The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-31

Brown or otherwise You can form no idea
of what 1t Is TO be q father, Mrs. Hillary
Madge. The responsibility Of engaging o
nurse Is rapidly shortening nay life.
Poor fellowp said Mrs. Hillary, with
compassion. "Well, should think Brown
would suit you very well indeed. She Is
quite qualified, and, In fact I'm rather
sorry parted with her."
why did you part with herr" he In
CURED. you see, I'm becoming au fat at
the business What was the cause of her
leaving your"
"Tesspsr," she replied "But to be
quite, quite candid, I'm not sure the temper
wasn't on my own side. Anyhow, l can
give Der good character, to you or any
one else"
He heavea great sigh of relief.
"Thsn that's settled. How glad I am
it's over. You can't think how dreaded
this interview with an unknown Mrs Hill
lay but somehow with you it wasn't
difficult at oil, even the domestic part Of
1t. You wers always reliable, Madge--al
ways with one exception, that is to say.
That is likeness of you on the mantel-
piece Nay look9'
He took it down and scrutinized it at.
tentively,
Coed" he said distinctly good.
They've caught your expression. When
was it denc9 Raeentlyp Indeed! And it
misht be the girl took down to supper at
tho RiohmoEds' ball seven years ago" Flo
put the fyayns hack and turned his gaze to
the original $50 might you, he nades.
I'm middle aged man, and you are just
the same Do you remember that night
You treated re very badly, Madge,"
"Ysu were very ungenerous, you mean"
she reterted gently.
"UneeAerous? Nonsense Three times
three valees running you gave Hillary
against my express request Well, well,
he's gone. Poor Hillary And here are
you and l two lonely folks meeting again
by the purest chance. Are you lonely"
"Senefrnes little lonely" said Mrs
Hillary. "But have my child, you know,
and you, too, have yours. She must be
great solace to you. ! should love to see
her"
If might bring her to you one day."
he said, ut would please me awfully. She
never seos a woman except the servants
from one months end to another. Nor do
I. We vegctnte in that big, gaunt house.
the child and ], in a manner that is posi-
lively pathetic"
The maid announced that luncheon was
served, and they went into the dining room
together.
If, continued Vansittart when he had
drunk glass of very excellent sherry and
was turning his attention to u salmon cut
let, 'if you would look III up occasionally
when yeu could spare the time, it would
be real charity on your part. 1t would
indeed. Not alone to the baby, but to me
You--you make me younger, Madge; you
make me forget seven whole years
"Seven whole years." echoed the lady
Actually. In imagination I wear
rose In my buttonkole again and am par
ticular about the fit of my gloves. What an
enchantress Is woman! You do all this
in an hour with a few kind words. "
''It would not be so very startling, said
Mrs. Hillary, "if you really wore but
tonhole Come, let Inc find you one. And
-yes-I must certainly make time to look
you up one day. Your condition. as you
describe it, sounds simply heartrending."
She selected rosebud from glass on
the table, ard taking advantage of the
servants absence pinned it in his coat.
"That is better already" she said, con-
templating him critically, her head a little
to one side. "Do you know, think it was
very fortunate thing for you, my poor
old hermit, that fate threw you in my way
again? A few years more by yourself, and
you would have been beyond repair. Now
you may still be done upH'
"With care" agreed Vansittart, with
great care and skill l incline to think it is
possible There is one thing, though, that
continues to trouble me- Surprising Sarah
Brown should leave? You have given mo
a nurse and can view Robbins retire
ment with equanimity. But supposing
Sarah should want to desert me too?''
There must have been more significance
in his tone than In his words, for Mrs.
Hillary blushed, and for a moment trifed
with her straw berries nervously.
"Sufflcient for the day." she murmured.
as the good it has given me?" he con-
cludcd. "Well, perhaps so. 1t has certain
ly been very generous day indeed. But
you won forbid me to look forward to the
morrow, will your A day like this with
out tomorrow would be as bad as an
hors dceuvre without dinner"
"In some ways" said Mrs. Hillary mus
ingly, "you are nicer than you used to be.
Look forward to tomorrow by all means
if it should be fine, you may pay me an
other visit, with the child. Exchange.