The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-12
Bolton, her voice falling to . shudderins

Bolton, her voice falling to shuddering
whisper
Il gave you credit for some common
sense" said he.
DIR. Wyndham closed the door with
considerable emphasis as he went out.
The next evening, as Mrs. Bolton sat in
the dusk, musing on the perpetual topic
OF her thoughts-her dead and buried
chiid-a shadow came up the path.
Why, Jeannette, is IL your" said Mrs.
Bolton, recognizing Beatrix's old nurse.
Its me, ma'am," said Jeanette, drop
ping q stin little courtesy. Z" I've Just
come from Glencarron. Miss Beatrix Is
very Ill. The doctor says she may die"
willie died." said Mrs. Bolton ner-
vousiy, clasping her hands together.
"Yes, that's IL, ma'am," said Jeannette
and even in the moonlight she could
see that the old woman's face was ashy
pale. "She thinks she's looking for
master Willie somewhere, and can't find
him-and it's enough to break ones heart
to hear her ealing 'Williei Winiel' all
the time"
Mrs. Bolton was silent. The old
woman fell on her knees at her MISTRESS y
feet.
"Oh, ma'am," she walled, "can moth
ing soften your heart toward Miss
Beatrix?"
Nothing" Mrs. Bolton answered in
frozen accents.
"Then," said Jeanette, with a sort of
desperation, 81 must tell you all! 1t was
j that did It'll"
"Did what?'
"That took away the dear child's nedi-
cine bottle! Oh, ma'am, never meant
it-you know never would have harmed
hair of the darling's head. But came
in softly, not to disturb Miss Beatrix,
that day; her head was on the pillow, be-
side the baby's, and her eyes wore closed,
and when l had hung the fresh towels on
the rail, took up what 1 thought was
handful OF loose wrapping paper from the
table-and when flung it in the sewing
room CRATE heard something crack-and
IL was Master Willie's medicine bottle
And, OF course, when there was such
search and uproar, ! daren't for my life
own how careless had been, and when
the dear child died"
There came a little choking sob into
her throat, but she recovered herself and
went on:
eyes, ma'am, I've been base coward,
and-and made some excuse and went
luot very Qdl, bOOntT tnHn 10 near tlc
reproaches / deserved. But never
thought they'd blame it upon her-upon
Miss Beatrix, who loved Master Willie
like her own-and when heard she was
sick came to her at once-my own dear
nursling--and then / knew all the mis-
chief had done.'
Mrs. Bolton had sprang to her feet.
"Call Johnson!" she said. "Tell him
10 kri ha 80 n
to Beatrix-to poor, poor Beatrix, whom
l have treated SO cruelty. And IL she dies
her blood will be on my hands-on mine
and yours, Jeannettei"
The old woman shrunk beneath Mrs.
Bottoms eyes.
"You can't think any worse Of me than
] think Of myself, ma'am," said she pite-
ously. 1v
And through all the tedious weeks Of
that wearisome brain fever Mrs. Bolton
watched over Beatrix like q tender,
brooding angel, and the first thing the
girl recognized with the dawn OF return
ing consciousness was her stepmothcr's
loving face.
Beatrix-my darlingv she murmured.
"Thank heaven that you are spared to US /!
Thank heaven that can ask your forgive
ness for all my cruel wordsl Sweet, do you
understand what ] say7"
A soft brightness stole into Beatrix' g
eyes, happy smile wreathed her pale
lips. Mammal" she murmured; and
then she drifted into that first sound
slumber, so full of healing balm, that fol-
lows on the track of burning fever and
bridges the path to health.
Old Jeanette remained only long
enough to be certain that her young mis-
tress was on the road to recovery, and
then crept silently away to end her days
in a solitary fishing village on the coast
of Maine. ~ never could look Miss Bea-
trix in the face again." she said.
But Beatrix smiled when the words
were repeated to her.
"She need not be afraid" said she, "I
am SO happy now that could never blame
any poor soul who was less fortunate"
Happy, BeatrixW
Happy in your love and trust, mamma.
Happy that you believe in me once more"
And the first walk that Mrs. Bolton and
Beatrix took together was to lay white
rosebuds on little Willie's grave.
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ChnlleuCe In HostiIitie,