Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-04-15
CHAPTER IT

CHAPTER II.
IL Is three years since my dear mothers
death. How well remember when father
called us out of the school room to her
bedside, where she lay so still, so pallid.
only once did she speak, and then her
words We're addressed to me in faint
whisper.
For my sake, Joanv'
knew what she meant l was to be
good to the babe whom l had determined
10 nate, whose coming was costing her her
NE. L pressed her hand in token that
had heard and understood her-that was
all l could do. Then came her death, my
swooning, followed by an illness which
prevented me from attending the funeral
OF my beloved dead mother and kept me
IN my room for nearly three months.
hen was well enough to join the boys
IN their play they recalled to my mind the
babe, whose very existence | had almost
forgotten. | had, in fact, not seen her
since the occasion | mentioned in my pre-
vious chapter.
went to the nursery to fetch her, and
as looked upon her little white face, and
saw her golden hair and dark eyes so like
my mothers, all the resentment and jeal-
ousy l had felt against the child passed
away, and then and there thexe came into
my heart deep, abiding love which moth
ing could replace. l took the tender mite
from Nurse Crotty's arms and carried her
in triumph to my brothers, followed by
the nurse, and then and there, at Teddy's
suggestion, we named her Darby, al
though father had had her christened Dor
othea, his mothers name.
You are JOAN said Teddy LET her
be Darby; then it will be Darby and
joan"
And Darby and Joan it has been ever
since. We noticed now for the first time
that the babes eyes maintained a fixed
stare, which did not change when brought
into the brightest light or near the flame
of a candle, and Nurse Crotty finally con-
fessed that she had had for some time a
suspicion that the babe had been born
blind. And such it proved to be. The
motherless little mite had come into the
world wanting the sense of sight.
AS l made this discovery the memory
of my dying mothers dying words, For
my sake, JOAN" rushed over me, and
unconsciously repeated them as I Rugged
the little one to my breast.
L
INJURED Teddy, "for how she would have
grieved."
Il am glad mother did not know" Those
were Teddy's words, and at first l had
echoed them thankfully, seeing only desc
lation and martyrdom in the darkened
life of my little sister; but as time went on
[ found that she needed little of the pity
and compassion that oyerflowed in our
hno ri brio for n fl1rn
never developed itself. The child herself
seemed quite unconscious of her loss, and
when she began to walk, would toddle
about, and feel her way from place to
place in a staid little fashion of her own
that caused us all to wonder.
All this time have said little about my
father; but, indeed. since mothers death,
he had withdrawn himself from us more
and more. We rarely saw him, except at
the formal dinner at which l and the two
elder boys were in duty bound to appear;
but in course of time Alfred and Ted and
Hughie were sent to II boarding school,
and Teddy and l shared the instructions
of Miss Cray, a somewhat Anticipated
governess, to whom, however, l was in
debted for my limited stock of accomplish
ments, as it never seemed to enter my
fathers head that l needed more varied
teaching. The misfortune of his youngest
horn won but a brief wonder and COM
possion from him. He called in eminent
doctors. paid them their fees, and heard
their decision stoically. And after that he
seemed to trouble himself in no way about
her. and rarely looked at her even when he
saw her in my arms, or clinglng to my
side.
She slept in my arms, and was minis
tered to by me alone: and now, as | take
up the thread of m.g story again. she was
three years old-a little sunny haired,
fairy like creature, who seemed to me the
very embodiment of infantine loneliness.
II was nearly Christmas again, the
SNOW lay thick upon the moors, and in
the glow of the freight | and Darby
were sitting waiting for the boys. They
were coming home for the holidays, and
Teddy had gone in the dog cart to meet
them. for the station was four miles off
from our house-the old, grim, battered
hooking building that had come to us from
some remote ancestor in the reign of Will
liam the Conqueror. and lay amidst naoers
aud forests. in wild district of Hamp-
shire.
The child was sitting quietly on nay lap.
listening for the first sound of wheels.
T, ong before heard them the little voice
calmly announced. .They's tummin'! and
she was quite right. a few moments,
ond there was rush of feet. shout of
eager voices. and the schoolroom door
hurst open to admit the troop. They kiss
Cd and Rugged me first. then lifted the
1;+.la one on to the table and began to
criticise her.
"How she's grown! And how much
prettier! Isn't she ducksey? and then
they fondled her gently and tenderly, and
King Alfred lifted her on to his shoulder,
and marched about the room in that fash
ion. in order, so he said, to exhibit her to
the best advantage.
"Isn't she swell?" asked Teddy, ad-
miringly. as the freight danced on the
bright crimson frock, with its knots and
sash Of black velvet, that had made for
her. -,
..She is so!'' agreed Ted. "Who dressed
you up like that, lhtle Darby
30 mads nay pity fock, answered the