The times., 1897-09-19
i Y

lncned at the marquis expense, " as at
first dubious, then convinced that nothing
could save the child. His words ran across
the town, and knots OF rustics and shop
boys gathered to shake their heads and be-
moan their fate. The clouds had burst
and sent rivers of muddy liquid along the
street, and drove a gray pail over the earth
sheer To- the souber horizon. II was
picture OF dense, Unreasonable gloom,
Norry's own town in tears, large, Missing
tears, tearing at the roots of her friendly
trees aud splashing into her magnificent
lake, till it swelled beneath the sense of
universal sorrow.
The marquis was seen coming down the
saIeet from the park avenue, and it was de-
cidcd 70 question him after his visit like an
ordinary fellow mortal lis hat W as tilted
over lis c yes, and there was an air Of sad
ness abo:;G him that stirred the spectators
10 . belief in some latent virtue In him. Fl
was a hard landlord, true, but then Norry
liked him and he had grown fond OF the
child. Surely, he might be pardoned not
having reduced their rents
His knock now was not SO seif-assertive
as on the first visit The young father
was down stairs, withhis h cad on the table
shaken by terrible sobs. Sir Martin Bun
bury had delivered his appalling opinion
Tie marquis silently closed the door and
stole upstairs. Outside the sick room
there was no sound. He peeped in and saw
it empty Much amazed he wandered
down again, and met Marcella crossing
% the other she held against her eyes
the hall with a cup in her hand the back
Where the ohild?' asked the as stounded
marquis.
she's down here, sir She wanted
change, and the mistress carried her 10 the
drawing-room.'
As she spoke she opened the door, and
the marquis marched in. Mrs. o'Nein sat
near the fire with bundle of flannels in
her arms, and out OF this two tired blue
eyes gazed at him.
''Dood morrow, Dandy, J" said Norry with
a touch of the old spirit. The mother
pressed her lips against the brown floss
cnrIs and smiled wanly at her landlord
a -morrow - Norry went on, lifting her
head wilfuliy and striking out thin arm
in her eagerness, III be better. and
I'll take YOU TO the lake, Dandby, with
my boat; won't 1, mother?"
Yes, sarling, said the eourageo young
mother
And papa'll tum. too-won't he, Dand-
| by"
IF it's fine, Norry, bot you know papa
and l couldn't 60 out if it rained. Wed
catch cold, 1" sail the ma rQuis, stroging her
hand.
! she wrinkled her little marble face in a
| ghost OF her sweet pink smile. II had the
| old light but not the color, and She spoke
with some of her quaint ardor and broken
! lisp Little children don I mind tie vain
| 40 they, mother? Ne and Tommy o'G:;ea
used to wun In the vain TO grow big.
! But 'tisn't the sajne VIII big people,
s'pose."
] she had not spoken so much for a long
While, and her mother hardly knew whet her
| 10 hope or be afraid 'Nnrry mustn't tire
| herself 4 she wants TO get well,'' she ven
tured 10 suggest.
.'oh mother, Norry isn't tired bit. !
| fink she is better, Mother, do play the
piano for Norry.'
what shall mother play?"
play Polly Perkins; YOU know, mother
| the fling the sergeant sings Do you know
Polly Perkins, Dandby?''
'If you like u crafty her, Mrs. O'NeilI
| I'll take herr" said the marquis, re,Iden
ing
With desperate glance Mrs. o'Neill de
| posted the whimsical baby in his arms
| GndafteT shehad complied with her despot' :
| command for a tish, half staggered over T.
| the piano, blinded by her tears, to play tts
wreIched vulgartune juStimported fromthe
London music halls.
Never vas 'Ta-ra-ra- boom -de-ay'' pla yet
neutrality-suspicious. Thedeeradec
SIR l1.ad oil
less discordant and inappropriate than
ifit had been played in a church. For Norr!
alone il was net out OF place. She rcmem
bered her friend, the sergeant, and made {
gallant effort To sing his parody. n a thin
| hurried voice uhe quayered, with painfu
| e1rnestness:
/ Polly Perkins had no sense
She bought a fiddle for eigbteenpe nee:
| And all the tunes that Sue couiu play
Was 'Ta-ra-ra- boom-d decay.
She closed her eyes with the violence he
effort TO finish the verse, and nestled he
little brown head against the marquis arm
Marcella came in with something for hel
TO take, but the mother and Lord Grandby
held up an arresting hand. There was
drowsy look upon the child's face that prom
ised Slumber. She muttered somethin;
vaguely ,anG the III Arquis bentdown u cattl
the words, feeling that he could never for
give the Sergeant if il proved to be TIA ra
IA BOOM de.ay" He isn't marSkiss Il
all she said In spite of the heavy feeling,
of the moment, Lord Grandby involuntariI!
smiled.
He sat on there in the darkened littl,
dravalngroOm, holding Norry asleep in hi
arms, while her parents and Marcella hung
over him aoruetiTueS knPpIiUp IN pitbar sin,
OF him 10 inspect her and measure thei
chances of hope. Not for worlds dared b,
stir so burdened. The scene recalled
nursery episode at the beginning of his OWL
married life. Somehow, he had taken it les
to heart in those DAYS. A child then, ever
his own, had not seemed to him So preciou
a charge ii was the heir of his estates n
thought of, not OF the inatchless suunines
OF childhood. Now il seemed to him tha
the opening and closing of bah y lids held al
the mystery, the gravity, the import of tn
universe. And when at last the blue eve
opened, and unfevered sleep had given
faint tinge to the wan cheeks he instinc
lively held out his hand to the father ant
cried cheerily: There, Mr.. o'Neill. She
better already You'll find she has passe
the crisis in that light Sleep"
The marquis proved prophet. Sir Maj
tin Bunbury stopped on his way 20 tn
station, and this time announced the gran
news that nature had accomplished one q
her mysteries. By some unaccountabl
freak the Child had turned the critice
point, and there was nothing now to d
but to feed her up and keep her amused
Imagine how she was fed and how II
1 Iv ba torh hax