The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-08-29
ESTABLISHED 1879.

the watery drops. But perfecr-snriek
from baby arose when he found him
self deserted in this fashion, and each
succeeding cry became louder and
more distressing. Again Gabrielle
could not 60 Again she came back TO
him.
"Will you please come into the house
with him? Mrs. Clarke may there be
better able to get him away than II
So Gabrielle, carrying his child, Les
lie, entered the house, unknown, but
welcome even then. Leslies was not
to be easily deceived, and all the ruses
were seen through Immediately by his
careful, big blue eyes.
I'VE must get nursemaid this very
night" declared Mrs. Clarke as she en-
deavored, in her practical, cold hearted
way, to inveigle the young lord from
his new mamma
But" groaned Mr.. COPYRIGHT,
where can one get one whom he can
trust on such very short notice?"
A bold idea entered GabrieIle's head.
She tried three or four times to speak
and her voice failed. Finally she
choked back the lump in her throat
and said: would it be presumptuous
in me to offer myself? can show you
some excellent references, and 1 am
looking for some such position"
"You a nursemaidr' exclaimed Mr..
COPYRIGHT In amazement. Then. a
moment later, he would have given
much to have it back unsaid. Her
plain, black gown was darned at the
elbows. 1t was merely her way of wear
ing 1t that gave her the appearance of a
woman of long founded culture and
delicaey.
Two years went by, in which Miss
Varney, as she was then known, I'M
discovered, was loved by and loved in
return Mr.. Courtright's two children.
1t was one evening in March, Just be-
fore dusk, when she had left Leslie up
stairs asleep and had just come down
to the drawing room with Mabel to
stay with the child until her father
came to dinner. He was late, and
Mabel wandered off to the library.
thus leaving Gabrielle alone in the
dimly lighted room when Mr.. Court
right finally entered.
Shall l call Mabelp she began.
starting from her station at the win
dow
mo, Miss Varney, stay. l have
something to say to you. You remem-
Der how moved l was the first time
Leslie called you 'mammaY You
thought then, no doubt, that it was be-
cause of the memory of my wife. Part
ly so, but mostly because | thought
for an instant that you were the wo-
man who-who might have been his
mother, if the fates had been kinder.
Do you know, Miss Varney, that you
often remind me cruelty of woman
l loved better than the worldY'
Your wife?"
mo. One loved before l met my
wife. Can you, will you, hate me if
ask you thus to be Leslie's mamma in
truth as well as In wordT'
Moment after moment went by. The
shadows came closer and the rim of
lighter clouds near the western hori-
ION grew narrower. At last she said:
Il, too, loved ia the long ago. And
can never in any way love another
man. But
Miss Varney''- he broke in.
mo, let me tinish," she continued.
Take an umbrella and go down to
the east gate. Do not ask a question,
but take the umbrella and wait there"
Then she sped up stairs. He was
dazed; maybe that was the reason that
he, as in dream, did as she had bid
and took his station down by the rus
tic gate, where the softly falling rain
dripped through the leaves on to the
gravel of the walk
Suddenly he was conscious of a rus
tie at his side, and, turning, there
stood tall girl. with loving smile
beaming above the same dark collar.
with a sweet face shining from be-
meath the same velvet bonnet remem-
Dered SO well from long ago, and an
old time voice murmured:
''Robertr'
"Gabrielle% he gasped
YES" she laughed. Gabrielle and
your nursemaid In one.''
When they walked up to the house
that night, she chung lovingly to his
arm under the narrow umbrella, for
they were strangers no longer.-Ex-
change.