San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-07


Fentous But there are the children;
J could not manage such a difficult
\ me"
The difficulty had never occurred to me,
and for the moment / hesitated, but only
for . moment.
The children will always call me nurse,
and suppose your household will do the
same, Mrs Morton. tkink, for yourself,
you will find Merle the handiest name; it
is Short
ut is very pretty and uncommon" she
returned, musingly; land it has this one
advantage, it hardly sounds like Chris
tan name; if you are sure YOU do not OBJ
ject, perhaps will use it; but" speaking
little nervously, you need not have
worn this" pointing to my cap. You re-
member | said 80 to your aunt"
81 think it better to do So" | returned,
in decided voice; in fact, am afraid my
voice was just little too decided in speak
ing to my mistress, but was determined
not to give way on this point. II wish TO
wear the badge of service, that | may
never forget for one moment what | owe
to my employers, and'-here the proud
color suffused my face-''nO cap can make
me forget what is due to myself
could see Mrs Morton was amused,
and yet she was touched, too. She told
me afterward that she thought ME that
moment the most original young woman
she had ever seen.
"You shall do as you like" she returned;
but there was a little fun in her eyes. at
certainly looks very nice, and should be
sorry if you took it off only spoke for
your aunt's sake and your own: for myself
certainly prefer it."
so do l." was my independent answer;
land now, if you please, think | will lay
baby in his cot, as he will sleep more
soundly there, and then it will be time to
get Joyce ready for her dinner" for, in
spite of my cap had already forgotten
to say "Miss Joyce" or to call my mistress
"ma'a m," though have reason to know
that Mrs Morton was not at all displeased
with the omission.
at might have been a princess in dis
guise waiting on my children, Merle, ;" she
said to me, many months afterward. But
knew nothing of the secret amusement
with which my mistress watched me as
she stood by the nursery fire in her furS,
warming herself; only knew that | loved
to see her there, for from the first mo-
ment my heart had gone out to her. She
was so eeaut full and gentle; but it was
not only that.
Baby woke just as | was putting him in
his cot, and had some little trouble in
lulling him to sleep again. Hannah was
dressing Joyce, and rs soon as she had
| finished, tried to make friends with the
| child. She was very shy at first but
| called Snap, and made great fuss over
| when the gong summoned Mrs. Morton
| to luncheon, and soon after that the nurs-
| erg dinner was served. Hannah waited
upon us very nicely, and then took her
| place at the table. She was a thoroughly
| respectable girl. and her presence was not
| in the least irksOme to me. | always
| thought it was a grand old feudal custom
! when all the retainerS dined at the barOn'S
| table, taking their place below the salt.
! Surely there can be nothing derogatOry to
| human dignity ia that, seeing that we
| shall one day eat bread together in the
| kingdom of heaven.
wonder if half the governesses Jared
! so luXuriouSly as | that day; certainly the
chicken and bread sauce were delicious.
| AS soon as we had finished, baby woke up,
| and l fed him, and then Joyce and he and
| had fine game of 70 together, in
which Snap, and the kite, md all Joyce's
dolls joined.
| had dressed the kitten up in dolls
clothes, and the fun was at its height
| when the door opened, and Mr.. Morton
| came in. discovered afterward that it
WAS bis custom to make a brief visit to
the nursery once in the four-and-twenty
hnnra M with hia NUifa h1t nftan
alone
Joyce ran to him at once, she was de-
voted to her parents, especially to her
mo her, et ,e boy refused to leave me
| too rs
II suppose must humor YOU, my fine
fellow" observed Mr.. Morton, pleasantly,
rs he kissed the little fellow with affection;
and then he turned to me.
II hope you find yourself comfortable,
nurse, and that my children are good to
you"
They could not be better, sir, and am
quite comfortable, thank you" returned,
with unusual meekness. l was not
very meek person generally, as Uncle
Keith could testify, but there was = sub
DUNG influence in Mr. MortOn's look and
voice. | must own | WAS rather afraid CO
him. and would not have omitted the
''sir" for worlds, neither would l have
seated myself without his bidding; but he
took it all quite naturally.
"As my wife and l are dining out, Joyce
will not como down in the drawing room
as usual, he observed, in his business
like manner. do you hear, my little
girlf Mother and l are engaged this
evening. and you must stay upstairs with
Reggie"