Gilpin observer., 1917-10-11
Fathers Plan


man screens only brought dusty,
scorching discomfort to the weary pas
sengers within.
Mildred leaned her aching head
against the hot green plush cush-
ion and wondered how many endless
miles still stretched between her and
1ndianapolis-her destination. Miles
and miles Of cornfields flew past-she
wondered how the whole world could
consume so much-and still beneath
the half-lowered shades she could see
more corn and mOre-growing up close
to the track. If she looked another In
slant she would lose her senses-what
with cornflelds, the heat and the pain
In her head-it was unendurable.
Then the baby began again! 1t had
been going all day, not crying exactly,
but fretting to be amused. This con-
sisted Of running up and down the
aisle In drunken staggering fashion,
its worn mother hanging on to its
skirts. Mildred felt sorry for the
mother. She was doing her best to
keep 1t quiet. In the morning she had
kept it amused with 'pretty, pretty
cows!" out of the window, and "See,
darling, the big red house." And, oh,
look at the piggies. Baby say piggy!
This little pig went to Market" etc.
But now there were cornfields only
what could mother do? And the big
back teeth that were coming through
had started to sting the little gums.
Mildred suspected this. Besides, baby
wanted her nap, but could not sleep
on the noisy train in spite of the pill
lows the porter brought. So she in
sisted again on scrambling down off
her mothers knee and running down
the aisle.
The weary mother started in pur-
suit again and Mildred caught the look
of deadly WEAKNESS in her eyes.
LET me have the baby for little
while, won't you?" asked Mildred,
reaching out OBTAINING hand for the
little figure as it toddled past.
The mother looked her relief. "Why,
If you don't mind" she accepted CRATE
fully. "We're both so tired-but I'm
afraid you are, tool"
'NOt so tired as you are" smiled
,ldred. "You can go back and rest
a little and I'll see If Curlilocks and 1
can't have good time"
Curlilocks looked up into Mildred's
face appraisingly for an instant with
big, solemn eyes. 'Pitty lady," she
decided suddenly, with whole-hearted
approval and started to climb up into
the seat.
There was nothing outside to dis
tract baby's attention, just the ever
lasting corn. So Mildred took turns
with her wrist watch, the ivory mirror
out Of her bag and the screw top Of
her talcum box. Baby liked this best
but after baby and her new nurse
were powdered pretty well all over
Mildred decided to put it away; Curli-
locks thought differently. The watch
and the mirror had lost their charm.
Baby wanted the talcum box.
"No-no, dear!" said Mildred.
"Let's see what else there is in the
pretty bag" But baby screamed and
kicked and refused substitute. Mil.
dred looked appealingly toward the
mother. She had fallen asleepw
"Maybe these would do" said man
across the aisle. holding out bunch
Of keys that jingled beautifully.
Mildred took them gratefully. She
hadn't noticed the man before. He'd
probably been In the smoker all day,
and came In while she was fusslng
with Curiilocks. She'd seen his bag
on the scat-that was all.
Baby liked the keys. The powder
was forgotten. Blessed man!
"Cutting teeth. suppose" sympa.
thized the man.
"Yes." said Mildred.
awful weather for babiesw said
the man. tanning himself with his hat
which meant that he, too, was suffer.
Ing.
"Worse weather for mothers" said
Mildred.
"You bet 1t Isl"
Then baby discovered something she
liked In the mans voice. Daddy.
daddy" she cried, stretching out her
little arms to him.
"Hush. dear. that's not daddy"
"Let me have her a little while,
won't you" The man came over to
the seat facing Mildred and held out
his arms.
There was nothing for II. Baby
crawled right in. Moreover, there was
something restful and protecting about
q pair Of strong masculine arms and u
big, broad, comfortable shoulder to