San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-10
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author of barbara HeGthCOte'S Trial."
"QueentG'S Whtm," "T'hG Search
for Basil LlIndhurSt."


for Basil LyndhlrSt."
I always have a more rested feeling when
] 90 down to my duties. If did not feel
that they were real duties that called me,
| should be very unhappy.
She babe her children goodnight, and
left the nursery. What made me take up
my Bible, | wonder, and read the follow
ing verse? "In this thing the Lord par
don thy servant, that when my master
goeth into the house of RimmOn to wor-
ship there, and he leaneth on my hand,
and / bow myself in the house of Rim
mon, the Lord pardon thy servant this
thing"
CHAPTER VIII.-"LABORARE EST ORARE."
My mistress chow loved to call her by
that nameD was beginning to give me her
confidence. In a little while l grew quite
at my ease with her.
She would sit down sometimes and ques-
ton me about the book | was reading, or,
if we talked of the children, she would ask
my opinion of them in way that showed
she respected it,
She told me more than once that her
husband was quite satisfied with me; the
especially, for Joyce was somewhat frail
and delicate. 1t gratified me to hear this.
for a longer acquaintance with Mr.. Nor
ton had not lessened my sense o. awe in
his presence q had had to feel the pressure
of his strong will before had been many
weeks in his house, and though | had sub
mitted to his enforced commands. they
had cost me my only tears of humiliation
and yet all the time | knew he was per-
fectly Just in his demandS) The occasion
was this.
1t was rule that when visitors asked
to see the children-a very frequent oC-
currenCe when Mrs. Morton received at
hOme-that the head nurse should bring
them into the blue drawing-rOOm, as it
was called. On two afternoons | had
shirked this duty. With all my boosted
courage, the idea of facing all those
strangers was singularly obnoxious; /
chose to consider myself privileged to in
fringe this part of my office. | dressed
the children carefully, and babe Hannah
take them to her mother | thought the
girl looked at me and hesitated a mo-
ment, but her habitual respect kept her
silent.
on the first afternoon; Mr.. Morton was
occupied with committee, and Mrs. Nor
ton was too gentle and cOnsiderate to hint
that my presence was desired, but on the
second afternoon Hannah came up looking
little Hurried.
Master hal not seemed pleased some
how; he had spoken quite sharply before
the visitors, and asked where nurse was,
that she had not brought the children
as usual, and the mistress had looked
uncomfortable, and had beCkOned MIN to
her.
| took no notice of Hannah's speech, for
| had haSty tongue, and might have
said things that | should have regretted
afterward, but my temper was decidedly
rutTed. took Reggie as quickly as pos
sble from her arms, and carried him off
into the other room. | wanted to be alone
and recover myself.
I cried a good deal much to Reggie's
distress; he kept patting my cheeks and
calling to me to kiss him, so that at last |
was obliged to leave off. | had indeed
met with difficulty. ! could hear the
roaring of the chained lions behind me,
but | said to myself that | would not be
1
get over the unpleasantneSs in time. Why
should be afraid of people just because
they wore silks and satins and were stran-
gers to me? My fears were undignifed
and absurd; Mr.. Morton was right; had
shirked my duty.
| hoped that nothing more would he said
about it, and determined that the follow
ing Thursday would face the ordeal: but
| was not to escape 50 easily.
When Mrs. Morton came into the nurs-
cry that evening to bid the children good
night, | thought she looked little preoc-
cupied. She kissed them, and asked me,
rather nervOusly, to follow her into the
night nursery.
Merle" she said, rather hurriedly, 81
hope you will not mind what | am going
to say My husband has asked me to
speak to you. He seemed little put out
this afternoon; it did not please him that
Hannah should take your place with the
children"
Hannah told me so when she came up,
Mrs. Morton"
In spite Of all my efforts to restrain my
temper, | am afraid my voice was little
sullen. | had never answered her in such
tone before. | would obey Mr. Nor
ton; knew my own position well enough
for that, but they should both see that
this part of my duty was distasteful to
me-
TO my intense surprise she took my
hand and held it gently.
Il was afraid you would feel it in this
way, Merle, but l want you to look upon
it from another point of view. You know
that my husband forewarned you that