The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-11-29
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Nobody Wants a Baby.

TvJIEN Philip Nechesney parked
M his ear az usual in front of the
w building IN which he had his
bachelor apartments, and stepped
from the maFbe-lined corridor into
the passenger elevator he had no
reason 70 believe that the long lane
of hia Vie had come to the pFoverbial
turn,
III vas getting very tired of the
lane. AZ he slipped his key into his
doof 1t occurred to him he was doing
pretty much tie same thing he had
been DANG every afternoon for many
years and was likely to do for many
more.
Ny, how tiredhe was Of the routine.
How sick he Rgs of everything. How
different 1t would have been II Made
line had ennaented to marry him! He
was devoted to Mad cline pretty, viii
tul and altogether selfish Madeline.
But what was the use Of even thinks
tpg?. She never would have him. She
had told him so hundred times.
eYou see, Phil, we are loo much
alike to be running mates" she said.
1--WE both want q good time, but We
want II In our own way; neither OIL
gps. would be willing to give in to the
pther. II you wanted to go to a movie
I'd want opera. II chose Mrs. BIS.
dinner you'd be sure to want some
thing else. ] think ought to mar
M someone different from myself I'm
such a useless creature, you know.
( I never did good turn for anyone
IN my life. Neither did you, now, did
you? All you've ever done was to
make money. Id like to think Of my
husband as somebody unusual. It's
80 ordinary 10 be- Just rich"
Philips thoughts were getting too
unpleasant for further retFospection.
But he knew Madeline was right. He
was only good 10 make money, and ev
cry one was doing that now.
Every bank, firm or brokers and
bond company listed in the evening
Z papers was gOrgihg in riches. The
stores and shops were prospering too,
+. everyone of them clearing an enor-
nous profit, Wasn't there anything
In the world but money?
Al! YssI There was pleasure. Mon
ey and pleasure; that was all. And
on the front page OF the paper in diff
teFept kinds Of trouble resulting from
the mad pursuit OF both
IMPERIAL THEATRE.
FaiFbanks in 1.-THE Sportsman"
First Class Vaudeville.
SPECIAL
I TO the holder OF the lucky ticket
q real live baby will be given
away Eleven months old. Good
PARENTS
Don't miss the Chance!
oRidiculous!" thought Philip. A
live baby! They wouldn't dare do
such thing. But suppose they did!
Who in New York would want a real
live baby, A dog or Q monkey might
have a ctance-but babyi The red
slowly mounted to his temples. He
was fond Of children, unusually so oil
babies, and he found himself getting
euriously excited over the thing.
They'd no business rafting off a
baby ven If 1t could be done legally,
But the worst OF 1t was no one Woula
want It'll
: The lane of Philips life was ap-
preaching a sharp curve at last, had
known 1t.
i That evening found him sitting un--
easily through ten reels OF film ana
listening to hall a dozen vaudeville
sketches in the very show house that
advertised the baby--he couldn't stay
l|sway-his indignation and curiosity
had grown by degrees until now he
was waiting for the lucky number to
be read.
Tue house was packed to It's limit
5 the s r o sign had been out long
yet q deathlike stiffness hung over
: the place as the numbers were read.
The tenth number out Of the box was
( 10 get Baby Marie,
aaF6Sn called the man drawing the
numbers. WHO has 2755? Will the
person holding a765 please step this
Bky?"
Philip looked around curiously. But
thefe was no response, No one seem
"a 10 have the number Every one
hooked At his Aelghbor, necks were
Graning al over the house. But no
pne stirred.
"I thought 80" said everybody. mo
body wants q baby!
81 Hts indignation right here began to
boil, It impelled him at last TO get
lp and start down the aisle He gath
ered the stage by enormous strides.
.'If no one wants the baby I'll take
t,n be said. TITS an outrage, the
whole affair. But II the baby is an
orphan and has no home III see that
Il gets one, I-I'll take 1t home and
raise Il myself
There was Tremendous applause
then. Although II seemed no one want
ID the baby, the crowd was glad
enough to have some one else play an
sel.
The manager smiled down into PHI
pis earnest indignant fyeR
Very good young man. II you real
IL mean what you say, suppose you
ciiIl at the ST. Stephens chiidraa'S
f'oae Ten prov, here's the address,
md RaUy aai1e will be handed over
"a ygu II IasboaFd Of trustees 8 sat.
isiied you are sponsible ;sea
They tried to find homes for seven
dtkle tots this week but weren't haY-
Inc rarv Gnnd luNlr -