MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 114, 12 May 1909, Page 3

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

When one volunteers to help a stranger, one too often meets with a rebuff, or makes one's self look rather foolish. Women know that it is not safe to acquaint one of their own sex with the fact that anything has gone wrong with their attire or appearance. "Excuse me, but your underskirt is falling," remarked a gentlelooking woman to another a shade frowsy in her attire, in a Wellington street the other day. "What's that to do with you ? Mind your own business!" was the reply. Apropos of meddling with other people's business, Home Chat tells a story of an eminent X.C While strolling in the park early one afternoon his attention was attracted by the continued crying of a young child. The fact of possessing a nursery of j his own caused him to be interested, J and he made a point of passing close to where a smartly-dressed nurse' was attending to a baby who was sitting in a beautifully-upholstered "pram." Her "attentions" at the moment he came up were taking the form of smacks and shakings, which continued so long and were of so violent a character that lie felt compelled at last to remonstrate. The nurse was impertinent, and continued to "soothe" her charge—a pretty little girl of about fourteen months—with renewed ill-treatment. The X.C, very indignant, demanded the name ana address of her mistress. This was, of course, refused; and shortly after the nurse prepared to depart. "I shall follow you home," said he. "I shall give you in charge," said she. However, secure in his virtuous intentions and his extremely eminent name, he resolved to take the risk. Then the chase began. From Hyde Park corner to Bloomsbury, from Blodmsbury to Westminster, onward to Battersea, they walked, a respectful distance intervening between the blue-uniformed damsel and the correctly attired K.C. From three to six o'clock they wandered so. Then, returning via Lambeth, nurse, apparently either tired out or alarmed at the lateness of the hour, turned her reluctant footsteps towards Sloane Square. ■ Stopping finally at a gay little house, slfe disappeared from view. Following quickly-in her wake, he sent in his card to "the lady of the house," and awaited developments in her pretty drawing-room. But in the meantime the nurse had. stated her case, and, whatever it was, at least it. had the virtue of plausibility, for when her mistress appeared, after listening coldly to the X.C.'s impassioned story, she replied that she had perfect confidence in her nurse, and rang the bell. Walking, crushed, mortified, and with aching limbs, down her steps, the X.C, although a most humane man, resolved that for all he cared nurses might in future murder babies hourly before his > very eyes without, moving to again interfere.