The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-16

Woieou ioi thc Cniiulcu W Dc given oVcI
to her charge.
But with four little eager hands pull
ing at her two more than half-willing
ones, the garden seemed to Madcap a
dull enough refuge to return to, and she
permitted herselfto be dragged through
the gate that opened on the copse 1.-THE
only egress from the house save through
the village), and step by step the great
er length of it, till suddenly, all flushed
with romping and happiness. she came
to the very spot where she had kneeled
by Hester, and heard her story.
"Me so tired" said Dody, sitting
down on the grass, as Madcap paused,
and clasped both hands to her heart.
Come and sit on my knee, mummy"
he added, patting tiny lap invitingly.
Tired already" cried Madcap, for
getting Hester, and thinking that she
saw a shade of unusual pallor on the
little beloved face.
20! no, ma'am,' said Josephine,
whose rule in life it was always to tell
lie when the truth was not pleasant;
"but he is so fond of this copse, and
will always sit down just here"-then,
with her usual tact, withdrew a little,
and affected to busy herself over scrap
of work she took from her pocket.
Madcap stood for moment looking
around, then, yielding to Dody's en-
treaties, sat down with him beside her,
while Doune, tired out with lis search
after birds'-nests, came to her side, and
leaned his head to her shoulder-a rare
sign of tenderness in the boy, and one
that brought the color to Madcap's
cheek. Does mothers love for her
child lie in the joy, the delight he is to
her, or is it something entirely indie
pendent of the return he may make to
her in kind? For long while the word
mother" carries no significance with
it to his mind; he loves her as some
thing tenderer. gentler to him than any
other, but he would be equally happy
with any one equally devoted. And
even when he begins to understand, the
vigorous strivings of life impel him to
escape from her arms; it is in the in
frequent caress, the unexpected kiss,
that the mother finds her reward, when,
without her bidding, he will run to her
and clasp his little arms about her
knees, or momentarily lean his head
against her breast as if he would con-
vey to her that, though he knows not
what the word mother" means, he yet
feels her to be different to all others in
the world.
A shadow crossed the three, and Mad
cap looked up with start to see Frank
in the act Of passing them. He was
very pale, and raised his hat without
seeming to look at her. and continued
his way toward the Hall.
aspect he's gone to romp with
Josephine" said Dody, looking after
the young man with much interest;
while Madcap wondered If he would dare
no, surely he would not dare to cross
her threshold.
'::Josephine's got Digges for sweet
heart" said Doune, with superior
nod; "she doesn't romp with any one
else now. That's the man that carried
off the black lady, isn't it, mother?"
But Madcap was gazing after Franks
vanishing shape-and indeed he made a
charming figure, as any one must have
admitted who did not hate sinner
worse than his sin las perhaps Madcap
unconsciously did,, and then-''women
are strange"-she caught the two boys
hands in her own, and, long before
Frank had got himself out of sight, had
set off running in the opposite direc-
ton; so that when Frank, who placed
his pride second to her safety, looked
round, it was to see her vanishing like
new ATLANTA in the distance, where
upon he turned and ran too, till when
at last she stopped breathless, it was to
find at her heels what she thought to
have left far behind.
Doune had not turned a hair, but
Dody was coughing violently with the
haste at which he had been swept along;
and as Madcap caught him up, she flash
ed at poor Frank look that included
cruelty to her child, in the list of the
young mans other misdemeanors.
Perhaps he chose to accept that
glance as greeting, however hostile,
for he said, You were going to the
viTlage?"
: Scoring to reply, Madcap went for
ward, but Dody turned his head over
his mothers shoulder, and, by way of
friendly overture, remarked, "Us is 60
ing a-maying!"
$50 am l." said Frank resolutely, and
wondering If Mr.. Eyre were mad to let
his treasure thus go unguarded; but
are you wise to go?" he added, address
ing the back of little chestnut head.
"There will be rough people there-gyp-
sizes, beggars, tramps of all kinds"
Are you my keeper?" cried Mad
cap, stopping short in the pathway, and
stamping her foot with passion that
made Dody, vaguely alarmed, cling
round her neck, crying
Don't be angedy, mummy; don't be
angedyl"
"Mother's not afraid of anybody"
said Doune, pressing defiantly against
her side; 'she's going to dance with us,
and we'll take care of her."
"Where is Josephine?" cried Madcap,
for the first time noticing the girls dis
appearance.
"She has gone back to the Hall, "said
Frank, the color coming into his face.
''At your request?" said Madcap, set
ting Dody down, and facing the young
man.
AT my request"
20! this is intolerable," cried Mad
cap, 'that you are to force your COM
pany on me thus-that 1 am to be plac-
ed under surveillance, my very servants
sent away at your bidding! Until to-
day had always thought lady was
free to choose her own society"
II regret" he said, 'that am COM
PEELED to infict myself on you until Mr..
Eyre comes"
ibid he constitute you my jailer?"
she said, with bitter contempt that
was like mirror held up to him of
what he was in her eyes. MAY ask
what special fitness for the post made
you undertake itp These poor people
around will not harm me, nor would