Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-02-28
MERLES CRUSADE.
By ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author Of "BnrbTr1 HeGthcots's Trial y
"QueeHic's Fiit7f," ''T7ts Search
for Basil Lgndhurst''
uay,s goodbye IoIIowed.

ave shall meet again soon, Merle: IT
will not be goodbye for long l am COM
ing up to stay with Violet before Christ
mas, and then we shall have some nice
times together Then she kissed the
children, waved her hand gayly as the
train moved down the platform, and the
pretty smiling face disappeared from our
view.
Mr.. Morton was very silent during our
Journey. He had Joyce beside him, and
now and then he spoke to her, but his
face wore a gloomy, absent expression; he
seemed troubled and i'll at ease, and I re-
membered a speech of Gays, that Alick
never seemed the same man when any
thing was the matter with Violet"
1t was still early in the afternoon when
we drove up Exhibition Road. Down at
NethertOn the golden blades of corn were
falling beneath the reaping machine, the
waves were washing up against the beach,
and the children were out picking flowers
IN the long, scented lanes. Now, instead
of fresh, salt breeZes, a fine eddying dust
blew in our faces, carriages and cabs
jostled each other in the sunny road,
crowds OF people, making their way to the
museum or art gallery or exhibition,
blocked up the wide pavements. There
were the gutter merchants driving their
noisy trade, itinerant fruitseller5, and
fower-girls Wanting stale and withered
wares, dusty plebeians glancing critically
at the grand patrician houses, most of
them still closed and shattered. Dives
was still on Scottish mo1rs, or in English
country houses, or seeking health on the
Engadine; but Lazarus still dwelt at his
closed gates. ant displayed his fostering
sores to the careless passers-by.
/ watched it all mechanically, but far
different pictures rose to my recollection
unbidden: the gnarled old apple trees in
the orchard at Marshlands, with the bench
on which more than one generation Of
children had carved their names; Wheel
er's Farm, with its trough set under the
messy pear-tree, and Molly, in her sun
bonnet, feeding her poultry; then, a red
brick house, with a stone porch, that shell
tered us from the driving rain. There
was privet hedge, and walnut-tree,
and an old-fashioned bowiing-green in
that last picture; "reminiscences of dis
used room, with blue couch, and faint
smell of rose pOuTrt.
"Here we are, Miss Fenton," observed
Mr. Morton, briskly; and l started and
shook off these recollections hastily. Was
! in day dream, | wonder? There was
the open hall door and Anderson's grave,
imperturbable face, and Travers behind
him with message from her mistress to
Mr. Morton that he should 90 up to her at
once.
do not think Hannah was half SO
pleased as | was to see the old nursery
again; it looked brighter and larger than
ever this afternoon after the low-ceiled
room at MarshIauds. The canaries were
singing their loudest; the Persian kitten
came up to us, purring a welcome; Snap
was lussy with joy as possible, and
licked Us Unfortunately there were
fresh flowers on the table, n new, softly
cushioned chair by the window, and a let.
ter from Aunt Agatha on the little table
beside it.
! could not help sitting down to read II
n once, for | felt it would be such IA sweet
elcome home. 1t was more than that,
however; ii told me something which sur.
prised me greatly. Mr.. Morton had called
himself the previous day, and had told
Aunt Agatha all about Reggie's accident.
No doubt he had expressed himself very
kindly, else why should Aunt Agatha. be
praising me in that way? The tears came
to my eyes rs l read those loving SEN
fences. "COme To me as soon us you can,
dear child" it finished. 81 shall not be
quite happy or comfortable until | have
seen you and talked it all over. Your
uncle is as proud Of you rs am. He said
just now, 1 always thought that girl had
plenty Of pluck You know that was high
praise from him"
needed Aunt Agatha's letter to cheer
me that evening, for was not allowed to
see my mistress. 1--WE must not excite
her, and the children will he enough for
to-day" he said; and no doubt he was
right Trayers told me afterward that
She had cried Il great deal ON first seeing
REGGIE.
But the next morning Travers came to
fetch me. Mrs. Morton was in her dress
ing room. 1t was a large, luXurously
furnished apartment, and had evidently
been fitted up with much care, aud as it
was at the back of the house, and the
windows overlooked the public garden, it
was quiet enough to suit an invalid.
But my heart sunk when first saw my
mistress; she was not less beaUt full, but
her beauty had assumed a new character.
Her face was pinChed and thin, and there
was a sunken look about the eyes; but
when she stretched out her hands to me
with her old lovely smile, | had not word
to say.
''Sit there where can see you, Merle"
she said, in weak voice "Ah, there are
tears in your eyes; but indeed you need
not be unhappy about me now. | have
been very, very i'll, but think God means
30 spare me to my husband and children"
But could not control my voice enough
to answer; one look had been enough to
tell me that she had been Il few steps at
least down the Valley of the Shadow of
Death.
You are all too anxious about me-"
she went on. My dear husband has al
most fretted himself i'll. We cannot tell
for some months how it may be with me,
but am not afraid; have only to be very
patient, and lie still, you know; that is no
punishment to me. am always SO lazy
and tired"
She tried to speak with her old playful.
ness, but failed.
All she said, ana now her voice trem-
bled, you have saved my life rs well as
Reggie's. l could not have borne to lose
another child just now; l was too weak
for that. No, | am not going to thank
you, Merle; l have no words at all. If l
live-and | think l shall-you will see
what feel, You will understand 1t then"
asked her not to say any more, but she
begged to see my scars. 1t was not easy
to refuse her anything, but | was sorry
such thing entered herthoughts; but she
looked at them very calmly.
Yes, you have suffered instead of my
child. / shall never forget that, neither
will Alick. 1t has pulled you down, Merle:
You have lost your rosy looks. What
will Mrs. Keith say? You must go to her