Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-10-22

Nevflle,- feeling the tide. running sharrly
against him, saw that be must speak de-
cidedly. LiI& many easy-goins people, be
could, on oocasion, assert himself irresisu-
bly,. ~ -
There must be an end Of this" he said.
doctor. let us have a nurse at ones. Maud,
you must not go near the child; your life
Is too valuable TO us all
Perhaps, bad Neville been quite straight
forward, he would have said that he pri1ed
his wifs's -fns face too lightly to risk il but
poor Maud knew his infexible tones, and
sank sobbing into her chair.
Quite right, Augustus" the old lady
cried out. II give you the greatest credit.
Maud. don't be upset; hereafter you will
feel thankful, my love"
Vanity had watched this scene with re-
markable look on her face; and now she
hurried down stars and crossed the hall TO
the lady's side
81 Will nurss the baby" she said. 81 am
not afraidr'
The whole company stood transfxed. The
young soldier acknowledged the power of
beauty by gazing for moment at the
stranger with possibly too obvious admira-
ton, but he soon recollected himself,
Maud Neville looked up.
"Oh. thank you, thank you," she said.
at wouldn't be the slightest use. Baby will
have no one but myself"
~ know, know" Vanity replied almost
impatiently. "Come with me-" Maud
looked up in wonder; as for the rest, they
stood in silent amazement; even the old lady
was at loss for a sentence. 'Come with
me-" Vanity repeated in a decisive voice.
''Bid your servant follow u.s."
To the surprise of everybody Maud Neville
rose and walked across the hall with Vanity.
The servant followed, and all three went out
of sight.
"Now, want to be informed the soldier
said, when the door closed upon Maud and
Vanity, "what does all this meanm
"A most extraordinary proceeding" the
old lady observed. II do not care for the
young woman's manner. l suppose this is
another waif of Sister GATHERINGS"
''If she be-" the soldier rejoined, II con-
gratulate Sister Catherine on her taste in
waits"
"Tom Pembroker' the old lady called out,
'don't be frivolous. Your mind ought to
turn to serious things just now, when, for
anything we can tell, the complaint may
come down stairs and take some Of tts into
eternity
Tom Pembroke was utterly abashed. Moral
reproof always confounded him.
At this junctu.e the maid-ssrvant was
seen flying into the sick child'S room, where
the sound of closing of shutters was heard.
Thence she ran upstairs and disappeared.
Then again she darted down to the doctor
and whispered to him. After this she drew
down every blind and closed every shutter
of the hall windows, reducing the place to
darkness. Then, without explaining these
proceedings, she disappeared once more.
The whole party still remained motion
less, none daring to speak. and in the dark
ness and suspense it seemed thatseveral min
utes passed away.
At last, low, sweet, soft, in the most sooth-
ing lullaby note, they heard a voice singing
''Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows Of the evening
Steal across the sky"
why" whispered Neville to his brother,
''that is Maud singing to the child. She
sings that hymn to her night by night"
Then, in the semi darkness of the hall, the
husband saw his wife, dressed in long loose
morning robe which he knew well, bearing