Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-24
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author of Barbara Hedtteote's TRIAL, y
"Qucente's Whtm," 1.-THE Search
for Basil I1rndh1lrstn

She smiled and waved her hand to Gs,
and Mr. Rawtry raised his hat slightly.
They would have passed on, but Rolf ex-
claimed, "Oh, do take me up for ride,
Mt Hawt-y, am so tiredp' and Mr.. Haw-
try looked at Miss Cheriton, and pulled
up at once.
PUT yeur foot on my boot, then, and /
can reach you" he returned: and as Han
nah lifted him up, not without difficulty.
he threw his arm round him, and kept
him steady Now, then, hold tight; we
must oyertake the others" | heard him
say, and they were soon out Of sight
1T must be VERY nice to be Rolf"
sighed Joyce, enviously, as Hannah
wheeled her up the dusty road.
think we were ali glad when we had
reached the cool nursery, and found a
plentiful tea spread on the round table.
The children were 50 sleepy that We we're
Obliged to put them TO bed as soon as they
had finished their tea
Rolf did not make his appearance until
later, and then he burst irto the room
with his arm full Of paper and string,
aud we were very soon hard at work on
the window seat, constructing the tail for
1is kite
lie was in high spirits, and talked volu-
bly, all the time.
Il told mother about bread and salt"
he began, land she liked the idea very
much. She made me repeat it again to
grandpapa and he patted me on the head,
and gave me half a crown. When grand
papa is uleaSed about ANYTHING he always
gives people half crown. | think he
ought 10 give you one, FeHny DO you
mind NV calling you Fcnny? 1t sounds so
nice, rather like funny, and you are 80
funny sometimes"
at sounds much more like Fanny" !
returned.
"Oh, do you think so? will ask Aunt
Gay whaJ she thinks. Aunt Gay is so
fond Of You: she told me 50 to-day, only
she said it was "A secret, so you must keep
1t. / told Mr. Hawtry the story about
the robbcr servant this evening after din
ner, and he said that lie was plucky
fellow, in spite Of his being a robber; and
80 / think. DO you like Mr.. Hawtry,
Fennyf"
81 do not know him, dear"
oh no, Of course, you are only nurse,
and so you don't come in the drawing
room like other people; you would not
know how to behave, would you? Mr..
Hawtry said something about you this
evening Mother was talking TO him, you
know how, only / can't tell yOu-bread
aud salt, Won know and here Rolf looked
excessively solemn: and Mr., Hawtry
sad-no, don't stop me, it is nothing bad,
nothing like mother; oh, dear, it will come
out | knOw-he only sud, She seems
very quiet, wcl-conduc.ed Young person,
and not Mt all above her duties; for you
were carrying Reggie, you know"
oh, Rolf, do hold your tonguep / ex-
claimed Grossly; for this was too much
for my forbenrance. What business had
Mrs. Markham TO talk me over with
strangers I ought TO have stopped Rolf,
but my curiosity was too strong at that
moment. "A quiet, wcl-conducted young
person" indccd / felt in II fever of in
dgnaion.
Rolf looked from his kite with some
surprise
Docs talking disturb Your We are
getting on beautifully. What n lovely
tnil my kite will haveW Then, rs though
nth0ught struck him, care you ever cross,
Fenny, really cross, / mcan2'
Yes very often, Rolf" for being fair
ly conscientious person, | could not deny
my faults Of temper.
"Ohn' with a peculiar information, 81
wonder If Aunt Gay knows that. DO yOu
remember any anecdotes about Crossness,
EeunyY
| am afraid Of what my answer might
have been, for was considerably nettled
Mt Rolls malicious tone. but happily judi
son came at that moment with II message
from Mrs Markham that even Rolf did
not dare to disobcy, for he ran Off at once,
without bidding me goodnight, aud leGv-
iug all his tackle strewn over the floor for
Jutlgon to clear
As soon as / was left In solitude, went
to the opru window. II was clear moon
hight again There were the tree shadows,
and the long, siIvery path ncross the
meadows. warm radiance from the
drawing room was flung across the ter
race The same sweet bird like voice
thay | lad heard in the orchard that
morning was singing an oldtashioned
ballad
"My mother LIDS me bind my hair"
Some one ciapped their hands and said
"Brnvol" when it was finished.
~ hat lovely EVENING" Do come into
the garden Adelaide, it is quite warm
and haimy" And then there was Il rustic
aud movement underneath me, "a sweep of
dark drlpcrg. followed ~ the wuisk of a
white gown. as Gay ran down the steps
pursued 10y Rolf Two gentlemen sauu-
tered down the terrace; one of them was
Mr. Ilawtry; | could hear his voice quite
plainly.
This Is n capital cigarette, squire.
When a man is not much of II smoker ne
will not put up with an inferior article
| have some cigars by me now" The
remainder OF the interesting sentence was
lost in the distance.
Men are rather satiriCal on the subject
-. IL ~