch like so many bangs
on a bass drum. Tillie, out in the
kitchen, heard and was at the door
before her temporary mistress could
stop her.
rs this where Miss Farrell is stay
ing?" asked mans voice.
Joel" exclaimed Miss Farrell i'm
patiently. "Will he never learn that
there isn't a bit of use in chasing
after me, wherever I go?"
Joe stamped of the snow noisily
and came inside. He came in big,
glowing and clumsy. The little room
seemed full before he got farther than
the doorway. Peggy: in her chair be-
fore the fire, half turned-just enough
for him to see the toploftical express
sion.
Peggy" he exclaimed delightedly,
coming forward.
Good evening, Joe," evenly. you
chose q nice night to come so far.
Won't you sit DOWN."
Joe sat down on the other side of
the fireplace "You look awfully
sweet, Peggy. Aren't you glad to see
met"
moi" deliberately.
IL wouldn't have come-only l
thought Of something after-after
we'd been talking the other night"
She didn't answer.
you see," shifting uneasily, III you
would marry me. you could go ahead
with your singing just the same as
ever. You could sing just as we'll as
Margaret Farrell Sturtevant, as you
can as Margaret Farrell Now,
couldn't you? That wouldn't be in
terfering With your career, would it?
and, Peggy, you used to care little
for mel"
She watched the fire minute, re.
lenting. IT'S hard to be cross with
you, Joe. You just won't let people.
! will you? I'm going to be extra nice
now and explain.
You see, Joe. your plan won't work
for a hundred reasons. You love a
home. You're regular home man
II there ever was one. can't make
. home. 1t isn't in me. l hate every
thing about house. love my music
better than anything on earth, and
can't give It up"
What she really meant was that the
intoxication Of public homage was a
! q t{nu ohA
nounce.
All right, my girl, you're the doc
! tori Joe got up and looked at his
watch. Il didn't suppose 1t was much
j use, but | thought I'd make one more
try. I won't bother you again, ever.
!. Goodnight, Peggy, I've just time for
my train"
He was gone! Peggy turned out
the light and sat watching the fire.
Il guess I'll get the baby her bottle
, and 60 to bed" she yawned
: A week passed. Peggy was getting
expert on mending kneeless stockings.
! sorting clothes and bathing babies. It
never seemed to be . bother any more.
. Then one night the baby got sick, very
sick.
The doctor and trained nurse hast.
I, lily summoned took it philosophically,
+. saying there was an equal chance of
life and death. But Peggy, q poor,
white. stricken thing. never leaving
the side Of the little crib, thought the
world was ending.
Morning brought a change for the
better. The baby would live! Peg.
gy slipped silently away to her room
o and sat thinking in the cold, wintry
4 dawn.
Mr.. Joseph Sturtevant was Just set
! thing himself for nice winters morn
b Ing nap. The telephone rang. He was
; awake in an instant
}. rs that you. Joe? This is Peggy,
9 / have changed my mind. And that's
l. all I'm going to tell you until YOU
J. come out and hear for yourself,"