New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-02

Nor LYDIA"
mo not at present." said again
! him. "Only like to hear about the little old
lady he continued; shes sweet, she's quite
sweet
81 dare say I can find out about her." I
swered. Anyhow. won't talk about any one
| or anything more tonight. You shall tell me
anything you like tomorrow. Now I'm going to
! put out the light. and you must go to sleep.
| Where will you sleep?'
"Il sit here by you. / am not going to sleep
| ooh. then Lydia and Georgina can't come In,
he said; he gave sigh Of absolute content and
the next moment his heavy eyes had closed IN
sweet slumber
The room was fresh and cool now Not cold.
of course but COOL shut the window after a
little and built up the fire. the child slept on:
Once twice the night progressed heard
the handle of the room door being softly turned.
and then footsteps stealtEily retiring. There was
little noise made. however ana the BOY
moved. In the morning he was decidedly
better When he opened his eyes and saw me
sitting by his bedside. he gave smile, and SAID
in swee; little afectionae voice:
II dreaming about you, Laurie, / thought
that you and and the little old lady had gone
I away together. and that wicked Lydia ana
Georgina were left behind.
longed to know why he called the two women
wicked. but did not like to excite him on the SUD-
When the doctor came he pronounced the boy
much better As he was leaving. he called me
again to speak II him on the landing.
Il have telegraphei to Major Earncllife he
said land he will probably arrive here today
I have also seen Lydia and forbidden her TO
I
storms but nothing will induce me TO allow her
near the boy Now the question Is Can you Keep
her out? She is certain to make violent EFFORTS
to reassert her authority, ana II posslpe' 10 sVt
a footing again in the sickroom
thought for moment. -
81 can scarcely do this by myself" said The
child seems to me to be in a most neglected. state
He is nalf starved. What he requires Is sood
food and plenty oft. / want to De aoie
to go out TO get what Is nS yb9 ry I brtns
me in what l require. Sister Susan VINO shares
my rooms in Baker-st.. has no case on at pres
emit Perhaps she could come here during the
daytime until the boy is fiji to be moved
| THAT is a splendid thought said Dr. Butler
| 81 will go myself and fetch her. Between You
both you will surely be able to manage 10 keep
! those she-woves away from the boy 80
| In an hours time Sister Susan joined me- she
| was capable woman Of about forty: she had
deal about illness She thought the boy would
do we'll, but said that his nerves had peei ciuely
| played upon. and that he would prooaDiy hot re-
gain tone or strength until he was aDie 10 DC
moved. -, r,. co
Il don't like those women" said Sister susan
TO me- II met the one they call Lydia on .ne
stairs as was coming up She gave me a wicked
| glance She has a bad face a cruel race. ahe
could make a child's life very nell; .
Laurie, come here" called little Harold from
| his bed.
went up to him at once:
us Lydia coming back he inquired. looking
up at me in proud. brave sort OF way, wi'S "a
took my heart by storm HIS eyes were 30
anxious. but his lips were so firm.
&c lydia coming in soon?" he inquired again.
NO" said. "she is not coming IN al all 'o-u'y'
| Harold
oh" he answered with long. soft breath OK
| content ,
And Georgina?" he said after minute
| you won't see Georgina, either, to-day, an
81 don't like Georgina" he said with little
frown between his brows. but IKE her Store ,
She tells me about the little lady-the NIUE o'a
lady. | love her. you know. love her dearly.
You must tell me about her" | said. taking
his hand in mine Where does she live? Who
is she? the arawng-room lodger: Shes quite an
important person; she's so pretty she SITS IN her
window. and whenever go out look up az ner'
and she looks down at me. and mods ana snliies'
She wears white cap but not winter imam her
hair. and she's generally knitting she WY
busy little lady; she's never idle FOR moment
but she's never too busy 70 nod ana sii'ie a. NV
| l love her dearly. dearly
| What Is her name" asked 1890 .
az don't know her name; she's just the little old
! lad she sends me messages by Georgina 90
| C;eorgina is her maitland lately she has sent
| me chocolates. big boxes Of chocolates Fpr 'iit
| nolitc little gentleman on the third moor she
/ saws Isn't 4, dear OF her? do love her. don't
| like Georgina but | love her. | am very very
| anxious to get a message from her to-day; she
knows | am ILL., and she SENDS me a message
! every time Georgina comes into the room
Harold's cheeks became quite flushed while he
spoke | knew that | must humor him az nuch
as possible. I told him that Georglna couId 10,
| come back TO him, but that l would try ana sce
! a message from the old lady some other way
Soon after that went out. leaving sister
Susan In charge. | bought a chicken. grapes, anu
| some other necessary nourishment for my lttie
charge, and hurried home. The boy interested ire
immensely. AS | was hurrying along on my way
| back 10 Yardsey Gardens. ! suddenly remen-
hered his story about the little old lady, ana IL
| occurred TO me that my way nome "ouiI
walk on the opposite side OF the street ana see II
| I could get peep at her sitting In her WINDOW;
Yes she was there; she was there In her whi.e
| can with her soft hair. like floss silk. surround
| ing her little old face: she had dark eyes. whch
| she constantly used TO look out OF the WINDOW.
Her eyes met mine. Perhaps she recognized VINO
7 was by my dress for all Of a sudden she nodded
to me in the most friendly. eager. questioning
kind Of way. / knew perfectly well 'hat she
| wanted 10 ask me how Harold was ana SUI
| denly resolved to knock at her door on my way
upstairs and tell her. Perhaps she would give CIV,
| me a message to take to him, ana thouehl NV NV
pleased the little fellow would De II this were '"v
| case - ,.,., n,
the drawing room door. 1t was opened linne-
| diately not by the little lady, but by Georgina'
Now what do you WANT she said III al i''-
I pudent voice. ,,, l.,
Il wish to tell your mistress that Harold Is
| better" ! said firmly; "can see her!
NO you can't" replied Georgina; my mistress
= heard a piping. old voice within say some
! thing but Georgina barred my way with her
! stout presence "My mistress never sees stran-
I gers" she repeated. "Il take her the message
about Master Harold she smut 'he ooor III i''
face and locked It,
I went upstairs oppressed by a queer sense OF
anxiety | did not like the position that niue
/ lady was In at all | powerless 10 interfere
however and tried to Danish the subject from
my mind. =, , ,
Major Earncffe arrived that evening, ana
lydia was dismissed without character, ana al
moments warning. Little Harold was put abso-
lutely into the care of Sister Susan ana myself
and he quickly repaid us for the change OF treai,
ment He was an easily managed. sweet-natureh
child. and the only one subject on when ne gave
us the slightest trouble was the niue iady ne
talked OF her morning noon ana nishe, en- en-
seemed to have got his brain. III neither SIS
ter susan nor | managed to see her in her win
dow once at least during the DAY ne "ouio Turn
his face to the wall and quietly weep