Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-02-07
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author of Barb, RI Hedtltcote's TRIAL, n
"Queenie's Within" 1.-THE Search
for Bdsu L117dhIIrst -


ed Reggie, and listened to JOyce's prayers
but when the children were in bed she
asked me to come with her into the gar
den, as it was a sultry evening. hannah
and Rolf were cutting out pictures 10
paste in the scrap-book, and l knew
could safely trust them, and might IN
dulge in an hours enjoyment.
It was lust after sunset, and Gay pro-
nosed that we should go down to our Ia
vorite seat in the orchard-"that IS II you
are not afraid of the dews. Merle she
added; but there is such pretty peep OF
the cOrn-felds from there, and if the moon
rises early the effect is beautiful" was
too young and strong to be afraid Of any
thing; so we speedily found our way to
the orchard; followed, as usual, by Lion
and Fidgets.
The sky was warm with that pink after
glow that follows the setting sun, and the
evening star was glittering near the edge
of tiny cloud. There was an indescrib-
able hush and stiffness over everything,
as though nature were taking sweet rest,
and her dreams were pleasant. All sorts
of faint scents came to us from flowers
and odoriferous shrubs and hedge-rows;
far Off we could hear the hollow boom OF
the waves upon the shore.
Cav was very silent at first: she sat
strokiug Lions head with an unusually
distracted air, and then suddenly reused
up and began to talk.
Merle, are you very much afraid OF
peoples opinlons' | mean, do you let
yourself be influenced by them2'
81 am afraid not" / returned, rather
surprised ut tins beginning; Il should
hardly be in my present position, Miss
Gay, If ! had minded very much what my
little world said Of me-"
q wish / were like you" she sighed.
"You are 50 strong and brave; you carve
your own way through life SO cleverly. l
never knew / was such q coward until
now. / do mind Adelaidc's sneers so
dreadfully. Obi she can say such bitter
things; and then, should hate to disap-
point father"
This was very ambiguous, and waited
10 hear more. She began again presently.
Merle, should you not think 1 was
very unfit person to be poor mans wifei
How astonished you lookl But one must
talk Of such things sometimes, and |
never speak on these subjects to AIDE
laide. Suppose | am not q bit in earnest,
and am only talking for the sake Of argu.
ment, still, you might give me your Opin-
ion"
Il hardly know, Miss Gay" l replied;
for this was quite problem to me, and
how are we short-sighted mortals to judge
OF any human beings possibilities? You
seem to me to fit your present life exactly
You wear your existence as lightly as u
glove; your surroundings suit you as much
as You suit them"
You hre quite right Merle; no one
could be happier"
sh"uid 'hlhh III any chhhge OF lot
you mus. S"iiet loss, ! continued trying
To P"H|'' II out unless hea'alIng,
you h't"lhe mistress OF II mousse IKE
MaFShlhhdS; mousse where thefe would
be plenty Hhd comfort, horses l" rlde ana
dnmh ANIMALS /" pet ana IL master VINO
would let y"u do rs y"" IKE did not
dare l." make my meaning more plain,
but, "l course, she Guessed at once That L
Hawtry, for She colprcd very much.
"oh. but know Of no such niace whore
'",''' ''' n"IIN. M''''' 9'l' @''d' iuIihg
"'l "'''' '' '''''' ''''' '''' lace "''7 '"A "L
'eHcatr Srorn There may be corn ana
on, m" plenty OF I"t kline IN EGYPT, puI
one may nor want 80 10 Egypt aIter
NJ, ana lh"h UNDERSTOOD thll MT. h"W
Try WINS not IN her thoughts. But All
the sumo should hate TO be poor she
continued, rrlulently. Fancy saving
goodbye to I}ohnie-my own dear Bonnie
ana having to live IN n shabby httle
mouse with few feet OF ground for gar
den, and to trim ones own hats, with
new gown about once year"
q" not thlnk you would care Tor your
environment, Miss Gay" Ana added
"iehrdly, not meaning II in the least
no man, however good, would be worm
"a
l u"h Know about mat, she return
Gu Abruptly. ! suppose IL one loVea
person one could be cnpahie oil sacrhce'
pot II must be tue real lhInE' ami no ms,
taNo ABOUT ~ aud now IS one to he sure?
ana lh'h She gave herself Hi'Ie snake
au'' C'lihEeu the subJ'cli hut All the same
tould see Ihete were tears IN her eyes rs
sue Hl""pcu To pat Lion.
cr ,rrr,,. ,-,.,,, nm. ,,,,,, r,,r,,
- W. '''.'
P'IVe'Nc" great chthSe III MIS- M"rk-
nun "l''i my mistress WISH. one TOOK
Tess ho'''e OF the chlidrSh' sent leWel
ii'9a"-'7 /" 'i'e nursery 'e'S'" 10 lutcL-
80 !" '''' NURSERY ''iih" -''i'"'H '"" VI
'eh ignored my presence II Sh' 'nahIeu 10
meet me IN the hall or garden. Her man
her convinced me that she was deeply Of
Tended by her sisters patronage of me.
very IiphahlN Mt. Morton ma spoken n
few torctOe words in my defense. They
made her understand that they trusted
me implicitly, and that any interference
in my department would be displcasing to
them. 1t was easy TO read this from her
avertcd looks.
Now and then heard a word or two
about ''Niolct, ridiculous infatuation,"
when | passed the open drawing room
door, Rolf once asked me curiousty why
his mother distikcd me SO. you are
not SO very wicked, are You, Fenny2 Is
II very wicked to he stuck up2 Mother
is So fond of using that word, you know"
tried not to listen to Rolf. | Could af-
ford TO be magnanimous, for | was very
happy just then. Gays partiality for me
was evident, and | soon conceived the
warmcst attachment for her She seized
every opportunity of running up to the
nursery for Il few minutes chat, and she
often Joined us on the beach. One after
noon she asked to accompany rs in q
country ramhle. Hannah had gone to
Wheccr's Farm to have tea with Molly.
nnd Luke was to walk home with her in
the evening. thought how they would
ENJOY that walk through the c"rn-heids
and down the dim, scented lanes. Life
would look ms sweet &" them rs To richer
lovers. youth and health and love being