Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-04-07
ACCOUNT OF BABY
BY MARGUERITE RAND.


dress that she had bought only week
ago because Tom liked to see her in
pink and white. Even the baby's
gurgling laugh out on the porch could
not win smile from her; indeed, 1t
added to her wretchedness, for was
not the baby, that most adorable bit
Of humanity, the cause Of all her
trouble?
ooh, DEAR" wert Mrs. Fenway, II
wouldn't have believed that Tom could
be so brutal What shall do? Oh,
I'm so miserableI"
Suddenly, like a ray Of hope, came
the thought Of Aunt Marcia.
"She always helped me out Of my
troubles at school; perhaps she can
think Of some way to help me now"
Dabbing some powder on her nose,
and hoping that no one would notice
her red eyes, she hurried to the tele-
graph station, and an hour later Aunt
Marcia was thrown into CONSERVATION
by the following message:
cam in a dreadful trouble. Can't
you come at once? Dot"
The old lady was busy preserving
peaches, but with visions Of terrible
calamitles before her, she left the
fruit to its fate, hastily packed bag
and respondP. 70 her niece's call.
swell, Dot, what's the matter?" she
asked as soon as the first greetings
were over Mercy how you fright
ened mel Is the baby sick?''
Dot shook her head.
'Well, is anything the matter with
Tom2 Where is he7 For heavens
sake, tell me what the trouble Is n
At these questions the foOd-gates
opened again, and between sObs Dot
gasped: 81 don't know. He hasn't
been home for three whole days and
nights,
"Not come homer echoed Aunt
Marcia in establishment. "Why notT"
We've Quarreled," groaned Dot.
"Just. because / love the baby SO
much. He says won't go anywhere,
or have any fun, Or-Or do anything"
swell, is it true?" asked Aunt Mar
cha briskly.
'Maybe it is," acknowledged Dot.
'But how can l bear to leave my
baby? He's so adorable. Why, Aunt
Marcia, even when he's asleep it's
lovely just to sit by his crib and watch
him breathing softly. Tom thought so
at first, but now he wants to go out
to theaters and dinners, instead Of
staying at home with our own lovely,
precious baby"
"Oh, good heavens!" CALCULATED
Aunt Marcia. ''You don't suppose
Tom Fenway's whole nature is
changed just because you and he have
a baby, do you? Tom was always the
most popular fellow In town. OF
course, he isn't going to settle down
at home with nothing to do but hang
over a baby's cradle-even as fine a
baby as Tom, Jr.," finished Aunt Mar
cha proudly.
'aThat's Just what he sald-that he
couldn't spend all his time hanging
over baby's crib. Our own dNrling
baby! Oh, wasn't he brutal?' y
'NOt a bit Of it," laughed lAunt
Marcia. Hes sensible. Now; look
here, you don't want to lose Tom al
together, do your"
"No, noP cried Dot miserably. II
couldn't live without Tom" Her eyes
widened with sudden fear. ''Why, you
don't think"
eyes, 1 do" Aunt Marcia's tone
was decisive. "Tom's bound to en-
Joy life, and If you won't share his
pleasures, some one else will. You'd
better make up with him, that's my
advice. The nurse is competent to
take care of the baby, isn't she?"
Eyes," Dot spoke slowly, "she
knows more about babies than do.
do want Tom to come home, but
can't ask him to- I don't believe he
loves me or the baby, or he wouldn't
have gone away"
"NonsenseI" Aunt Marcia laughed
ruthlessly. "You hate to give in, that's
all; but you'd better pocket your
pride. Doesn't he come to see the
babyT"
"No, not here" sobbed Dot. "He
said he wouldn't until 1 was ready to
be what he calls sensible. But he
stops in the park every day when
baby is out with his nurse. can see
them from my window"
"Well," suggested Aunt Marcia,
"can't you walk through the park and
pretend that you've met him by acct
dentT'
Dot pondered a moment, then a mis-
chieYous smile brought out the dim
pies in her cheeks,
Late next afternoon Aunt Marcia
sat sewing in the living room when
Dot danced In, her eyes shining and
big box Of roses In her hands. Up
stairs a cheerful whistle sounded
from Toms room.
'It worked, didn't itF' said Aunt
Marcia with smile.
"Oh. you old dear, let me hug you, !"
exclaimed Dot impulsively. "Tm so
glad I followed your advice. Tom
really loves baby Just as much as !