Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-06
MERLE'S CRUSADE,
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author OF Barbara Heathcots's Triol -
"Quesnic's Whtm,'' sThe Search
for Basil LlRdhurst"


"Q1iesnic's Whtm, s'TIhc Search
for Basil Lyladhurst"
"To serve others seems the very mean,
ing of wOmsnhood; in some sense, wo-
man serves all the days OF her life. No.
/ am not far-fetched and impractical "
Another supposed masculine TRADE Il
have thought over the whole thing most
carefully. l am not only working for my
self, but for others. 1 want to open the
eyes OF my generation, and, like the Chal-
loners, to lead a new crusade against the
mighty sham Of conventiOnality. Under
stand me, Uncle Keith, l do not say to
these young gentlewomen, Put your
pride in your pocket, and wheel your per-
ambulator with the twins, or carry the
baby into the park before the eyes of your
aristocratic acquaintance; that would be
unnecessary and foolish: you may leave
that part to the under-nurse, who brings
your meals and scours your nurseries;
simply say to them, If you have no ca
pacity for teaching, if Nature has untitled
you for other work. and you are too proud
and conscientious to live dragging. de-
pendent life under the roof of some over
buricRei relative lake the charge of some
aristocratic nursery, Do not think it be.
meath your womauhood to feed and wash
and clothe an infant, or TO watch ovs'
weak toddling creatures Your work may
DO humble. but you will grow to love it,
and II no one else will put the theory TO
the test, l, Merle Fenton, will do so.
though l must take the plunge unaided
and alone"
But all these feeling observations were
locked up in my own inner consciousness
for during the remainder of the evening
Uncle Keith simply ignored the subject,
and read his book with a pretense of be-
ing perfectly absorbed in it, though l am
certain that his eyes twinkled mischiev-
ously whenever he looked in my direction,
as though he were quite aware of my flood
of repressed oratory
| determined to have it out with Aunt
Agatha, so followed her into her room,
and asked her in a peevish voice what she
meant by saying Uncle Keith would be SO
angry with me, as ho had not raised a
single objection; and, of course, as sill
ence meant consent, | should most GER
tainly keep my appointment at Prince
Gate.
Aunt Agatha looked a little distressed
as she answered me.
ITO tell you the truth, Mel l did
not quite understand your uncle myself;
l expected very different reception of my
news"
Tell me all about it from the very be-
ginning" | returned, eagerly. "Patiencs
has made such nice fire, because she said
she was afraid you had cold, and l can
just sit by it and brush out my hair while
we talk"
'BuS / am tired and sleepy, child, and
after all there is not much to tell" OBJ
Jected Aunt Agatha; but she was far too
good-natured to refuse. for all that, so
she seated herself, dear soul, in the big
chair-that she had christened Idleness-
and tried to remember what l wished to
hear. Il told him everything, Merle; how
your one little defect hindered you, poor
child, from being a nursery governess
or companion, and how, in spite of this
serious obstacle, you were determined to
work and be Independent"
'Well, and did ne say nothing to all
thats" I asked. for knew in what feel
ing manner Aunt Agatha would have de-
scribed my difficulties.
''Oh, yes; he said, Poor little thing in
the kindest possible way, and quite right
very proper When l spoke of your de-
sire to work"
HE listened very attentively until l
read him out the advertisement, but that
seemed to upset him, for he burst out
laughing, and ] thought he would never
stop. / was half crying by that time, for
you had worried me to death all the after
noon, Merle, but nothing l could say
would make him grave for a long time.
He said once, What could have put sue
thing into her head?' and then he laugh
ed again as though the idea amused him,
and then he rubbed his hands and NUT
tered, What an original child it is; there
is no deficiency of brain power, as far as
can see: who would have dreamed of such
a thing?' and so on"
''Then ! may fiatter myself that Uncle
Keith approves of my scheme'" observed,
stiffly, for was much offended at the idea
of his laugh.
"Oh, dear, nop' returned Aunt Agatha,
in an alarmed voice, che expressed his
disapproval very strongly; he said it was
all very well in theory, and that, ON the
whole, he agreed with you that the nurs-
cry was undoubtedly lady-like sphere,
but he was far from sure that your scheme
would be practical He foresaw all kinds
of difficulties, and that he did not con-
slider you at all the person for such posi-
ton"
"Why did not Uncle Keith say all this
to me HIMSELF" ! demanded.
Because he said it would only be SOW
ing the wind to raise the whirlwind In
an argument he declares women always
have the best of it, because they can talk
the fastest, and never will own they are
TO h.
to strengthen you more in your purpose
1 think" finished Aunt Agatha, in her
softest voice, that he hoped your plan
would die a natural death, for he recon-
mended me to withdraw all opposition"
Oh, the cunning of these menl l would
not have believed all this of Uncle Keith.
| was far too angry to talk any more TO
Aunt Agatha: | only commanded my voice
sufficiently to say that | fully intended to
keep my appointment the next day; and
rs she only looked at me very sadly and
said nothing, had no excuse for Hnger-
ing any longer, so took up my candle
stick ana marched into my own room.
1t felt cold and desolate, and as | sat
down by the toilet table, such sad eyes
looked into mine from the depths Of the
mirror, that curious self-pitying feeling
made me prop my chin on my hands and
exchange looks Of silent sympathy with
my image.
My want OF beauty never troubled me:
it has always been my private conviction
that we ought 10 be thankful if We are
tolerably pleasant in other peoples eyes;
beauty is too rare gift to be often repro
duced. II people thought me nice-looking
was more than content; perhaps it was
surprising that. with such good-looking
parents. / was just ordinary and nothing
else. But never mind, Merle, you have
good figure and talking eyes" as Aunt
Agatha once said to me. II was much
palmer at your age, my dear, but my
plainness never prevented me from having
a hsppy life and good husband" "
well, perhaps 1 should like happy
life, too, but as for the husband-never
dream Of that, my good girl; remember
your miserable deficiency in this enlight-
ened age. No man in his senses would
condone that; put such thoughts resol1te-
ly away, and think only of your work in
life Ldbordre est ordre"
CHAPTER Iu.-THE NEW NURSE.
In looking back on those days, l simply
aud truly the same Merle Fenton who
rang at the bell at Princes Gate. aud in
formed the estonished footman that was
the person applying for the nurses situa-
ton. / recall that scene now with
laugh, but frankly own that that mo-
ment was not the pleasantest in my life.