The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-09
She drew all her strength to her assistance

she drew all her strength to her assistance
and succeeded in hiding her emotion.
''If you will walk under my umbrella, as
I sln going your way, you can keep dry.
Gad, too, / fear baby won't like to part
with you now"
There was no easy way to retreat. 1t
would have been absurd to scud off in
changed direction through the pelting rain,
so she continued talking hurriedly to the
child.
AS they reached the foot of the broad
stone steps she stopped
Il cannot thank you enough for having
Gained Leslie. His nurse Left this morn
ing, and he will not be consisted by any of
the other servants. So l finally told Mrs
Clarke, the housekeeper. that l would try
him for walk. But will you not take the
umbrella? 1t will be shame to expose
yourself to such deluge"
She gracefully declined all thanks and
such kind offers aud glided quickly off,
tall, black robed figure, daring the watery
drops. But perfect shrek from baby
arose when he found himself deserted in
this fashion, and each succeeding cry be-
came louder and mo1@ distressing Again
Gabrielle could not go. Again she came
back to him.
with him? Mrs. Clarke may there be bet
ter able to get him away than l."
So Gabrielle, carrying his child, Leslie
entered the house, unknown. but welcome
even then. Leslie was not to be easily de-
ceived, and all the ruses were seen through
Immediately by his careful, big blue eyes,
I'VE must get nursemaid this very
night" declared Mrs. Clarke as she en-
deavored, in practical, cold hearted way,
to inveigle the young lord from his new
mamma"
But" groaned Mr.. COPYRIGHT, where
can one get one whom he can trust on such
very short notice?"
A bold idea entered Gabrielle'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 in ME to offer myself? can
show you some excellent references, and
am looking for some such position
You nursemaid?n exclaimed Mr..
COPYRIGHT in amazement. Then, a moment
later, he would have given much to have it
back unsaid. Her plain, black gown was
darned at the elbows. 1t was merely her
way of wearing it that gave her the appear
ance of a woman Of long founded culture
and delicacy.
Two years went by, in which Miss Var
ney, as she was then known, undiscovered,
was loved by and loved in return Mr.
Courtright's two children. 1t was one even
ing in March, just before dusk, when she
had left Leslie up stairs asleep and had
just come down to the drawing room
with Mabel to stay with the child until her
father came to dinner. He was late, and
Mabel wandered off to the library, thus
leaving Gabrielle alone in the dimly lighted
room, when Mr. Courtright finally entered.
''Shall call Mabel?" she began, starting
from her station at the window.
mo, Miss Varney, stay. I have some
thing to say to you. You remember how
moved I was the first time Leslie called YOU
mamma" You thought then, no doubt.
that it was because of the memory of nv
wife. Partly SO, but mostly because I
thought for an instant that you were the
woman who-who might have been his
mother, if the fates had been kinder. Do
you know, Miss Varney, that you often re-
mind me cruelty of a woman loved better
than the world?''
Your wife?" She was glad that it was
dark enough to hide the bling of her
lips.
NO. not my wife. I loved Marie one
way. She was tender and true to me. But
the woman that l really loved'- Then
after a pause he went on: 'But what I
meant to say to you is this: have learned
to love You a thousand times better than
Marie, and sometimes | almost think as
much as l loyed-the dearest one Can
you, will you, hate me if ask you thus to
be Leslie's mamma in truth as well as in
word?"
Slowly came the reply, "But you love
the first woman best of all even YETI"
"Yes, do. But, as / said, often almost
think that you are she, when I stop to real
ize how I feel toward you"
Moment after moment went by The
shadows came closer and the rim of lighter
clouds near the western horizon grew mar
rover. At last she said:
81, too, loved in the long ago. And I
can never in any way love another man.
Butt
miss Varneya-he broke in.
mo, let me inish," she continued.
stake an umbrella and go down to the east
gate. Do not ask a question, but take the
umbrella and wait there"
Then she sped up stairs. He was dazed;
maybe that was the reason that he, as in
dream, did as she had bid and took his
station down by the rustic gate, where the
softly falling rain dripped through the
leaves onto the gravel of the walk
Suddenly he was conscious of a rustic at
his side. and, turning, there stood tall
girl. with loving smile beaming above
the same dark collar, with swees face
shining from beneath the same velvet bon
net remembered SO well from long ago, and
an old time voice murmured:
'Robertr'
"Gabrielle?" he gasped
EYES," she laughed. "Gar-ielle and your
nursemaid in one.''
When they walked up to the house that
night she chung lovingly to his arm under
the narrow umbrella, for they were stran-
gers no longer.-Exchange.