Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-04

sLNftANK, we must go home" Little Mrs
H. Lester stood before her husband. her
face anxious. her voice strained ! know
that her anxiety about leaving her baby
homo had reached a point whore nhe could
no longer hide H.
90 home ~ Dlcly's voice broke in. ag-
grleved. astonished. TO think anybody
should suggest such thing at a party Of
mine. I'm surprised at you, Daisy"
We were all seated In the living room
again Harry and Lillian Underwood, Frank
and Daisy. Dcky and !. From every point
OF view save one. our little chaflng dish sup
per had been a decided success. That ex-
ceptiou concerned only myself however
II was Harry UndcrwoOd's unpleasant per
aiatence IN forcing his presence upon me.
The sandwiches were all eaten, and the
channE dish was scraped clean Of the rab-
Bit although ! wondered how they could
possibly eat tho stun The beer and ale
bottles, with which Dlcky had literally
stocked tho tables. were empty, and tho
whole supper had been one continual cross
fire of laughing and jeEtiug.
You will surely wait for some coffee and
cordlalA. Katie IN coming with them now I"
/ knew that must Becond Dicky's
words. I felt guilty. however, In urging
Mrs Lester to stay, oven though with my
ineHperlenco with babies. thought sho was
foolshly anxious.
"Oh. Mrs. Graham. don't believe I can
wait for anything. I am getting no nerv-
Qua know it's awful to be 20 silly but
I Just can't help H."
Daisy !" Her husbands voice was stern I;
his face looked angry DO atop that nom
sense. We Rrc certainly not going home
now"
His wife seemed 10 shrink into herself
Her pretty face. with its worried look waH
like that Of little girl grevlng over
doll. felt sudden desire TO comfort her
MRS. I.EsTERs FEARS.
~ think you are worrying yourself un'
necessarily Mrs. Lester" | said In nm hn-
dertone. We wero sitting next each other'
and I could speak 10 her without her nus
band overhearing when you tclophonod
tho maid an hour ago, the baby was all
right, want III"
"Ycs. I know" she returned dcicctedly
but I have heard such dreadful things
about maids neglectIng babies left In their
care. Suppose sho should leave her alone
in the apartment. and something shoulh
catch fire and"
Don't Imagine such horrible things"
said sharply "If you have had your maid
n year you either ought to be able to trust
her or you should discharge her. But
think you have heard exaggerated stories
Now. for instance. In the apartment across
tho hall there is n maid who takes devoted
care Of n baby 7 do not know who tho
people are but the mother is out nearly
every afternoon, and tho maid Is really
most painstnknE In her care
"Oh, | know, ] know: but suppose the
baby should be taken Ill suddenly The
mad would never know what TO do"
Would YOU | wonder?" / did not speak
the words aloud. but they flashed into my
mind Sho appeared such n child-mother.
this pretty little woman
SEQ here, Daisy" Lillian Gale Joined
our group. coffee cup In hand, Drink your
coffee and your cordial. Then. pretty soon.
II you feel you really must go, I'll gather
up Harry and start for home, Then you
can make Frank go"
You are awfully good Lillian" Mrs.
Lester looked gratefully UP Mt the older
woman. ~ know | am as silly as | can
be- but you can't know how am imagining
every dreadful thing in the calendar"
II know all about H." Mrs Underwood
returned shortly, almost curty, and walked
away toward the group OF men at the other
side of the apartment
~ never knew that shs ever had a
child" Mira Lesters eyes were Wide with
amazement as they met mine,
Neither did L." Purposey made my
tono nonCommittal. From the look in Lii
liam Gales eyes when Mrs. Lester told us
in my room of the way the baby looked
asleep. / knew that some time she must
have held n baby of her own in her arms
But detest gossip. no matter how kind
~, IT, indeed gossip can ever be termed
kindly | could not discuss Mrs. Under.
woods affairs with any one. especially
when sho was guest OF mine,
But she must have had baby some
time" persisted little Mrs. Lester Her
anxiety about her own baby appeared to be
forgotten for the moment. 1T must have
been child of that awful man she d.