The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-06-15
NANNY'S IDOL
Was 1t Gold or Clay ?
By xAEY Z xoFFAr.


swell, Nanny, you must do as you ike.
1t isn't for me TO say you shall or you
shan't You are old enough to ojudge for
yourself But it IS the wish of my heart
for you to be happy, 50 must warn you
if fear danger
Nanny laid her soft cheek earessingly
against her mothers face as she said :
~Bat, mother, you have no prejudice
against Ned for anything personal. It's
only because he belongs to higher
station than ours. II you knew aught
against his eharcter I'd feel different
about it."
That is the very best OF reasons for
mother who has her ehili's happinessat
stake. A man may take fancy for &
pair Of bright eyes. and pretty face, and
be very earnest and sincere at the time
he Is in love; but it seems 10 me that after
= while he'll be missing the refinement
he has been accustomed 10 seeing in his
mother and sisters
'Oh, mother" said Nanny, reproach-
fully, "don't you think ], too, can have
ladyIike ways as well as Sed's relatives?'
Il can't exactly pu. my meaning into
words, child, but III Try. I've seen more
Of quality folks than yoz have, for my
childhood was spent in the neighbor-
hood Of Leigh Terrace, and il Was the de-
light Of my life 70 stand at the gate OF
our little garden and watch for the fine
ladies and gentlemen who used to ride
past They are all as siry-the ladies,
mean-As gayly painted butterflies They
talk as much with gestures and with
gianees as others DO with their tongues.
Even fan has a grace all its Own in one
Of their delicate hands"
Now / can understand better what
Ned has told ne over and over again"
interrupted the girl. Frightening sudden
IL. @Only last evening he said to me. as
We stood at the open window, watching
the stars come out one by one in the sky {:
Nanny do you see that particular sta Up
there and he pointed toward one that
shone Ike spot OF fire right alongside Of
the moon Well, darling, that is just Ike
YOU. Ii isn't the same with the rest Of
those eapricious, eoguettish little spark
lers. They are one thing one minute and
another the next I didn't quite know
he meant, and Was ashamed 10 show
my stupidity by asking him. Bot do
nOE. II Is the absence Of airs and graces
that Ned meant lam Just wha. l ap-
pear to be. Ifmy cheeks are red II is be
cause my blood, if not the blue tide which
runs in the veins Of the high-born ladies
Of which you spoke, IS pure, healthy
current 1 do not have smiles for ell
alike; and Ned knows that my eyes grow
bright with honest JOY st the sight of his
dear face"
Il give it up, Nanny" said the perPlex-
ed mother, with sigh. You are Just
ike your father. He was good scholar,
and his tongue was always ready with an
answer. To hear you talk one is almost
convinced against her better judgment -
Then be convinced" said Nanny,
triumphanfly, throwing her arms about
her mothers neck and kissing her. @And
don't say another word against our mar
rage"
@welI, child, I won't say it, even If I
think it, III keep silence, and try to
wear cheerful face If I have to put it
on"
Thanks" said Nanny, brightly.
Now III send in my resignation st once,
so-thst the trustees can be on the look
out for teacher TO I'll my place. You
know Ned wants to secure that cunning
little cottage where the colonel's widow
used to live. lie can hire II with the
furniture, and We can go right to house
keeping"
~Well, hope It won't be marrying in
hast to repent al leisure >"
~NoE, mother, don't break your prom
ise before IT is cold ON your lips said
Nanny, reproaehfully."
u forgot, child. Don't mind me, any
way, for time It's hard for me to take
such pains to bring you up and give you
a good education, and then TO lose you
right away and it's natural that l should
feel sore about it,
"You won't lose me- You'll gain
another child instead. I'm sure Ned1l
love you deariy-that IS If you'll give
him a chance" and with another kiss,
Nanny FASTENED away to hide the tears
her mothers suggestion hsd brought to
her bright eyes. No, indeed an love
nv rotheran the better for loving Ned
50 faithful and true" she thought.
As Mrs Leydon had said, Edward
L'Estrange belonged 70 an entirely differ
ent class ofsoeiety to the one in which
Nanny had been reared He was the
Younger son Of a country gentleman who
had only been able to save from his in
e,me sufficient TO insure q comfortable
s1pport 10 his widow and daughter in
case Of his death, as the estate was entail
ed upon the eldes. son. So the younger
ones had to seek for fortunes gifts for
themselves, or 90 without them.
Frederick L'Estznge wss employed az
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