The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-31

MIN DIack eye with the dustlnS
brush"
Linda grew curious to see this par
agOn. One day she was gratifed. She
had left Master Tommy in the nursery
and gone down stairs to get tub Of
hot water for his bath: when she re-
turned he was gone. She hurried about
the house, and soon heard low grOans
from the study on the second floor.
The door stood open; peeping in she
saw a tall man living on a 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. ''Iwould deny nothing to her
child. 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, as she was in
structing him in the alphabet. tam
gled head of black hair appeared at the
door; thin, tall figure followed, and
Mr.. Bellamy, with a detected air and
tone, inquired:
''May come in?"
Linda hastened to place a chair, and
went on with her lesson.
The father eyed her with wistful
look
"You seem to manage him." he said.
81 try to, SIR" said Linda.
''He has his sainted mothers face, y
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 gravely.
''It 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's wages.
As the summer wore on, and the
year of his mourning glided by, he be-
slowed MANY condolences on his nursery
governess. He remembered each cause
of complaint his late wife had had
against him and desired Linda's opin-
ion. Generally she found him not tc
blame. By slow degrees he grew more
cheerful, and at last brought home
top for Tommy and set it humming.
On the anniversary of his wife's death
he took Linda and Tommy to her grave
and wept there.
ga 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 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, ad-
dressed herself to Linda:
81 am the late Mrs. Bellamy's
mother, as l suppose you know, and /
have come over to see how Tommy is
getting on. l can't say | think he is
L
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 very 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 Tommys
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.
He came into the store-room and
stood near her, looking down at her.
"Mrs Pcnfeather has dismissed me-"
she said.
s.But have not" said Mr. Bellamy.
He bent toward her; he looked at her
as a master seldom looks at servant.
Suddenly Linda understood all.
'.lt is right that l should CO." she
thought; and yet her tears fell faster.
Yes, she not only loved Tommy, but
she certainly liked Mr.. Bellamy very
much.
"It will break the child's heart If
you 60" said Mr.. Bellamy ''Mrs. Pen
feather oversteps her privileges. Lin
da, my dear child, you can't 60. ]
have thought for some time that you
never must 1t is my duty to give little
Tommy mother, and I'm so very
fond of you. Won't you marry me?"
He put his arm about her waist. He
had such soft kind way, though he
was weak and womanish.
Say yes, Linda" he said But she
answered:
Not now; not here" and hurried
her clothes into her trunk. He stood
by dejectedly.
Think it over, Linda" he pleaded.
And she promised.
In the little hall bedroom, such a
tight fit for two. she talked it over with
her grandmother that night. Linda
had had dreams of gallant knights and
young princes, like other girls; and
Bellamy was neither. But she felt as
he needed to be taken care of; and
there was Tommy. And it was good
match, as her grandmother said. And
so it came to pass that there was
wedding one day at Mrs. Scrolls board
ing house, and that afterwards Linda