Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-07-08
MASTER JOHN.


comingly high, as little men should
and despite his rather bored air, whlch
was perfectly in harmony with the arls-
tocratic circumstances of his domestic
md social life, the big brown eyes IN
his head were wide open to every detail
of life in the moving street. Ihat Is
why he happened to observe that hand
some young woman started III dazed
surprise when she met him, caught her
breath. and with staring eyes, open
mouth and certain hungry eagerness
of face and attitude stood and gazed at
him as he passed nonchalantly on. be-
ing very handsome boy and accustomed
to the adulation of women, he did not
deign to look back or even to wonder at
the uncommon excitement displayed by
the beautiful stranger. As for the nurse,
she had seen nothing, possessing that
comfortable order of dullness that passes
for valuable patience i'll the conduct OF
children's nurses.
The startled woman, known in varl-
ous cities as Mile. Clarisse Chevalier,
likely would have tainted had not a
gentleman who noted her distress reused
her with proffer of assistance.
"No!'' she replied sharply and un-
graciously, her whole manner instantly
/ changing to defiance and self control
and her brilliant black eyes flashing
with impatience and resentment. She
strobe on, turned to look at shop dis
nlay in a window, cast a furtlve glance
in the direction which the boy and his
nurse had taken, and then, with a brave
show Of indifference, began to follow
It would have been evident to a very
casual observer that she was suffering
The drawn mouth corners, the dllatet
| nostriIs, the quick breathing, the eager
burning eyes and certain lrreguiarlt.
| of step all indicated distress.
ssWhy waltz was what she Whispered
to herself. ''I know as much now as
can learn tomorrow. The girl is a
great a fool today as she will be mex
week. Why not make the dash now
Oh, how beautiful he is! What stron
little legs! What q manly walk! AL
. his wonderful brown eyes and golde
brown curls-I can't wait another day
They don't know I'm in town--or eve
alive. I don't care. don't care whs
comes of it. ! must have him now
now, this minute! Oh, God. give N
strength! My heart is bursting!"
With that she gathered herself VI
and with eyes of a wonderful lust'
plunged boldly into her task. She pre-
emily overlook the boy and his nurs'
and with natural easy and pleasal
manner said to the girl:
ooh, I beg pardon! You are Mary
belieye-the Landors' nurse. Mrs. Lal
L. dor PASSED me moment ago looki1
r. for you, and when told her had SEE
YOU down the street she asked me
fetch the little boy to her. She is wal
ing back there You know she and
are old friends, but haven't seen h
I, for a long time. Oh, by the way, s
said you might spend the day and mig
with your mother in Oakland, and S
asked me to hand you this none
Come, little man, your mamma is wa
ing. Goodby, MaryT'
Her manner was SO breezy, contide
and sweeping that she carried the
sault without difficulty. Mary, gla
.. dened with the prospect Of long no
day and with a bright piece OF silver
her hand, went joyously and unsrspe
ingly on her way, while little Mas
John, likely delighted, after the way
fer his sex, with a new sensation Ill I
ny ny role of an exceptionally pretty and da'
ing woman, permitted her hand to Sc
his with rather too severe press'
= and himself to be led away III tr1uml
Perhaps he was too youthful and
experienced to observe that her eleg'
3 clothes were too pronouncadly fashl'
able, that the color Of her lips a
cheeks was slightly too robust, and tt
in her face and manner was q cert
hardness quite uncommon in the refll
set to which he was accustomed. Po
bly had he noticed these things t
ou would have made the woman all
UD, more attractive in his eyes. Certai
her dash and swing were captlvat
WS, and the free grace of her movements
the handsome face and tall distinguis
figure might have made conquest
,,, an older man than he. AS they mo
rs, rapidly along, hurrying to escape III
les. quiet street, Master John was rat
ray- proud to see that the men whom
met stared at his conductor as he
','' never Seen them stare at other won
YER and he was pleased to note the comp
low Indifference which his companion ex
ont tied for these blunt and forward at
tions.
p. After awhile she hurried up Fl
of stairs and into handsomely appoil
rooms. She instantly locked the d
~ 4 dashed off her hat, tore her gloves
IN shreds in her haste to remove th
flung herself on her knees at Ms
Johns feet and clasped him to
bosom. She held him thus tightly
in silence until he began to struggle
freedom, and then followed rem
ONE. able scene.
"Where is my muvver?'' he
manded
"Your mother, boy-your mo-
Oh, she'll be along cretty soonP'
lie. The woman was now choking
|, IA sobbing, and, again drawing the b.
her and kissing him hungrily again
= again, she brokenly said:
"That's all right, my boy; you'l
her very soon. Look at me. Loo
III straight in the eyes-like that. F"
J She held his pretty rosy cheek
tween her hands and each gazed ste
into the eyes Of the other, she thr
her tears, he wondering and admi
but distressed.
, ''And your name is Johnnie,
3. said growing calmer, "but am
'e'' to call you Jack.
<, "My name isunt Johnnie, an it
ore jack" he replied, with sturdy di
'no and visible offense. cts John
M Edward Landor.
~ Her eyes twinkled, and she la7
ene ens delightedly. Then she caught hi
!00a her arms and kissed him and erie
~S.s =. IL dow, o,,1o1 %r,1 1ca