The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-15

Gass5 sSNARNs- IN
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"Te'l me everything" she murmured.
tered with the little packet both the
visitors sprang to the door and called
after the garrison Mercury, eager to
know what he had for them. He came
back, smiling, with letters for both, and
yet their faces were long as they re.en.
tered, for there was not line from
their lords.
But Mrs Barry's face was clouded
too. "Look at this" she said and held
out dingy missiye with the Cheyenne
postmark and scrawling superscrip-
ton, miss Nath. Baird, in care of
Mrs. Majer Barry, Fort Russell"
"Onco before letter came for her from
town, but it was addressedM a scholar
ly hand, and I remember now how agi-
tated she was at sight Of it, But this is
the work of some uneducated person. 1t
seems Irish somehow, that in care of
Mrs. Majer' especially. What can we
do-what shall we do to help her? If
she would only confide in some onel''
But before evening it was definitely
settled that that was the one thing poor
Nathalie could not or would not do.
Mrs Barry sent the letter to her room
with the message that Mrs Freeman
was there to take her driving and
would she not come down. And the
maid returned, saying Miss Baird was
not well enough to go. She had been
lying on her bed, the girl admitted, for
she had to wait some little time before
the door was unlocked. Then Mrs.
Freeman penned little note, Dearest
Nathalie, won't you see me just min
ute or two?" But the maid came back
in five minutes with the penciled words,
please, please do not think I am un-
grateful for all your patience and kind
ness, but indeed am not fit to see any
one just now'
And so the friends had gone sadly
away without the longed for word with
her, and then Mrs. Stannard came to
read to the invalid, but the books were
set aside and the two took counsel to-
gether as to what should be done. They
sent tea and an appetizing luncheon up
to her room, and the maid brought back
her best thanks and said that she would
try to eat. She was writing letter
then. But when two hours later they
cant III, 70 how, pl, ! H.
ported that the luncheon was untouch-
ed; even the tea seemed to have been |
neglected. They heard Nathalie's step
on the landing above, as in troubled
silence the ladies looked at each other
and the maid stood patiently by. They
heard it light and almost stealthy on
the little landing to the stairway, and
both looked eagerly to the door as
though expectant of her coming, but she
never neared it. Without an instant's
falter the girl hsstened through the hall
and out Of the house
She has been answering that note"
said Mrs. Barry the moment she had
dismissed the servant, land now, trust.
ing to no one, has gone to put it in the
mail bag herself"
1t was late when Nathalie returned
to the house, and this time she came
straight to her protectors side, knelt at
the sofa, and, never waiting for well
coming word or caress, took the slender
white hand in both her own, bowed
over it almost humbly moment, and
then, lifting her head, throwing it back
with gesture almost desperate, abruptly
spoke:
"Mrs. Barry-I-I've got to say it
can be of no further use to you now.
I'm bringing trouble, yes, even shame,
to you who havo been SO loving and
kind to mo and to your friends who
lave been so eager to help me- I'm hot
1t to stay. Do me une last kindness
send me home"
Her fingers were working norvously.
Her eyes were hard and hot and dry.
There was no weakness, no indecision,
10 melting now. The girl had spent
ong hours that day looking her trouble
n the face and had made her resolution.
'ho was set and determined. It was not
S suppliant she knelt. 1t was to urge,
lmost to demand.
Nathalie, child" began Mrs Barry,
you do yourself infinite wrong. There
as been no talk of shame, no thought I
4 even blame attached to you, but thoss
Who love you and would be your friends
re troubled because of your trouble"
"Mrs. Barry, don't tell me there has
ot been evil report, if not shameful re.
ort. Can not seer Why otherwise ,
hould Mrs Turner and Mrs Raymond
urn their aeads away and refuse to
me on the walkp Why should
fiss Maynard avoid meeting me- as she
as twice done, shrinking back into her
ate as though were-con tamination.
here has been talk-cruel falkland q
now it, and what Is worse--tcn times !
'orse-is that much that is said can t
ever deny. In my misery I've tried to
ide it from everybody, but he has been
tterly reckless He has dogged and y
AIRED and followed everywhere, even h
ere. Mrs Barry-Mrs. Barry, there is
My one place On earth where I can
void him, and that is home. Send me =,
,ere In pity send me home Y
And then at last the overeharged G
cart gave way. The poor girl burst Z
ito passion Of tears, and turning she l
rev herself prone upon the rug 1t the
III side, buried her face in her arms 4
nd sobbed like d spirit broken child: &
For several minutes the storm q. her ''
sshonatG weeping fsssa dnbfoken.