The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-16

| And l ike YOU 6ue Sdlu. our
voice is soft and quite lady-like. Isn't
! it, HERBERT"
| He bowed gravely.
quite. Lelgarde. Mary must have re-
ceived a better education than is usual
for dairy-maids"
Nab blushed furiously and bit her lip
Yes, 1 did" she said, quickly. But
hope you don't object, Sir HERBERT"
Il? oh, no! These are the days of high
| education. Still"
you must come up and read to me
| sometimes" said Legarde, in her sweet,
| caressing way. 1T will save this dear
| brother of mine, and be so pleasant for me.
Will you Gomez"
with pleasure. If Mrs. johnson"
"Oh, Mrs johnson does everything I ask
her So mind you come to the Court to-
morrow afternoon"
And after a little conversation about the
dairy and the butter the brother and sis
ter went away, through the door leading
into the garden.
Nab stood watching them, till they dis
appeared behind some high raspberry
bushes. Her heart was beating, and her
checks were burning.
She's sweet. 1 love her already. But
he-Oh," cenching her fists. this is the
worst that has happened yet. He despises
me for pretending to be what I'm not AS
if I'd have cared If Celia hadn't"
Then peal of merry laughter broke
"A person of experience. Poor Ceial
Why Lelgarde Anstruther is a mere girl
and" Signing blind too, poor thing"
After this Nab paid frequent visits to
the Court, where she spent hours reading
aloud to the blind girl. Sometimes she met
Sir Herbert But he merely babe her good
morning with cold politeness, and went
his way This angered Nab, and she avoid
ed meeting him as much as possible.
Had he known me as Nab Atwood
how different he would have BEEN" she
would cry, stamping her little foot. Hes
stuck up snob. I'm glad he doesn't talk
to me-"
For this, and several other reasons, Nab
did not enjoy a visit to the court But
she had grown fond of her young mis-
tress and her happiest moments were
those spent in the dairy making the but
ter. with Lelgarde seated near her in
low basket chair.
And, as the blind girl loved the fresh
GOODNESS of the pretty, sweet-scented dairy
and enjoyed the society of the merry little
dairymaid more than anything else in the
world, many and happy were the hours
they spent there together.
With studious care Lelgarde avoided
asking Nab any questions about herself
or her family
''She had strong reasons for coming
here, and she may not like to speak of
them" she said to her brother But she
is a lady every inch, so we may make a
friend of her"
You may, dearest" He kissed her ten
Derby But what would the gossips say
If were to haunt the dairy?'
Il wish there weren't such creatures in
the world, Herbert. 1 hate them-and
Mary is a darling"
i m sure she is, And I am glad to
think you have such bright little friend
To Nab, Lelgarde talked continually of
her brother and his doings and sayings
She told of the books he read, the articles
ne wrote, the speeches he made and be-
fore long the enthusiastic little dairymaid
began to look upon her master as a very
great man indeed.
i was fool to call him a snob." she
told herself. 'And-and-I ought to be
ashamed"
When this pleasant life had been going
on for some months, it was suddenly in
terrupted by LelSarde getting cold in her
eyes, and being ordered to keep In a dark
ened room.
Mary, you must come to me every dav
Tor as long as you can," she cried, plain
| lively. Leave the butter to Mrs John
son, and devote yourself to me- a moor
| suffering prisoner"
With slight pang at her heart, the girl
promised to forsake her dairy, and give
the best part of the day to poor, little Lei
| garde.
There are two delicious new calves. and
a great brood of sweet chicks lust ont
of the incubator" she reflected. "and I do
| feel sorry not to be with them But Lei
! garde is a lonely darling 1 must do what
l can for her"
So day after day Nab sat for hours in
| the darkened room, talking and amusing
the blind girl to the best of her ability
| One warm afternoon. early in Septem-
| Der when Nab went back to Lelgarde's
room, after run round the poultry YARD
she round the girl fast asleep upon the
sofa.
Good" she thought. 'I'n go and get a
book. Sir Herbert is away, so the library
| - Tree And she ran downstairs
| Taking Scenes OF Clerical Life" from
| one of the shelves, she curled herself nm
In an armchair, and was soon absorbed
| IN Mr.. GillhPs Love Story" So inter-
| ested did she become that she forgot
where she northumberland
and read steadily on to the end of the
| story. Then, suddenly to her intense an
noyance, the door opened, and Sir Herbert
Anstruther entered the room.
He babe her good afternoon and passed
over to the window.
Nab returned his salutation with hiebt-
ened color. and springing quickly to her
feet. pushed the book back into its place
upon the shelf, and was hurrying away.
when he said
Pray do not so. Mary. I wish-Lel-
garde wishes me-to ask Won sometime
VIII you kindly sit down."
yes Nab sank into the offered chair
playing nervously with the corner of her
apron.
My sister and have long fell" he said
looking down with a kindly smile at the
pretty, mobile face THAT the position Won
occupy is not worthy of YOU That YOU
should not be our dairymaid. but
on pray don't send me away"
Nab started up, her hands clasped togeth-
err her eyes raised implorngly to his II
behaved badly. but ddn't mean it. Only
Celia did not wish you to know what
was called, so / took my second name
Mary Grey. Poor father-he's George All,
wood, the stockbroker, who failed last
year"
MY dear child, you need not have told
me unless you liked. "
But l do like. / want you and Lei
garde 10 know Father is bankrupt. and
although he may soon be all right again
We girls wished to help him by keeping
ourselves whilst he was In difficulties. f"
"A most admirable wish. applaud you
for it."
Thank you. Well, Joan and Celia