The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-26
THE OLD BROWN MARE.
How She Taught Four Changeable Persons 10 Know
Their Own Hearts and Minds.
Copyright 1S91-AH Rigdts Reserved.
BY w. e. NORRIS.


had happened to him. told him it was
all right, only he mustn't talk. OF course
was by no means sure that it was all
right; could but hope for the best, and
Mrs. Robertson, to do her justice, be-
haved admirably when our melancholy
procession arrived at the door. 1t was
no small relief TO me to hear the report
Of rosy checked little DR.. Bowles, who
was soon upon the spot, and who made
long and careful examination of his
patient.
s.He will pull through, Miss Selby,"
the excellent little man said confidently.
HE has had nasty squeeze and three
of his ribs are broken, but SO far as | can
ascertain there are no internal injuries.
OF course there are cuts and bruises and
the shock to the system, but these are
comparative trifies at his age. He will
want careful nursing for time, though,
Tn afraid
Well, if that was all, his requirements
could easily be met. myself knew very
little about tending the sick, having had
no experience in that line, but Mrs.
Robertson was as good as any hospital
nurse, and asked for nothing better than
to be given an opportunity of displaying
her capacities. This she did with such
happy results that in three days time
Mr.. Longfeld was pronounced to be ont
of danger. There could be no question
Of removing him, DIR. Bowles said, and,
indeed, I should not in any case have
sanctioned his removal to Colonel Whar-
tons bachelor establishment, where he
would have had no comforts nor any
competent person to look after him. |
scarcely saw him until he was able to
leave his bedroom, Mrs. Robertson be-
ing decidedly of opinion that it would
be improper for me to do so, and being
also, think, little Jealous of any pos
sible interference between her and her
charge. He was dear, good young
fellow, she told me, and most patient
and cheerful; only he was much dis
tressed at the idea of inficting so much
inconvenience upon strangers.
sent him message to the effect that
should have been at least equally dis
tressed Il 1 had inflicted the inconveni-
ence of sudden death upon him, and as
soon as he was well enough to be carried
down stairs to the drawing room made
him the apology which believed to be
his due.
ssOh, but indeed, Miss Selby,n he pro-
tested, lit is who ought to beg your
pardon. One has no business to fall
down all of heap Just under another
persons nose, and it's the greatest mercy
in the world that you weren't more
hurt
Now, it was obvious that another per-
sons nose had no business to be SO
near him when he fell, and that if she
had had it broken for her pains she
would have deserved little pity; still
could not help being grateful to him for
his magnanimity, nor could have help
ed liking him, even if 1 had wished to
do SO.
He was very young in his ways, very
simple and natural, and ready to tell me
anything about himself that l might
care to hear. Ilearnt that his home was
in the adjoining county; that he was the
only son of his mother, who was a widow;
that he was barrister by profession,
though not by practice, and that he had
vague hopes of some day obtaining a
legal appointment from somebody or
other. 1t would have, he admitted, to
be an appointment which did not neces-
sitste much knowledge of law, but he
had been given to understand that most
legal appointments answered to that de-
scription. Meanwhile he seemed very
well contented to live down in the coun-
try and amuse himself with field sports.
We became great friends, as was only
natural, suppose, seeing that our views
after the lapse of few days / discovered
that we had yet another taste common
in the shape of love of music.
Ny instructors have never attempted
to deceive me with regard to my playing
of the fiddle. They are unanimous in
saying that / possess but an elementary
knowledge Of that art; yet they admit
that my ear is keen enough to keep me
in tune, and if | can't do anything won
derful with my beloved instrument,
can at least do the little that is within
my compass respectfully. l dare say
that may have been why Mr.. Longfeld
declared, with every appearance of sin
cerity, that he had never in his life lis
tened to so divine performer. When
he was able to sit up he took to playing
my Accomplishments for me; so that,
upon the whole, we found spell of cold
weather less wearisome than frozen out
fox hunters usually do.
One morning he announced to me, with
some unnecessary apologies, that his
mother was coming over to see him. He
said that she intended to take up her quar-
ters at the village inn; but that was of
course absurd, and in response to the tele-
gram which dispatched to Mrs Long
field received grateful acceptance Of
my proffered hospitality. Well, can't
honestly say tnat liked the woman. She
was one of those juvenile widows who
always impress one with the idea that il
they have not married second time it
has been no fault of theirs. She was
profuse in her thanks to me for the care
that had taken of her son; she vouch-
safed no notice to Mrs. Robertson; she
kissed me good deal more than liked
does any woman, wonder, really like
kissing another member Of her sexS-and
she dropped hints which were not agree
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