Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-12-11

/ luSte are always VhO "ioppSAS W ~''N~N
until can get some other work for you.
"Oh, Kate, thank you." said Madeline,
with long breath. 81 do so want to
earn something for myself. I feel like
charity child. OF course Mother Nor
ange won't be pleased, but l don't care
whether she is or nOt!'
And Madeline's dimpled face grew
hard and set.
"Quite unfeminine,' said old Mrs.
Morange, when the bride announced
her reckless resolve. "I'm sure l don't
know what my son will think OF such an
arrangement. 1 am surprised that Miss
Olfutt should lend herself to such mad
folly. For my part, I entirely disap'
prove OF itl'
But Madeline made up her obstinate
Young mind, and when Kate Ofutt left
Cornbury, she went with her to New
York.
'I'm sure, Baby Butterfly" )" said Kate,
iestingly, "I don't know how you will
ever manage to endure the monotony of
daily work. You that have never done
anything but play all your life"
ut can't be half SO hard as listening
to Mother Morange's lectures ~ said
Madeline.
Fortunately Miss ofutt occupied
position in the publishing house which
rendered it possible for her to make
things very easy and comfortable for the
iorlorn young wife. Tie hours were
shortcned-tAe pay heightened.
Kate contrived to keep near her good
deal, but nevertheless Madeline did not
seem quite happy.
"What arc you looking so sober about,
Baby Butterayl" Kate asked her one
afternoon, after long days work.
"Was l looking sober, Kate3"
"You little fraud, you know that you
werew
"To tell the truth, Kate, I've been
thinking all day long-thinking that,
perhaps, Chris would be annoyed at my
leaving his mothers care and protec-
tion."
"Yes, think that's extremely likely"
said Miss Ofutt, leaning back in the big
leather cushioned chair aud bending the
Office ruler back aad forth. "Bl. you
know you were determined to come"
"Yes, and it is so nice to spend money
that l have earned myself!' said Made
line, gleefuIly. "But-oh, Kate, there
comes the office boy with tele3raml
It's for mel know it isl Something
has happened to Chrlsl'
Nothing of the Sort" said Miss
Ofutt, leisurely. ats your mother-in-
law, my desr-down with typhoid
fever!"
~ must go to her, said Madeline,
starting up.
''Is that an absolute necessity" asked
Miss Offutt "There are plenty of
trained nurses TO be had
"But | am Chrs's wife. Nobody
should take care of Chris's mother but
his wifel" cried Madeline. "Dear Kate,
look at the railroad guides. Find out
how can quickest reach Cornbury."
So Miss Offutt lost her new assistant,
and young Mrs. Morangc went back to
the old stone house which was so indis-
solubly connected in her mind with
didactic lectures and spectacled glances
of reproof.
Her poor mother-in-law lay there,
burning with fever, and lost in lapses of
delirIum, but through it all she kept
calling ceaselessly for Madeline. Made.
line!'
"Iloved herr" she repeated, over aud
over again. ~ loved her, but somehow
| couldn't make her know it, and now
she has gone and left US! What will
Christopher sayl 1t was wrong-Iknow
now that it was wroug-but did it for
best. And she has gone and left me!
Madelinel Madelinel Will no one bring
her backl"
But when her sons wife at last reached
her and sat beside her bed, with cool
hand on the fcver-thro5bing brow, she
became quieter, and from the moment OF
the crisis steady improvement set in.
Madeline went to the big linen press
in the closet one OF those first days, to
get some of the lavcnder-scented towels
which her mother-in law had worked
with big old English "M" in crimson
embroidery silk, when a paper package
fell out from under the folds.
Involuntsrily she glanced at it, and
read the label, in her husbands strong,
dark handwriting:
"For Madeline
ats money" she said to herself.
"It's bankbilIs" !
For a moment she looked at it with
blurred eyes and quivering lips.
"Chris meant this for me-" she
thought, land l never got it,"
But she put it back again without
word, aud resumed her te nder task Of
nursing, |