Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-02-14
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author Of barbara HeGthcotc's Trial,
"Queente's " Tim, - "1Tle S11rch
for Rn2il TnIndhlLrSt.n
CHAPTER xIx--A CATASTROPHE.


Reggie, my darlingl But God was good
to us, and the danger passed; still, it will
be only In Heaven that we shall bear to
look back on past perils without dimness
of eyes and failing Of heart.
I had never left Rolf alone with the
children for moment since JudsOn had
told me of his mischievous propensities.
had grown fond of Rolf, and he was
certainly very much improved; but | al
ways felt he was not to be trusted, and
either Hannah or | kept a strict guard
over him. He was never permitted to en-
ter the nursery in the morning. il we went
out, he Joined US, as matter OF course;
but more than once when he begged for
admittance ! had refused it decidedly.
Hannah was always busy In the morning,
and the children slept for an hour, and IL
there were time / liked TO take Joyce to
her lessons, or to set her some baby task
OF neede-work, and Rolf always made her
so rough.
On a rainy afternoon or in the evening
she would be allowed to rOmp with Rolf
and they always played together on the
beach. Rolf was more in his element
outOf-dOOrs. Judson had been very I'm.
well for some days; she was "A sickly sort
OF body and was often ailng; but just then
she had a threatening of quinsy, and
seemed very feyerish and suffering.
Her room was close to the nursery, and
10 WAS only sheer humanity for Hannah
or myself to 90 in now and then aud see
what we could do for her. / had got il
into my head that she was somewhat ne
elected by the other servants | know
Guy Thought 50, for she asked me to do
what / could for her.
She had been ordered some linseed poul.
tees that morning, and Mrs. Markham
had come up to the nursery, and asked me
very civiIIy If | would apply them rs the
upper house maid WAS away, and Susan
was vcrv clumsy aud helpless
II will say with the children" she said,
quite graciously for her: land Hannah is
here" And as knew Rolf was in the
garden with his aunt, I could not find
lOop-hole for excuse. do not think | was
wrong now, for how could have refused
such requrst2 But the Fatos were
against me. That Is foolish and untrue
expression, but will let it stand.
The poulticcs were far from hot, and
poor JudsOu, who seemed in great pain,
and very nervous about herself begged
me to 20 down to the housekecper's room
and make some more ut is no use SusaU
'
SO busy" she whispered; do % Yourself
Miss Fenton, and then | shall be more
sure Of hot ones
The hou-ckrrpcr's room lay Mt the cad
Of d long passage leading from the hall,
shut in with rcd baize doors These swing
doors deadeucd sound, and that WAS why
did not hear Rolf come in from the gar
den aud scumpcr upstairs.
The front-door bell rang Immediately
aftcrward, and some visitors were asked
into the drawing room. knew Gay was
about the premises and the idea never
crossed my mind that Mrs. Markham
would desert her post ana leave the three
children alone in the nursery; but heard
afDcrwurd hat this was L e case. An old
Indian friend had called, and Mrs Mark
ham had desired Rolf to summon Hannah
from the night nursery; out Rolf, who
was seldom "h"dlent to his mother, had
simply ignored the order
was some ~ lic llihe IN the houSekeeP
er's roeh Ihe Kettle dld not Doh, and
was compelled 10 wait. ! was rather i'm
patient ut the delay. As ! stood talking c
Mrs Rumble / saw Mr. Iiawtry ride ur
To the front door.
succeeded ut last in making the pOul
ticrs. .Iudson was very grateful to me
aud thanked me warmly ns | put their
ON. had lust covered her over comfort
ably, aud taken from her the red wooden
shawl in which she had wrapped herself,
when sudden report, as though from u
toy cannon, ana then a piercing scream
from the nursery. made me start as Though
had been Shot. lur the scream was from
Jnvcc
The next instant was in the nursery;