The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-02

and was as fond of biting us q mad
dog; but Linda was cool, quiet and
good humored. In week or so she
got the mastery over him, and even be-
gan to teach him something. OF the
father she saw nothing, but at night
she heard him pacing the room over
head with long and solemn strides.
Its his conscience, my dear," said
Mrs. Posset. HE says he is sure he
wasn't all he should be to his poor
Amanda, and that he broke her heart.
He never even answered her back, and
I've had him get up in the night and
90 everywhere to buy Strawberries
when they were not in season because
she was set on having 'em. She was
Miss Penfeather, and the family de-
spises Mr.. Bellamy; but l never saw
such alteration, even when she gave
him q black eye with the busting
| brush
| Linda grew curious to see this par
agon. One day she was 9ratihed. She
| had left Master Tommy in the nursery
and gone down stairs to get q tub of
hot water for his bath; when she re-
turned he was gone She hurried about
| tllC liOuoCs anu oObll hCbld lON SlOtbilo
| from the study on the second floor.
The door stood open; peeping in she
saw tall man living on sofa and
Master Tommy standing near by, pull
ing out his hair by handfulls. With
every tug the sufferer groaned, but
| made no resistance,
Tommy" called Linda, "Tommy,
come here. Really, sir, you ought not
to allow that"
Tommy obeyed and ran to her. The
martyr lifted up his head.
Don't disturb him., he said, mourn
fully Il would deny nothing to her
child. L wish to do my duty by him at
| least
That is not the way to do it, sir"
said Linda, "Absurd Indulgence is in
furious to any child
| She led Tommy away.
The next morning, us she was in
structing him in the alphabet, tan
gled head of black hair appeared at the
door; a thin, tall figure followed, and
Mr.. Bethany, with detected air and
tone, inquired
MAY | come in?"
Linda FASTENED to place a chair, and
went on with her lesson.
The father eyed her with wistful
look
you seem to n anage him." he said.
81 try to, sir" said Linda.
''He has his sainted mothers face"
said Mr.. Bellamy.
The child, with his blunt nose, and
rough, red cheeks, was not particularly
saint-like. but Linda, as in duty bound,
bowed grately.
sit comforts me to see him." said
Mr.. Bellamy. "May | come often?"
This is your own house, sir" said
Linda
From that day Mr.. Bellamy sat in the
/ nursery a great deal In the evenings
he took Tommy to walk At the end
of that month he raised Linda wages.
As the summer wore on, and the
year of his mourning glded by, he be-
slowed many condolences on his nursery
goyerness. He remembered each cause
of complaint his late wife had had
against him and desired Linda's opin-
ion. Generally she found him not to
blame. By slow degrees he grew more
cheerful, and at last brought home q
| top for Tommy and set it humming.
On the anniversary of his wife death
he took Linda and Tommy to her grave
and wept there.
"a broken-hearted man is Mr.. Bel
lamy." said Mrs. Posset "But it seems
singular to me that he didn't ask me to
take the child instead of you
The week after Mrs. Penfeather and
one Of Tommy's aunts came to make a
visit. There was a good deal of whis-
pering in the housekeeper's room; and
one evening Mrs. Penfeather entered
the nursery with naughty air, and,
seating herself in a rocking-chair, adj
dressed herself to Linda;
81 am the late Mrs. Bellamy's
mother, Us | suppose you know, and
have come over to see how Tommy is
getting on. can't say | think he is
doing well at all, and | believe | can
find better nurse-maid for him. SO,
| as your month is up next Monday, I'll
pay You now in place of warning, and
you can pack up at once"
Linda looked at the old lady quietly,
paused a moment, said every WE'LL
and walked out of the room. Her little
trunk stood in the store-room; she
opened it and began to take down her
few plain gowns. Suddenly Tommy's
voice reached her, crying:
where's my Linda?" and she heard
the grandmother say:
"Linda is going away. She's naugh-
ty."
Then she realized that she had come
to love Tommy, and tears fell fast up
on the garments she was packing.
"Crying?' said voice behind her.
"Why, Linda. what has happened?'
I'm very foolish, that's all, Mr.. Bel
lamy. 1t is only leaving Tommy" she
answered, without looking around.
Leaving Tommy? What do you
mean?' cried Mr.. Bellamy @t
He came into the store-room and
stood near her, looking down at her.
"Mrs. Pcnfeather has dismissed me-"
she said.
"But l have not, said Mr.. Bellamy
He bent toward her; he looked at her
as a master seldom looks ut servant.
Suddenly Linda understood all.
cit is right that | should 60" she
thought; and yet her tears fell faster.
Yes, she not only loved Tommy, but
she certainly liked Mr.. Bellamv very