Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-13

big couch opposite. Now and then he
growled to himself softly, as though re-
monstrating against my intrusion, but
whenever | spoke to him gently he sat up
and begged so l imagined his luminosity
was not very bitter.
INV lines have fallen to me in pleasant
places" | wonder why those words came
to my mind I wished Aunt Agatha
could see me now, sitting in this lovely
room. with this little cherub on my lap;
she would not be so respondent about the
future. II do believe it will answer; I
mean to make it answer" said to myself,
theoretically. Indeed, was SO absorbed
in nv revere. that Mrs. Morton's soft
footsteps on the thick carpet never reused
me until I looked mp and saw her stand
ing beside me, smiling, with Joyce beside
her.
/ colored with embarrassment, and
would have risen, but she put her hand
on my shoulder. still smiling to prevent
me- She looked lovelier than ever, in her
rich furs, and there was happier look on
her face than had seen before. as she
stopped down and kissed her boy.
He is sleeping so nicely, the darling.
Mrs. Garrett tells me he has taken to YOU
wonderfully, and hope my little girl will
follow his example; it is such a relief to
me, for he nearly broke our hearts last
night with fretting after nurse. He looks
a little pale, do you not think SOP" And
then she stopped and looked in my face,
with puzzled smile. "What am | to call
you, never thought of that; shall it be
Miss Fenton? But there are the children;
they could not manage such a difficult
name"
The difficulty had never occurred to me,
and for the moment | hesitated, but only
for a moment.
1.-The children will always call me nurse,
and suppose your household will do the
same, Mrs. Morton. I tkink, for yourself.
you will ind Merle the handieSt name; it
is short"
at is very pretty and uncommon" she
returned, musingiv; land it has this one
advantage, it hardly sounds like a Chris
tian name; if you are sure OH do not OBJ
ject, perhaps will use it; but" speaking
little nervouslv. you need not have
worn this" pointing to my cap. You re-
member l said so to your aunt"
81 think it better to do So" | returned.
in a decided voice; in fact, | am afraid my
voice was Just little too decided in speak
ing to my mistress, but | was determined
not to give way on this point. 81 wish to
wear the badge of service, that | may
never forget for one moment what | owe
to my employers, and'-here the proud
color suffused my face-'nO cap can make
me forget what is due to myself"
could see Mrs. Morton was amused,
and yet she was touched, too. She told
me afterward that she thought me that
moment the most original young woman
she had ever seen.
"You shall do as you like" she returned;
but there was a little fun in her eyes. lit
certainly looks very nice, and | should be
sorry if you took it off. | only spoke for
your aunt's sake and your own; for my self
I certainly prefer it."
$50 do l." was my independent answer;
land now, if you please, L think | will lay
baby in his cot, as he will sleep more
soundlv there, and then it will be time to
get Joyce ready for her dinner" for, in
spite of my cap, | had already forgotten
to say Miss Joyce" or to call my mistress
ina am" though l have reason to know
that Mrs. Morton was not at all displeased
with the omission.
at might have been a princess in dis
guise waiting on my children, Merle, she
said to me, many months afterward. But
knew nothing of the secret amusement
with which my mistress watched me as
she stood by the nursery fire in her furs,
warming herself; | only knew that | loved
to see her there, for from the first mo-
ment my heart had gone out to her. She
was 50 beaut full and gentle; but it was
not only that.
..onr JUST as was putting him in
his and | had little trpu hla n
lulling him to sleep again. Hannah was
dressing Joyce, and as soon as she had
finished, | tried to make friends with the
child. She was very shy at first, but
called Snap, and made great fuss over
him. | was just beginning to make way,
when the gong summoned Mrs. Morton
to luncheon, and soon after that the nurs-
erv dinner was served. Hannah waited
upon us very nicely, and then took her
place at the table. She was a thoroughly
respectable girl, and her presence was not
in the least irkSome to me. | always
thought it was grand old feudal custom
when all the retainers dined at the baron's
table, taking their place below the salt.
Surely there can be nothing derogatOry to
human dignity in that, seeing that we
shall one day eat bread together in the
kingdom of heaven.
| wonder if half the governeSSes Jared
so lUNuriouSly as | that day; certainly the
chicken and bread sauce were delicious.
AS soon as we had finished, baby woke up,
and l fed him, and then Joyce and he and
had fine game of romps together, in
which Snap, and the kitten, and all Joyce's
dolls Joined.
l had dressed the kitten up in dolls
clothes and tho finn of lie bpiCrbt
when the door opened, and Mr.. Morton
came in. discovered afterward that it
was his custom to make a brief visit to
the nursery once in the four-and-twenty
hours, sometimes with his wife, but often
alone.
Joyce ran to him at once, she was de-
voted to her parents, especially to her
mo her. but the boy refused to leave me
unless his father would take the kitten
too.
81 suppose must humor YOU, my fine
fellow" observed Mr.. Morton, pleasantly,
as he kissed the little fellow with affection;
and then he turned to me.
81 hope you find yourself comfortable,
nurse, and that my children are good to
you"
They could not be better, sir, and l am
quite comfortable, thank you" returned,
with unusual meekness. 1 was not a
very meek person generally, as Uncle
Keith could testify, but there was a sub
DUNG influence IL idr. Morton's look and
voice. must own was rather afraid of
him, and l would not have omitted the
Sir for worlds, neither would l have
seated myself without his bidding; but he
took it all quite naturally.
LAS my wife and are dining out, joyce
will not come down in the drawing-room
as usual" he observed, in his business
like manner. DO you hear, my little
girl' Mother and L are engaged this
evening, and you must stay upstairs with
Reggie"
VERY tiresome," I heard Joyce say
under her breath, and then she looked up
pleadingly into her fathers face. Her is
coming by and by, farde2n
"Oh, no doubt" strokiug the dark hair:
"but mother is driving at present. Now,
saw Cood-bva to ne. Josce and Won rnr,st
give me a kiss, too, my boy. Good-even-
ing, nurse" And that WIS all we saw o.
Jovce's father that dav: only an hour later.
when the nursery ca was over. aud | was
undressing the boy by the bedroom fire.
while Joyce stood beside me- removing
the garments carefully from favorite
doll, and chattering as fast as purling
brook, saw Mrs. Morton standing n the
doorway, looking at us.
joyce uttered scream OF delight, and
threw herself upon her milne mother!