Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-07-19
THE
MOTHER
HEART
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1t was found to have descended.
Poor Anna Hicks was gone, but the
baby was alive, girl baby, too, more
the pity.
Miss Swain sighed as she ate her
crisp, hot, buttered toast. Signing,
however, doesn't interfere with the APP
petite. Miss Swain relished her
breakfast, but why not? She was
seventy and she had seen great
many comings and goings. Death and
birth were no novelty to her. Yet she
did feel sorry that Anna had left girl
baby. 1t was just like her, too, the
pretty inconsequential little thing.
Its come to a hard world" said
Miss Swain to her coffee cup. She
lived alone save for Hannah, her maid.
"Well, suppose somebody will have to
do for 1t. Mary Peck has been good
to stay and take care of Anna, but
she can't look after the baby. l sup
pose l shall have to take hand In
this Somebody will have to go ahead
with 1t. Perhaps can find somebody
right here on North street who will
adopt it-Mrs. Dick Van Name now |
1t would do her good to have some
thing besides that wretched little
Spltz to sit in her lap"
Miss Swain went into her living
room and sat down at her telephone
table. She had the comfortable feel
ing of person who can impose duty
on others without in any way feeling
obligated herself. She called Mrs. Van
Name and pretty voice answered.
81, Miss Swain? Oh, my dearl
couldn't take babyl Why, Dicky
wouldn't let me. It's all I can do to
get him to have Lovey around. And
besides Lovey might bite 1t. He has
such Jealous disposition, really
couldn't. I'd love to accommodate
you, but couldn't. No. Reallyl"
Miss Swain hung up the receiver.
Lets see. I'll call up the Misses
Kelley. Now those two women haven't
a thing to do but read and motor and
play the player-plano. They aspire to
culture and guess they have got
some. But It would do them good to
have baby In the house."
Miss Frances Kelley answered In
her quiet, self-contained voice which
had an alarmed note in 1t now.
"a babyl Poor Anna Hicks baby
was afraid this would happen when
her husband died. She was SO COM
pletely wrapped up in him. Love,
Miss Swain, Is beautiful thing when
It's reasonable, but that pair had no
business to get married. Anna was
too young in the first place. You're
net asking us, Jane and me, to take
that babyl The ideal What do we
want of a babyi We are splnsters
If we had wanted babies we would
have married and had some Of out
own. I'm sorry, but you'll have to ask
somebody else"
"As II two middle-aged, well-to-do,
healthy women couldn't do for one
baby girl !" Miss SWANS old cheeks
were gathering an excited red. She
was not used to having people deny
her anything. swell, I'll try Angelina
Russell. What's her number? Mrs.
Enoch Russell-177, private wire.
Now, my dear Angelinep
whats thatP You want me to
adopt Anna Hicks baby" The way
Mrs Russell said "me !" "What have
you got to do with it7 In that case
why don't you adopt It yourself2 It
would make fine playthlng for your
old age! No, ma'am, I beg to be ex-
cuscd. Children are like toothpicks,
you want your own most decidedly.
When my son died was heartbroken.
but I've outllved the worst part Of 1t.
Suppose he had lived and become
what lots of peoples sons are today7
Indeed, I wouldn't think of accepting
the responsibility of bringing up q
child"
This was all from Mrs. Russell.
"There's Pearl Burnham," thought
Miss Swain. "She is going to be mar
rled Maybe they'll like a nice baby
to start housekeeping with"
But Pearl Burnham glggled a good
deal.
know yon,re ioking p she gosned
"I'll try Miss Williams and then I'm
DONE" said Miss Swain.
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