The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-10


 They walked slowly toward the maIl, and disappeared.
 "Do you know that lady who first spoke about you p said the nurse.
 "The lady who asked the other lady if was her child ?" inquired Mabel.
 "Yes," said the nurse.
 "No," said Mabel; "I never saw her before"
 "Tnat was your mother" CHAPTER H.--MABEL MAUD's PERPLExlTv
 Mabel Maud was puzzled. She lookee curiously into the nurses face, as though she thought the nurse were testing with her. Then she raised her beautiful black eyes and said, earnestly:
 "Dear nurse, want to ask you a ques- tion."
 "What is it, my child ?"
 "You will tell me true"
 shall teii you true"
 "What is mother?"
 The little nurse had been brought up in a founding asylum, and had never had mother. When large enough to work she had been given a situation in a family in Fifth avenue, and had never learned what mother was. A mother was out of the line ot Kathleen's expe- rience. She studied long time, for she did not wish to seem ignorant.
 Dear nurse," repeated Mabel "what is motherW
 The nurse gave the only answer she knew:
 "A mother is woman that looks at our characters CHAPTER IH.-MABEL MAUD FURTHER
 MYSTIFIED.
 That night the little nurse sat by Mabel Maud's bed, telling fairy stories. The afternoon had been one of intense ex- citement to the child, who had not yet recovered from the astonishment of learn ing that she had mother. The anxious nurse was trying to calm her into sleep when there was a loud knocking at the front door.
 The gentleman of the house had just returned from the Union League club. He had been absent year, and would not have returned from the club so soon had there not been great fight in the lobby. which had ended in his being ex- pelled.
 M Maoei started up and sad
 Dear nurse, who makes that noise ?"
 Kathleen peered through the shutters aud answered:
 That is your father"
 "My father?"
 "Your father"
 Mabel rAlsed her curly head, rested it on her hand, and looked with wonder into kathleen's eyes.
 "My-"
 "Your father"
 Have father ?"
 "Yes, dear child"
 Kathleen, what is father?''
 give it up," said the nurse.
 Kathleen was foored.
 The child was overwhelmed by her emotions.
 "A mother and father!' murmured Mabel Maud, and sobbed herself to sleep.
 CHAPTER IVA NEW THEORY OF FILIAL
 ETIQUETTE.
 The next day Mabel was taken down to the drawing-room to be introduced to her parents. She approached her mother shyly, but did not venture nearer to her than ten feet. Her father she regarded for moment with vague curiosity, and then retreated to corner and hid behind a big chair. The nurse lifted her tenderly in her arms. When Mabel Maud had been transported again to the nursery, she had only dim and confused recol- lection of her parents.
 The child had now established a speak ing acquaintance with her parents. Gradually they met more often. Mabel soon knew her mother when she saw her riding by in the park. She seldom made a mistake in picking out her father on the street. Once or twice, indeed, Mabel exchanged few words with her parents. such as "Very we'll, thank you" or The weather is cool to-day" Their acquaintance was ripening.
 Mabel was puzzled touching how to act toward her parents. She was eau tious not to overstep the bounds of cour- tesy; careful not to be familiar with them. In their presence she preserved dignihed and courteously reserved man. ner. She would not have dreamed of climbing into her mothers lap. With her nurse, on the other hand, she was wholly unconventional. CHAPTER v.-MABEL'S HEART WARNS
 TOWARD HER KINDRED.
 A fourth cousin of her mothers, a "poor 'relation,'" came to the house on visit. He was an uncouth, simple hearted man, who invariably offered wrong advice and was always uncon- sciously absurd. The child was attracted to him, and they were soon much ac- quainted. Mabel loved the nurse, though not of kin, and had place in her affections for the cook, who had given her hot tarts. Now her heart began to warm toward her kindred. She was soon a constant companion of her fourth cousin. His smile was like sunshine to her. She hid her head on hiS ehoulGey as he told hAr fhA xr,oe<