The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-10-08

~ Nl -
baby won't like to part with you now"
There was no easy way to retreat; it
would have been absurd to send off in
a changed direction through the pelt-
ing rain, so she continued talking hurs
riedly to the child. As they reached
the foot of the broad stone steps she
stopped. II cannot thank you enough
for having Gained Leslie. His nurse
left this morning and he will not be
eonsoled by any of the other servants.
So l finally told Mrs Clarke. the house
keeper, that l would try him for a walk.
But will you not take the umbrella? It
will be a shame to expose yourself to
such a deluge."
She gracefully declined all thanks
and such kind offers, and glided quick.
~ of. a tall, black.robed figure daring
the watery drops. But a perfect shrek
from baby arose when he found him
self deserted in this fashion, and
each succeeding cry became louder and
more distressing. Again Gabriel could
not go. Again she came back to him.
"Will you please come into the house
with him? Mrs. Clarke may there be
better able to get him away than l."
So Gabriel, carrying his child. en-.
tered his house, unknown, but welcome
even then.
Leslie was not to be easily deceived,
and all the ruscs were seen through i'm.
mediately by his careful, big blue eyes.
we must get 4 nurse-maid this very
night" declared Mrs. Clarke, as she en-
deavored in her practical. cold-heartcd
way to inveigle the young lord from
his new mamma"
But groaned Mr.. COPYRIGHT,
''where can get n which he cau
trust on such very short notice."
A bold idea entered Gabriel's head.
She tried three or four times to speak,
and her voice failed. Finally she
choked back the lump in her throat
and said:
Would it be presumptuous for me to
offer myself? l can show You excel.
lent references, and | am now looking
for some such position"
You a nursemaid?" exclaimed Mr..
COPYRIGHT, in amazement. Then a
moment later he would have given
much to have it back unsaid; her plain
black gown was darncd at the elbows;
it was merely her way of wearing it
that gave herthe appearance of n won-
an of long-founded culture and deli.
cacy.
Two years went by, in which Miss
Varney, as she was then known, undis-
covered, was loved by and loved in re-
turn MIR. Courtright's VIC children. 1t
was m evening in March just before
dusk when she had left Leslie upstairs
asleep and had just come down to the
drawing-room with Mabel to stay with
the child till her father come to dinner.
to a back parlor, thus leaving Gabriel
alone in the dimly-lightcd room. when
Mr.. COPYRIGHT finally entered.
81 shall call Mabel" she began,
starting from her station by the win
dow.
NO, Miss Varney. stay. have
to say to you. You remcm-
Leslie called you mammal You
thought then, no doubt, that it was
because of the memory of my wife.
Partly SO, but mostly because as |
looked at You | thought for an instant
You were the woman who-who
have been his mother if the fates
had been kinder. Do you know, Miss
ely of 4 woman | loved better than
world?r
"Your wife," She was glad that it |
dark enough to hide the trembling
Of her lips.
mo, not my wife. loved Marie one
she WAS tender and true to me.
But the m that | really loved"
But what ] meant to say to you is
his: | have learned to love You a thou
sand times better than Marie, and
| almost think, as much rs
loved-the dearest one. Can YOU, will
you hate me if | ask you thus to be
mamma in truth as well as in
Slowly came the reply: But you
owe the first woman best of all even
'et?'
Yes, / do. But. as | said, l often
almost think that you are she when !
top TO realize how feel toward you"
Moment after moment went by. The
came closer and the rim of
lighter clouds near the west horizon
rev At last she said: Il.
90, loved in the long ago. But / can
lever in any way love another man
Miss Varney." he broke in.
NO, let me finish" she continued.
Take an umbrella and go down to the
asst gate. Do not ask Il question, but
AXE the umbrella and wait there"
Then she sped upstairs. lie was
.azed; maybe that was the reason that
e, as in a dream. did as she had bid
nd took his station down by the rustic
ate, where the softly falling rain
through the leaves on to the
ravel of the walk.
Suddenly he was conscious of a rustic
t his side, and, turning, there stood a
all girl, with a loving smile beaming
bove the same dark collar with a
face shining from beneath the
velvet bonnet remembered so
,ell from long ago, and an old-tine
dice murmured: Robert"
''Gabriel?" he gasped.
YES" she laughed Gabriel and
our nursemaid in one"
When they walked up to the house
nat night she chung lovingly to his
under the narrow umbrella, for
ley were strangers no longcr.-Ina j.