Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-12-17


overpowered by my Indignation, and
spoke calmly and decisively.
$50 to bed, Martha; you are unfit
for your duties to-day. When you are
better, shall see you again."
Her angry gaze changed slowly into a
dull stare as sh6 perceived my firm eX-
preston. and she sank into an arm
chair, where l knew she would sleep of
the effects of her over-indulgence.
slipped the door-key into my pocket and
retreated, in my excitement carrying
Willie as easily as an infant. Frank 3
nurse looked thoroughly surprised when
l entered her domain with my step-son
sobbing Historically in my arms but
my recital did not astonish her.
81 had no idea 1t was so bad as that,
ma'am," said nurse, ''for Martha keeps
herself to herself, and seldom allows
her fellow.servants inside her rooms
but We all suspected she drank, for we
smelt spirits often enough"
''But why did nobody tell me ?" j
asked, crying myself as nurse gently
revealed the blue marks on Willie's
shoulders. ''This child has been treated
barbarously."
"Well, ma'am, we didn't think it our
place to carry tales so long as you were
satisfied. Many time have 1 told
Martha that Master Willie didn't ought
TO cry so much, but she always said she
had your permission to punish him as
she chose when he was troublesome.
1 felt the reprosch her worcs con-
veyed to my conscience. and l knew it
was deserved.
''Get him some breakfast, nurse, ~
said l ''the things were only half laid
on the table, and he has had nothing
this morning. Now, Willie, want to
know all about Martha come, tell
mamma everything"
''She hasn't been quite 30 bad before, :"
replied the little fellow, looking up into
my face, "but she is always slipping
some stuff from bottle In her pocket,
and 1t makes her so cross. Last night
she was angry because l was in here
playing with baby, and she sent me to
bed without supper. She said that /
took tales to the other servants, and
that had no business here she told
me you wouldn't have me touch baby
because l was only his step-brother. and
l was in his way, and you'd be glad if |
was dead-but that's a story, isn't itP"
He fastened upon me his great earn
est blue eyes, just like nv husbands. l
was crying fast-cryIng away all my
unnatural hardness-and for answer I
stopped down and kissed him.
81 knew it was a story" said Willie.
II do like you to nurse ME, mamma /; it
feels like grannie."
ibid Martha dress you this morning,
Master Willie ?" asked nurse, returning
with some bread-and.milk and little
minced chicken.
''No, she sat up in the chair all night.
She was asleep there this morning when
went In to see II breakfast was ready.
had dressed myself, and 1 woke her
up and told her 50. l began to cry. and
said she was tipsy when she stared so
oddly at me, and then she hit me be-
bause 1 tried to get away to tell papa.
master told me 1 was never to in
terfere with Martha, but just attend to
baby, "sald nurse Indignantly, "else I'd
have found out directly why he was
screaming. Never mind, Master VIII
lie; It's all right now."
Nurse, " suggested 1, "I think we
could have Master Willie's little bed in
here. wish you could undertake both
the children, or, at least, try it for a
time. L can rely on you, and Of course
your wages will be altered. He would
not be much in your way"
81 am quite agreeable. ma'am," said
nurse. "Raby has taken wonderfully
to Master Willie, and he always does
what tell him; but can't have that
naughty cough in my nursery, sir, L tell
you"
81 don't cough for fun, nurse, I" de-
clared Willie. 'I'll try to keep quiet
I will indeed"
"He has a nasty hacking cough at
nights" said nurse to me, when Willie,
with the tears all dried, was playing bO-
peep with baby In the berceaaietts. "It
goes right through you, ma'am. l
doubt if he's long for this world after
all.n
"What a foolish ideal" said l hastily,
looking at the white face and slender
frame, and wondering, with q sudden
fash Of horror, if my lack OF love was
thug to be punished by Heaven. The
womanly yearnings, crushed hitherto
by jealousy, broke down every barrier
then. 4 was myself at last, and my
heart opened wide to take In roy hus-
bands child.
l longed 70 see and speak to Kendall
again, and looked forward anxiously to
his return. 1 was sadly disappointed
when Mr.. Tudor came In to tell me
that my husband, who shared his cham
bers, had been summoned 20 Exeter on
legal business and might be detained
some days. He had sent q list Of GER
tain requisites, and these packed at
once and despatched to the station to
follow him. could not bring myself
to write one line Of all that 1 felt.
Mr.. Tudor soon relieved my dispute
tude as to dealing with Martha. After
a brief interview between them, in
which he acted for Kendall, she quietly
accepted a months money In lieu Of no
tice, and bestowed herself and her be-
in q cab, with q few threats
and impertinences concerning myself
and her late situation which highly
amused the cabman.
"She's gone l'' shouted Willie, clap
ping his thin hands for Joy. "Won't 1
have a good time now, mamma ?"
After this Willie's health did not
seem to improve, and, broken-hearted,
L realized one morning, as the risin sun
was parting the gray clouds in the east,
that all my care for my patient was in
vain. A slight attack Of pleurisy, anx-
iously watched by myself and a West
end physician 1 had summoned, had
taken fatal turn on the previous even
ing, and we had telegraphed directly to
his father, who had proceeded to Ire
land from Exeter,
Closer my boy clung to me with all
his feeble strength. Baby was crying
in the nursery, missing my presence
there but even his voice could not
draw me from that bedside. 1 would
have died myself to save my other child,
cut off in the very blossom Of his days
"a victim perhaps to the neglect which
had left his warning cough unattended