Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-10-29
CHAPTER VIII.
MRS. HARpcAsrLE,s OPINIONS.

MRS. HARDCASTLES OPINIONS
The houssmaid understood her. business.
Without waiting for the word of command,
she let in the light once more, and the whole
party saw each other standing motionless
like the sleepers yet unawakened. The mys-
terious interlude of the chanting figure with
the dreamy child pacing across the dark
hall had petrifed all The majestic old fe-
male stood upon her fight Of steps; the hus-
band held his wifes hand; the doctor stood
with one hand under his coat-tail; and the
soldier leaned against the high oak table,
Just as when Vanity stole across in the dark.
Maud the husband said, breaking the
silence, "what does ell this meani"
''Surely you understandp she exclaimed.
'sThat brave woman!n
'sIs she going to nurse little Maud, thenT'
''She is Such courage never knew"
.'But, Maud" her husband said, twill
you explaina Why did she put on your
gownYn
Really, Augustus, you are stupid Don't
you seel Little Maud thinks am with her,
and going to stay with her. But
such clever grill really thought it
was myself singing She asked me, Have
you any little thing you sing to the childq
So sung her verse Of Now the day is
over The verses, tho music, the very tone
Of my voice, she caught on ths instant. And
then she went in to baby-in the dark-and
took her up, singing all the while; and baby
put her little head against hsr shoulder, and
was quito soothed and still.
The mothers tears fell as she spoke, and
The husband was moved himself.
"What q brave act!'' he said. II should
have thought woman would as soon have
walked into Nehuchadnezzar's furnace
1'With that face, toop' the soldier re-
marked again. sThat's where IL is, you see.
With that face"
II wonder at you, Tom Pembroke, the old
lady called out. "As IL outward appearance
was everything"
II really beg your pardon, 7 the soldier re-
plied, abashed once more SIT is only my
way Of putting it, you know"
"Tom is right. ths husband said, speak
ing like ths master Of the house. IA poor
girl, who has nothing in the world to look to
except her face-n
'4And such facel' the heirrepressible soldier
Of the thing.
lady, .'don't intcrrupti can't hear what
Augustus ~ uyIHk W shy.t
sit is simply this, Mrs. Hardcastle,n the
master Of the house continued, showing some
some signs Of severity; that for poor and
lovely girl--for lovely girl she is--to risk
her beauty for the sake Of q sick child is real
heroismI'
This good humored gentleman had way
Of saying things which cowed ill-natured
people; and the old lady made no rejoinder,
but the soldier glanced rebellitusly at his
adversary.
II feel rebnked, Maud, !" the husband went
on, secretly caressing the hand Of his hand
some awife ssNoteven for little Maudy's sake
could have risked your beauty, he was
going to say. Prudently he paused, and
altered the word ''risked your lifep
Maud responded to his caress; for although
the mother was displeased, the wife forgaye
him.
81 shah never forget what the girl has
done,s Augustus said "And il she were TO
catch the smallpox, and her face were spoiit,
Ishould never forgive myself.
mo more should I!n tho soldier called
mt ssNavarF "