Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-03

oHr L only ii IiliIe tiEcu, size re-
turned. hurriediy: Il haze been paying
calls all the afternoon, trying to make up
for my idle week, and the talking has
tired me. Never mind, it is all in the
days work" And she nodded to me kind
ly aud left the room.
CHAPTER K. --''I TRUST THEM TO YOU,
MERLE"
With the early summer came a new
anxiety: Joyce was growing very fast.
and, like other children of her age, looked
thin and delicate. She lost her appetite,
grew captions and irritable. and had crying
fits if she were contradicted, and tired of
all her playthings. 1t was hard work to
amuse her; and as Reggie was rather
fretfuI with the heat, found my charge
decidedly onerous, especially as it was the
height of the season, and Mrs. Morton's
daily visits to the nursery barely lasted
ten minutes.
DIR. Myrtle was called in, and recon-
mended change for both the children.
There was a want of tone about Joyce:
she was growing too fast, and there was
slight irritability of the brain, not I'M
common thing, he remarked, with nerv-
Gus, delicately organized children.
He recommended sea air and bathing.
She must be out on the shore all day, and
run wild Fresh air, new milk, and coun-
try diet would be her best medicine: and,
as DIR. Myrtle was an oracle in our house
hold, Mr. Morton at once decided that his
advice must be followed.
There was long, anxious deliberation
between the parents, and the next morn
ing | was summoned to Mrs. Morton's
dressing room. | found her lying on the
couch: the blinds were lowered, and the
smelling salts were III her hand. She
said at once that she had had a restless
night. and had one of her bad headaches.
| thought she looked wretchedly i'll, and,
for the first time the fear crossed me that
her life was killing her by inches. Hers
was no. a robust consttution-and, like
joyce, she was most delicately organized.
Late hours and excitement are fatal to
these nervous constitutions, if only dared
hint at this to DIR. MyrUle-but | felt, In
my position, it would be an act of pre-
SUMPTION. She would not let me speak of
herself; at my first word of sympathy she
stopped me.
IN sver mind about me, | am used to
these headaches; sit down a moment; |
want to speak to you about the children.
Doctor MYRTLE has made US very anxious
about Joyce; lie saws she must have change
at once"
''He has said the same to me, Mrs. Nor
ton"
MY husband and l have talked the
matter over: if | could only go with you
aud the chidren-but no, it is impossible.
How could | leave just now, when our
ball is coming off IN the eighteenth, and
,t,a bo, +,uo ~, ,,-olIs poc;Ja. 7
could not leave my husband; he is far
from well. This late session tries him
dreadfully. / have never left him yet, not
even for a day."
"And yet you require the change as
much as the children" / could not help
saying this; but she took no notice of my
remark
I'VE have decided to send them to my
fathers. Do you know NethertOn, Merlei
1t is pretty village about mile from
Orton-on-Sea. Netherton is by the sea,
and the air Is nearly as fine as Orion.
HANDS that is nv fathers place. is
about half "A mile from the shore"
Iheard this with some trepidation. In
my secret heart | had hoped that we
should have taken lodgings at some wat
eringplace, and thought, with Hannahs
help, should have got Oh nicely; but to
go among strangersl | was perfectly I'M
aware of Mr. MortOn's horror of lodg-
ings, and it would have seemed absurd
to him to take house just for me and
the children.
81 have written to my sister, Merle"
she continued. 'to make all arrangements.
My father never interferes in domestic
matters. | have told her that | hold you
responsible for my children, and that you
will have the sole charge of them. l laid
stress on this because | know my sis
ter's ideas of management differ entirely
from mine. l can trust you as | trust my
self, Merle, and it is my wish to secure you
from interference of any kind" 1t was
nice to hear this, but her speech made me
little nervous; she evidently dreaded in
reference for me-
as your sister younger than yourself'"
l faItered
81 have two sisters" she returned,
quickly; "Gay is much younger; she was
not grown up when | married; my eldest
sister, Mrs. Markham, was then in India.
Two years ago she came back a widow,
with her only remaining child, and at my
fathers request remained with him to
manage his household. Domestic mat
tiers were not either in his or Gays line,
and Mrs. Markham is Que who loves to
rule"
] confess this slight sketch of Mrs.
Markham did not impress me in her favor.
| conceived the idea OF a masculine, bust
ling woman, very different to my beloved
mistress
Il am going to be very frank with you,
Merle" she said, after moments
thought, land dc not think | shall re
pent my confidence. | know my sister
Adclaide's faults. She has had many
troubles with which to contend in her
married life, and they have made her IA
little hard. She lost two dear little girls
in India. and as Rolf is her only child, she
spoils him dreadfully; in fact young as he
is. he has completely mastered her He
Is a very delicate. willful child, and needs
firm management: in spite of his faults he
is dear little fellow, and am very sorry
for Rolf"
"Will he be with us in the nursery?"
asked, anXiously.
No, indeed; Rolf is always with his
mother in the drawing room, to the no
small discomfort of his mothers visitors
Sometimes he is with her maid Judson,
but that is only when even Mrs Markham
finds him uupearahle A spoiled child is
greatly to he pitied, Merle; he has his own
, way nine times out of ten. and on the
tenth he meets with undesirable severity.
Adelaide either will not punish him at all,
or Furnishes him too severely. Children
suffer as much from their parents temper
as from over-indulgenCe."
II am afraid Rolls example will be bad
fcc Joyce"
THAT is my fear" she replied, with a
sigh. Il wish the children could be kept
apart, but Rolf will have his own way in
that. There is one thing of which must
warn you, Merle. Mrs. Markham may be
disposed to interfere in your department;
remember, you are responsible to me,
and not to her. look to you to follow
my rules and wishes with regard to my
children"
"Oh. Mrs. Norton" burst out, you
are putting me in Il very difficult position.
If any uupleasautness should arise | can
not refer to YOU How am to help it if
Mrs. Markham interferes with the chill
dreu2"
You must be firm, Merle; you must
"ct in any difficulty in the way You think
will please me. Be true To me, and you
max be sure shall listen to no idle COM
plants OF you. l visa had not TO say ali
this; il is very painful to hint this of sis
ter but Mrs. Markham is not always ju-
dicious with regard to children"
"Wiu it be good for them to go to Meth.
erton under these circumstances"
Il