The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-29

This remark was addressed to Mr..
Philip lie Roy, who had that morning
presented himself, valise in hand, with the
evident intention of making a long stay.
So the experiment is success ?" said
Philip, with interest.
/" 1t is success for Mrs. Kittridge," an
swered Mrs. lie Roy " and she doesn't pay
a penny more than | pay Bridget. What
is wanted, Bridget ?" she asked, Bridget
entering at the moment with an open let
ter in her hand.
"Och an its me mither, mum an
me cousin Katy Malone-her that was
Katy McQuinn--says if I'd be after
seein' her this side pargatory I'll not let
the grass grow under me fate so, akin
your lave, mum, think I'll 60 up on the
afternoon boat"
"But how long are you to be gone,
Bridget and what am to do without
you ?" asked Mrs. LIE Roy, in dismay.
"Shure an the Lord only knows,
mum !" said Bridget, lifting corner of her
apron to her eyes. " If me mither should
die, there'd be the wake an the mournin',
mum; but I'd be after comm back as
soon as liver the buryin' was DONE"
"There's no help for it, suppose"
said Mrs. lie Roy, having dismissed
Bridget with reluctant consent; Z" but it
is too provoking, for Rob is beginning to
teeth, and he will fret from morning till
night if he has to be shut indoors"
but why shut him indoors ?" asked
Philip. eft strikes me that little of the
outer air would be good for you as we'll as
for him."
Mrs. lie Roy threw up her hands at
this innocent proposition.
"Why, the neighbors would think we
had become bankrupt if they saw me do
ing duty as Rob's nurse and, really,
Phil, am not equal to it." Philip looked
at her refectively.
"That reminds me-" he said "tbis
morning on the way from the boat met
a family party, the mother in advance,
with fat, blear-eyed poodle in her arms,
while behind her came the nurse, carry
ing puny-looking baby in her arms"
"Wel, | am sure that was proper
enough" said Mrs. LIE Roy. Give been
trying for year to have Herbert get me a
! poodle. They are all the fashion, and, if
: you want to be anybody, you must keep up
with the fashions, whatever they may be- p
"Come, Rob, let's take walk" said
Philip, putting out his arms to the baby,
who, seated ON the floor, was ruefully try.
ing his gums on a rubber rattle. sect
his hat, Irene, and I'll take him out-that
is, if he will let me-
"Oh, he's not in the least afraid OF
: you," said Mrs. Leroy, catching up the
l boy and beginning to arrange his dress
"but, for PHYS sake, Phil, don't &c
where you'll be likely to meet that Miss
Ellery-it would be so embarrassing fol-
| both IF opI IS
in other directions
a IN, we II manage tnat; won't we
. Rob ~ said Philip, putting out his arm.
U to the baby.
9 "Sood do walky walk wiz uncle, so h,
L sood, bess his heart ~ cooed Mrs. Leroy
giving the child kiss at the end OF ever,
y clause.
. "You women are queer combinations =
muttered LeRoy, walking off with Rol
: on his shoulder.
u u Miss Ellery, seated that morning OF
Y the shady side of big rock, with Flossy
at her feet, industrlously engaged il
burying her, Sphinx-iike, in the sand
y was wondering what had become of Bird
. get and her charge, when she was star
= tied by the falling of long, dark SHADOW
> between her and the sunlight.
% MAN tummin'l" lisped Flossy, drop
-. ping her shovel and taking refuge in tn
~ Sphinx's arms. The man respectful,
lifted his hat.
y pardon me for intrudng, but, know
y ing that Mrs. LIE Roy's nurse is in tn
y habit of seeking your protection, hav
= ventured to follow her example, as l ar
. acting as her substitute to-day" he sale
~ seating himself on a stone and lettin
J, Rob slide to the ground.
J "My protection extends only to tn
10 babies" said Margaret, STOPPING from tn
nest of sand that Flossy had built abou
II her, to soothe Rob, whose lip had begu
: to culver on finding himself so uncer,
y moniously dethroned; "and unless 70
" take better care of this one shall have t
u report you"
IS "Then should lose my situation, an
!, that would grieve me, for Bridget is to b
gone week or more, and have unde
IL taken to supply her place." he said, pu
ting out his hands to Flossy, who ha
3 sided up to him, and seating her on hi
10 knee. Margaret smiled, and soon the tw
r. nurses were deep in conversation, viii
W the two babies, already we'll acquainte
with each other, tumbled about in tt
W warm, dry sand at their feet.
70 81 never knew that Philip was so fon
y of children" said Mrs. LIE Roy the ne,
10 morning, leaning in neighborly fashio
,, over the garden fence to chat with Mr.
, Kittridge, who was busy among her flo,
- II ers he has carried off Rob again to-da
= and seems really to enjoy having hi
Il with him."
"Miss Ellery says be makes an admir-
~ BILE nurse" responded Mrs Kittridg
en with mild malice. Mrs. LIE Roy bit b.
u lip and walked into the house.
~ "That's just what / was afraid of
W she said to herself. "However, Bridg
ey will be back in a few days, and the
~ things will 60 on as before"
70 But Bridget was gone a fortnight, al
l. in the meantime, while the babies playt
~, in the sand and prattled and cooed
10 each other, the two nurses discourse
y philosophy and metaphysics, and occ
- sionally drifted into poetry.
~ 81 don't like it," said Mrs. LIE Roy
tb her husband on Saturday night, as 81
Iva rehearsed the events of the week. so
d. course | feel safer about Rob, having hi
~ with Margaret-men know so little abo
be babies-but it isn't safe for Phil"
,ar "Phils safe enough" said Herbe