The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-17
IHE WORLDS -
* # STORY DEPARTMENT. 4


riedly 70 tie child As theT reached
the foot u the broad stone steps she
stopped = cannot thank ron enough
for having cairsed Leslie Ills nurse
left this morning and be will not be
copsolcd By any 81 the other servants
So ! finally told Mira Clarke. tise sfsause-
keeper. thGt u0ritstry hfifffi for 4 Wsiir.
But will yon pot take the unbreila7 r.
win be shame y exposs yourself to
such deiugc
She gracefully declined al thanks
and such kind offers. and glided qniek-
" oH. tall, black -r0ted figure daring
the watery drops But perfect shrek
from baby arose when he found him.
self deserted In this fashion. and
each sucqeeding cry became louder and
more distressing. again Gabriel could
not 80 Again she came back 10 him
'slgili you please colne into the house
With him7 Mrs Clarke may there he
better able y get him away than |.
81 Gabriel, carrying his child, en-
tered bis house unknown. but welcome
even then.
Leslie was not 70 be easily deceived,
and all the rtises were seen through i'm
rnediatefy by his careful, big blue eyes
We mnst get a nursc-maid this very
night declared Mrs. Clarke. a. she en-
deayored in her practical. cold hearted
way 70 insciEle the young lord from
his new mamma"
'tBut, groaned Mr.. COPYRIGHT,
where can one get one which he can
trust ON such very short notice2n
a bold idea entered Gabrielis head
She tried three or four times To speak,
and her voice failed Finally she
cholxed back the lump In her throat
and said:
Would It be presuInptnous Tor me to
offer myself? ! can show You excel
lent references, and am now looking
for some such position"
'sYon nurscmaid2" exclaimed Mr..
COPYRIGHT, la Amusement Then q
moment later he would have given
much to have Il back unsaid; her plain
black gown was darncd at the elbows;
It was merely her way Of wearing ii
that gave her the appearance Of d wom-
nm Of long founded culture and deli
cacy.
Two years went by, ia which Miss
Varney, as she was then known, undis-
covered, was loved BY and loved in re-
turn MIR. Ceurtright's two children. It
was one 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 tin her father come 70 dinner.
He was late, and Mabel wandered of
TO ID back parlor, thus leaving Gabriel
alone in the dimly-lighted room. when
Mr.. COPYRIGHT finally entered
u shall call Mabel. she began,
starting from her station BY the win
dow.
Mo, Miss varney. stay. have
something TO say 10 you. You remem-
Der how moved was the frst time that
Leslie called you 'mammag You
thought then, no doubt, that It was
because Of tho memory Of my wife.
Partly 80, but mostly because as |
looked at you thought for an instant
that you were the woman who--who
might have been his mother II the fatcs
had been kinder. Do you know, Miss
Vnrney, that you often remind me cru
ely Of woman loved better than
the world2'
Your wife?' She was glad that IT
was dark enough TO hide the trembling
Of her lips.
mo, notmy wife loved Marie one
way; she was tender and true TO me.
But the woman that ] really loved"
Then after short pause he went on:
"Eut what I meant to say to you is
this: have learned to love you thou
sand times better than Marie, and
sometimes, almost think, as much as
4 loved--the dearest one. Can you, win
yen hate me If ask you thus to be
Leslic's mamma In truth as well as in
word?''
Slowly came the reply: ''But You
love the first woman best Of al even
yet?r
Eyes, do. But. as / said, / often
almost think that you arc she when
stop 70 realize how ! feel toward you
Moment after moment went by. The
shadows came closer and the rim Of
lighter clouds near the west horizon
grew narrower. At last she said: ~.
too, loved in the long ago. But can
never in any way love another man.
But
Miss yarney," he broke In.
"No, let me finish,n she continued.
Take an umbrella and 20 down to the
east gate DO not ask question, but
take the umbrella and wait there. "
Then she sped upstairs He was
dazed; maybe that was theireason that
he, as In dream, did as she had bid
and took his station down BY the rustic
gate, where the softly falling rain
drippcd through the leaves On to the
gravel Of the walk.
Suddenly he was conscious 81 4 rustic
at his side, and, turning, there stood a
tall Eirl with q loving smile bcaminR
above the same dark collar with a
sweet face shining from beneath the
same velvet bonnet remembered SO
well from long ago, and an old-time
voice murmured Robert"
"Gabriel?n he gasped
Yes" she laughed Gabriel and
Tour nnrseInaid In onel"
When they walked up to the house
that night she chung lovingly to his
arm under the narrow umbrella, for
they were strangers no longer. Ina j.
Hegler, in Chicago News