Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-03
MERLE,S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author Of Barbara HcGthcote's TTtol,
"Queente's Within" 1.-THE Search
for RdsiI LhlndhurStn

bosom, but nothing ever warns them,
and when / wake up / am shivering, too."
| could not tell what was passing
through the poor mothers mind. but /
did not like the feyerish look in her wide,
disteDded eyes. Mr.. Morton was right,
and the shock of her boys illness had ut
terly unnerved her. / thought, perhaps,
she was blaming herself needlessly; and
yet never was there a human being more
utterly devoid of vanity and selfshness;
she was simply sacrificing her maternal
duties to her husbands ambition; of her
own accord she would never have entered
a ball-room; am sure of that.
longed to soothe her, and yet / hardly
knew what to say. Presently she SILVER
ed, and l covered her up carefully with all
the wraps | could find. and then knelt
down and chafed her hands.
"You cannot sleep Mrs. Morton; / am
30 sorry, and yet you are tired ont."
81 do not want to sleep" she answered.
81 dream badly sometimes, and | would
rather lie awake and listen to my boys
breathing: he is sleeping nicely, Merle"
Yes, indeed; there is no need for anx-
iety now, and / am watching him care
fully"
"Oh, can trust you" with a faint
smile; az trusted you from the first mo-
ment But, my poor girl, am afraid YOU
are very tired, and ! have taken your bsd
from you"
81 would rather see you resting there,
Mrs Morton"
do you think you could read to me a
Hitler My husband often reads to me
when / am nervous and cannot sleep.
ANYTHING viii! do, the simplest child's
story; il is just the sound Of the voice that
soothes me. What is that book? Oh, the
Biblel am afraid / do not read that
enough, have so little time to myself,
and then am often too tired"
at is just the book for tired people," l
returned; 'f you want story. l think
the history of Ruth is one of the most
touching; she has always seemed to me
one of the sweetest characters in the BIZ
bic: It is perfect idyI of Oriental life"
at is 50 long since have read it," she
returned, alphabetically; you shall read
II to me II you like" And / read the
whole book throughout to her, only paus-
Ing now aud then to look at Reggie
She listened 10 it without iuterrupting
me once, but was rcioiced to see rhat the
strained expression had passed out of her
eyes ltltA l'tbhi'l litJlt Jitll III III
''You are right Merle" she observed,
when ! had finished, lit is very beautiful
and touching: that was something like
love. Where thou gocst / will go Now
you may read me "A psalm, if you are not
tired. like your voice, it is 50 clear and
quiet"
read to her until she babe me stop;
and then we talked little. / told her an
incident or two in my schoo.-iays about
our nutting expeditions in the LuttrelI
woods. and how one of our party had
strayed and had encountered gypsy ear
AVIAN. | was just in the middle of Rose
Mcryyn's recital, when heard measured
breathing She had fallen asleep.
saw c great deal OF Mrs. Morton dur
ing the next few days. She was very I'M
well, and DR. Myrtle insisted on her giving
up all her engagements for a week. He
spoke very decidedly, and Mr.. Morton was
obliged to yield to his opinion; but he
seemed little put out.
1T Is such pity all those people should
be disappointed, he observed, in "A Erum-
bling voice. Mrs Granville had quite
set her heart on having us both on Thurs
day. knew how it would be when you
frettcd yourself i'll last night"
81 could not help it," she pleaded. AN
derson gave me such "A fright; of course,
lac thought his coming for me was the
best, bat when saw his face l thought /
should have died with fear"
Nonsense, Violet; you ought to learn
more sell-control; you know l dislike to
see You give way so entirely. Well, we
must abide by DIR. Myrtle's orders, and
treat You as an invalid"
But, Alici>," OBTAINING him as he was
turning away, not in the best of humOrs,
as ! could see from he night nursery; al
can write for you all the same; the library
Is quite warm"
How absurdr' was the reply. "Do you
think | should let you tire yourself for
me? | hope ] am not quite so selfish, my
dear child;n for she was still holding his
arm beseeChingly. "Gou must really let
me 90, for | am drendfully busy; rest
yourself and get we'll, that is all ask of
you, and he Kissed her and left the room.
He was not often hasty with her, but he
was Ovcrworked and irritable.
We made the most of that week between
us Reggie soon recovered, and as long
rs he was kept in certain temperature,
and carefully watched, gave US no further
anxiety.
His mother took entire charge of him
during that week; she came up to the
nursery rs soon AS she was dressed, and
stayed with us until Reggie was in bed
and Trayers came to summon her She
even took her meals with us. DIR. Myrtle
thought she was suffering from a chill,
and the warm nursery was just the right
temperature for her. 1t was lovely sight
to watch her with her children. | think
even MIR Morton was struck ny the beauty
Of the scene when he came up one after
noon aud found her sitting in her easy
chair with Reggie on her lap and Joyce
standing beside her,
You seem all very happy together" he
said, rs he took up his position on the rug.
had retreated with my work into the
other room, but l could hear her answer
distinctly.
ooh, Alick, it has been such happy
wccll-a real holiday; it was worth being
81; to see so much Of the children; Reggie
has such pretty WAYS; | knew So little
about him before. lie can say fada' quite
plainly"
'Iudeed, my boy, then suppose you say
your new words
"Dn YOU know what have been wish,
ing all this week." she continued when
Reggie had finished his ypCapuary, ana
had been taken into his fathers arms.
NO my dear" sitting down beside her,
"ualeSs you wished for me to be a Cabinet
minister
"uh. no, Aliok," and there was pain in
her voice, mot unless you wish it very
much too; had very different desire
from that"
Perhaps YOU were longing for a house
in the country; well, that may come by
and by"
Wrong again, Alick. l was wishing
that you were poor man-not a very
poor man. l should not like that-aud
that we lived in small house with q
pretty garden, where there would be q
lawn for the children to play on, aud
plenty Of flowers for them to pick"
Indeed: this is a strange wish of yours,
you discontinued woman"
NO, not DISCONTINUED, nut very, very
happy, dear; SO you need not frown over
my poor little wish; every one builds
castles. only mine is not 4 castle, but
-.,tt--aH'
y should not care to live in your cot
tGge. Violet; | am an ambitious man.
The Cabinet would be more to my taste. !"
Yes dear" with a sigh; lit was only
make believe nonsense and she did not
say another word about that fancy of
hers, but began questioning him about
last nights debate. That was Just her
way, ~ forget herself and follow his bent.
No wonder he could not do without her,
and was restless and i'll at ease If she