South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-17
low THE PARTY BROKE Up
WITH 4 STARTLING SCENE
-. " ~ Il -

Frank, we must 90 nome
Little Mrs. Lester stood before her
husband. her face anxious, her voice
strained. knew that her anxiety
about leaving her baby alone had
reached "a point where she could no
longer hide IL.
eco homei" Dicly's voice broke
IN. aggrieved. astonished ITO think
anybody should suggest such a
ming at "A party of mine. I'm sur
prised at you, Daisy.
We were all seated in the living
room again, Harry and Lillian I'm
1erwood, Frank and Daisy Lester.
Dicky and I. From every point of
view save one, our little chatting dish
supper had been a decided success.
That exception concerned only my
self. however 1t was Harry Under
woods unpleasant persistence in
forcing his presence upon me-
The sandwiches were all eaten,
and the chatting dish was scraped
rlean of the rarebit. although ]
wonderful how they could possibly
eat the stuff. The beer and ale bot
lies with which Dicky had literally
stocked the tables were empty, and
the whole supper had been one
continual cross-hre of laughing and
testing.
'You will surely wait for some
coffee and cordials. Katie is coming
with them now
knew that / must second Dicky's
words. / felt guilty. however, in
urging Mrs. Lester 20 stay, even
though with my inexperience Of
babies. 1 though she was foolishly
anxious.
"Oh, Mrs. Graham. I don't be-
Heve I can wait for anything. am
getting so nervous. 1 know it's aw-
ful 20 be so silly. but 1 just can't
help it."
Daisy" Her husbands voice was
stern. his face looked angry. do
stop that nonsense. We are certain
ly not going home now"
His wife seemed to shrink into her
self Her pretty face, with it's wor-
ried look. was like that of a little
girl grieving over n doll. j felt "a
sudden desire 10 comfort her.
MRS. TESTERS FEARS.
ct think you are worrying your
self unnecessarily Mrs Lester" /
said in an undertone. We were sit
ting next each other, and I could
speak 10 her without her husband
OverFearing. when you telephoned
the maid an hour ago. the baby was
all right. wasn't she2"
Yes. / know" she returned de-
jectedly But I have heard such
dreadful things about maids neglect
ing babies left in their care. Sup
pose she should leave her alone in
the apartment. and something
should catch fire and"
Don't imagine such horrible
things" I said sharply. eff YOU
have had your maid a year you
either ought TO be able TO trust her
or YOU should discharge her. But /
think you have heard exaggerated
stories. New, for instance, in the
apartment across the hall there is
a maid who takes devoted care of a
baby. I do not know who the peO-
pie are, but the mother is out near
1y every afternoon. and the maid is
really painstaking in her care
ooh. L know, I know; but sup
pose the baby should be taken iii
suddenly. The maid would never
known what 10 do
Would you. I wonder2" I die
not speak the words aloud. but they
dashed into my mind. She appeared
such a child-mother. this pretty lit
tie woman.
see here. Daisy" Lillian Gale
Joined our group. coffee cup in hand
Drink your coffee and your cordial
Then pretty soon, if YOU feel you
really must so. I'll gather up HARRY
and start for home. Then you car
make Frank go"
you are awfully good. Lillian.
Mrs Lester looked gratefully up al
the older woman. II know I am a.
silly as ] can be. but you can't know
how I am imagining every dreadful
sizing In the calendar"
Il know all about it," Mrs. Under.
wood returned shortly. almost curt.
~. and walked away toward tn,
group Of men at the other side o,
the apartment
Il never knew that she ever had
c1ild.' Mrs. Testers eyes wer,
wide with amazement as they me-
mine
Neither did T." Purposely
made my tone nou-committal. From
the look in Lillian Gales eyes wher
Mrs Lester told MS in my room OF
the way the baby looked asleep.
knee that some time she must hav,
held baby OF her own i'm her arms
"Not Your Baby
But / detest gossip no matter
how dndly-if. indeed. gossip car
ever he termed kindly. could MOI
discuss Mrs Underwood'g affair,
with any one. especially when sh,
was a guest Of mine
but che must have had a bah,
some time persisted little Mrs Les
ter Her anxiety about her owr
baby appeared 20 be forgotten fol
thc moment II must have been Z
child 81 that awful man she di
vorced. or who divorced her.
never did get that story right."
I looked around the room. How