The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-29
Mrs. Kittridge's Nurse.
PART II,

Island was maue up VI iuyIHc udys.
ooh, Flossy, darling, isn't it glorious !"
she would exclaim, looking from the
brow of a cliff, or strolling up and down
the shore. Aud Flossy, clapping her
chubby hands, would lisp, with baby en-
thusiasm, "Eth, glo'wus u
The picture that spread out before her
from morning till night was continual
feast to her beauty-loving soul. 1t made
her think of painting she had seen years
ago, of the cliffs of Dover; the great yell
low sandbluffs shining in the sun, with the
bright waves breaking up at their feet (;
and at all hours the blue expanse of wa
ters was dotted with white sails and
broken with cleaning oars. 1t was like
new world to her after her long impris-
onment in the school-room and her du-
ties, 80 far from being irksome, were a
daily recreation. Even the arrival next
door of the LIE Roys with nurse and baby
did not seriously disturb her; there was
room for all on the great green island,
and Flossy and she could find any num-
Der of places to pitch their umbrella
where Bridget Mcclure and the LIE Roy
baby would never think of intruding.
But Mrs. LIE Roy seemed bent on bring
ing the two nurses together.
"Would you mind, Mrs. Kittridge,"
she said, the day after taking possession
of the cottage, letting my nurse and
baby keep somewhere near yours ? Bridget
is so careless that really am never easy
a moment when she is out of my sight"
"You must ask Miss Ellery," was the
answer "she chooses her own camping.
ground for herself and Flossy, and she
may not care to have it invaded"
ooh, am sure Bridget will not annoy
her in the least" urged Mrs. LIE Roy
and l shall feel 80 relieved"
Bridget and the baby will always be
welcome" said Margaret; "but 1 want
the girl to understand that she is not tc
invite any of her acquaintance to joir
u.s."
"Shure an what made would l have
o. the crane of 'em, with young Teddy
NURSE like Miss Ellery for company p
answered Bridget when Miss Ellery'
proviso was impressed upon her.
"Thank you, Bridget" said the young
Teddy NURSE" looking over the girl
head at Mrs. Kittridge with a CLEAN O.
merriment in her eyes; "we'll consider i
bargain"
But, in spite of this compact, Bridge
hankered for her kind, and frequentl,
when the other nurses went by she woult
make some pretext to stroll after them
Usually on these occasions she would TAX
the baby with her and several times i
happened that when Margaret, CROWN,
uneasy at her heightened absence, went il
search of her, she found the carriag
standing unguarded, while the poor bab
lay blinking his eyes in the sun. One
she came upon the scene just as the vehi
Gle was starting on an independent jour
ney down a steep hillside path, witt
Bridget seated on the grass some thirt
yards away, chatting unconcernedly witt
two or three of her new acquaintance.
al shall certainly have to report you t.
Mrs. Leroy, Bridget, if you do not Tx
better care of the baby" she said, wien
at some peril to herself, she had sue
ceeded in rescuing the carriage and it
occupant.
"Shure, an I'll not so much as step GU
O. your sight if yell not be after speakir
to the Mistress" said Bridget, penitently
And Margaret, accepting the promise
held her to it rigidly, trying as it was t
have her always at her elbow.
"Poor thing she is human, and want
her own people for company" she said
herself; and sometimes, from sheer pit,
when she saw Bridget looking gloomil
after the other girls, she would beguil
her into cheerfulness with story.
Strangers seeing the little group o
the beach not infrequently mistook Ma
garet for young mother out with he
nurse and babies for an airing; and no
and then some fatherly old gentlema
taking leisurely stroll would touch b
hat, with a courteous "Good mornin,
madam" as he stopped to pat Flossy
yellow curls, and pass on leaving hi
smiling at his blunder.
One day, to her mingled Joy and di
may, Tom came striding down to I'll
shore, ruthlessly demolishing sand py
amids and pebble dykes in his haste
reach her.
She had given him no hint of her ne
occupation, and, glad as she was to ST
him, she felt nervous dread of havir
to reveal her secret; but she wasted l
time in dallying with other subjects.
ats doing me world of good, Tom
= she said, in conclusion. g. feel five yea
younger than / felt when came. An
2 in addition to having my board paid,
am earning good wages"
"Well, don't like it," blurted Tor
: who, while she was speaking, had be-
a savagely grinding his heel in the san
, al know what you are doing it for, al
l won't have it. I'd rather never go
college than to have you earning mon
r as nurse. Who ever heard of an Ellie
+ doing anything like that for living
e disgrace to the name."
at is no more of disgrace than teac
ing school," said Margaret, hotly. at
simply training one child instead of thirt
II and, Tom, they treat me exactly as if
h were one of the family. They never sn
Il me in any way"
:, "They'd better not" said Tom, wi
darkening brow.
6 "Sh-sh, Tom Here's Mrs. Kittridg,
le Tom had more than once met Mrs. X
" fridge at his aunts table, and hitherto
7 had thoroughly liked her, but to-day /
=. cordial greeting met only stiff bow
IL response. The lady read his mood.
a. "Your sister is doing US great XIII
r. ness, Mr.. Elery," she said, putting
ia arm about Margaret; &C don't know h
we can ever repay her." And when {
80 had cbatted a moment or two she p
W posed an early lunch, saying that tt
wanted to drive TO North Haven in
afternoon to give Margaret an emporium