Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-06
NO. Is.

drawing room, Alick. ! have sent of tile
letters, and now want 10 speak to you a
moment;" and her voice died away as they
..s~~.' turther down the corridor.
felt keen anxiety as TO the result OF
that conversation. / WAS very impulSiye
by nature, and had fallen in love with
Mrs Morton. The worn look on the beau
tiful young face had touched me some
how. One Of my queer visionary ideas
came over me as recalled her expression.
/ thought that If l were an artist, and
that my subject was the Massacre of the
1nnocents." th&t the mothers face in the
foreground should be Mrs. Morton's
Rachel Weeping for her Children"
something OF the pathetic maternal agony.
as for lost babe. had seemed 10 cross her
face as she spoke of her little ones.
found out sfterwsrd that, though she
wore no mourning, Mrs Morton had lost
beautiful infant about four months ago
1t had not been more than six weeks old.
but the mothers heart was still bleeding
Many months afterward she told me that
she often dreamed of her little Muriel and
woke trying to stifle her sobs, that she
might not disturb her husband | sat
cogitating this imaginary picture OF mine,
and shuddering over the sanguiusry de-
tails, until Mrs. Morton returned. and.
to my embarrassment, her husband was
with her
/ gave him a frightened glance as he
crossed the room with rapid footsteps
He was n quiet-looking man, with dark
mustache, some years Older than his wife
His being slightly bald added somewhat
to his appearance of age. In reality he
was not more than tive-and-thirty. |
! thought him little cool and critical in
manner, but his voice was pleasant. He
looked at me keeuly as he spoke; it was
my opinion at that moment that not an
article of my dress escaped his observa-
ton. | had selected purpoSely a pair of
mended gloves, and am convinced the
fnger-euds We're at once under his inspec-
ton. He was a man who thought no de-
tails beneath him, but would bring his
masculine intellect to bear even to the
point of discovering the fitness of his
childrens nurse.
Mrs. Morton tells me that YOU have
applied for the situation of upper nurse''
he began, not abruptly, but in the quick
tones of busy man who had SCant leis-
ure. Il have heard all you have told her,
she seems desirous of testing your abili-
ties, but | must warn you that | distrust
theories myself Nv dear" turning TO
his wife, Il must say that this Young per-
| son looks hardly old enough for the posi-
tion, and you own she has no real expert.
euce. Would not a more elderly person
be more suitable, considering that you
are so seldom in your uursery2 Ofcourse,
this is your department, but since you
ask my advice" with little shrug that
seemed to dismiss me and the whole sub
| ject.
A wistful, disappointed look came over
| his wife's face.
L was too great a stranger to understand
| the real position of affairs, only my intui-
tion guided me at that moment. 1t was
| not until much later that found out that
| Mrs Morton never disputed her husbands
| will, even in trifles; that he ordered the
| plan Of her life as well as his own; that
| her passionate love for her ch dren was
| restrained in order that her wifely and
| social duties should be carried out; that
| she was so perfectly obedient to him, not
| from fear, but from an excess of womanly
| devotion, rAat she seldom even contested
an opinion. My fate was very nearly
| sealed at that moment, but hasty inn
| pulse prompted me to speak Looking
| piteously, DO not dismiss me because OF
| my youth, for that is a fault tha. time will
| mend. Want of experience is greater
| obstacle, but it will only make me more
| careful to observe every direction and
| carry out every wish. If you consent to
| try me, am sure neither you nor Mrs.
| Morton will repent it."
He looked at me very keenly again as |
| spoke; indeed, his eye seemed to search me
| through and through, and then his whole
manner changed.
have been told that Nature had been
| kind to me in one respect by endowing me
| with q pleasant voice. | believe that l
was freer from vanity than most girls of
my age, but | was glad in my inmost
| heart TO know that no tone of mine would
ever Jar upon human ear, but was more
| than glad now when l saw Mr.. Morton's
| grave face relax.
You speak confidently" he returned.
"You seem to have a strange faith in your
own theory, and plenty OF selt-reliance,
/ but am afraid that, like most young peo-
| pie, you have only regarded it from one
point of view Are you aware of the un-
pleasantness of such stuationi II you
came to us you might have nothing of
which to complain from Mrs. Morton or
| myself, but we could not answer for the
rest of my household; the servants would
regard you as a sort of hybrid, belonging
to no special sphere; they might show you
scant respect, and manifest a great deal
of jealousy.
II have faced all that" returned, with
a smile but think the difficulties would
be like Bunyan's lions-they were chain
! ed, you know. | do not believe these
things will hurt me. l should never be
away from the children in the nursery;
| should be unmolested and at home"
"Alickr could hear a whole petition
breathed into that softly uttered word.
Mr.. Morton heard it, too, for he turned at
once, and then looked at his wife.
"Do you really wish to try this young
person. Violet. my denr' 1t is for you to
| decide; this is your province, as l said be
| fore"
"If she will love our children and watch
| over them in our absence" she whispered;
| but / caught the words Then aloud,
Yes, thank you, Alick, / should like tc
| try her / think she would make Joyce
happy. can 60 and see Mrs. Keith
| this afternoon when l am out driving
and perhaps / could arrange for her tc
| come soon"
Very we'll" he returned, briefly; but
| he spoke in the old dry manner. As though
| he were not quite pleased. when you
! are disengaged will you join me in thu
| library, have some more letters wani
| copied"
81 will be ready soon" she said, with 9
| sweet, grateful glance at him, IS though
/ she had received some unexpected bounty
| at his hands; and as he wished me good
! morning, and left tho room, she contin.
! ued. eagerly, "Will you come with mt
now and make acquaintance with tht
/ children, / have seen them already thi,
/ morning, so they will not expect me, and
| il will be such surprise. Ny little girl,
| is always with me while / dress. / have
| 80 little time to devote to them; but
/ snatch every moment"
| She sighed as she spoke, and began 10
| understand, in dim, cropping sort OF way
| that Fate is not so unequal after all, that
even this beautiful creature had unsatis
/ fed wants in her life, that it was possible
that wealth and position were TO her only
firesome barriers dividing her from he,
| little ones Her sweetest pleasures only
came to her by snatches. Most likely sh'
I envied humble mothers, and did not pit;
them because their arms ached with car
ryipg heavy infant. aching limbs beng
more bearabie than an aching heart
n mgnt o. broad, Handsomely carpeteL
/ stairs brought us TO long shut-in corri
dor, fitted up prettily with plants and
f~+. A III