The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-26

Her abundant hair, once light and
| curing, was dark now from q terrible
/ fever, and she wore it banded over her
! ears like the hair of a saint. Saint
Cecilia, they called her. And Alice
answered to the name of 'Cecelia"
amorg her new friends.
1T was November again. The leaves
were once more dressed in the golden
glory Of Autumn, when, Alice betook
herself TO Mayville. Her mother had
| died, and in a mournful little process
sion, formed by the hearse and one
carriage, Alice had gone TO the old
village churchyard to lay the dear par
ent by the side of the father.
That evening Alice left the little
boarding house in the village, where
no one had known her, and went for
walk
Instinctively her feet turned toward
the old cottage, and, before she real
lied it, she stood upon the threshold
of the happy old home. 1t was closed
and the vines grew thick over the en-
trance.
Sad, sad" murmured she, turning
away.
Mamma, mammal called a child
ish voice, and Alice turned to see a
baby struggling at her dress and plead
ing with outstretched arms to be lifted
up, while man pulled the child away.
A sudden cry of Erwin" sprarg to
h
Il hope you will excuse my little boy,
madame, said the gentleman, but his
mother has died only recently and
there is something in your figure and
looks which reminds him of her"
Mamma, mammal called the child
piteously
Lifting him tenderly Alice pressed
him TO her bosom.
Now Erwin, said the gentleman to
the child, SAY goodbye to the lady"
mo, noi' said the child, struggling
as his father attempted to take him.
i want mamma to go too"
A bright idea occurred to Alice She
hestated a minute Yes, she would do
it. She was so lonely now
'Will you hire me as nursemaid?"
she asked Il am IN Mayville looking
for a situation"
Gladly" said the gentleman, "since
little Erwin has taken such fancy to
you"
All that autumn and all winter Alice
lived in tie Wardman household, for
OF course it was the elegant home of
Erwin Wardman in which she found
herself, and day after day she devoted
herself more and more lovingly to the
child, who loved her better than he
had ever loved his naughty mother If
Alice seldom saw the master of the
house 1T was her own fault for she
avoided him.
And so two years passed, the little
Erwin growing and developing wonder
fully under the gentle embarrassing Of
his beloved nurse.
One morning in autumn, just before
Thanksgiving, Alice slipped away to
visit the old house There We're people
living in it now, but she walked 10 the
gate and stood looking down at the
frost touched flowers within. "Thev
are from the seeds / planted so long
ago" she murmured. land to think Il
is the anniversary of the day left the
dear Ole 1ouse forever-mother and l."
Beg parucn; were you speaking?"
Alice turned with a start, for the
voice was that of Erwin Wardman. and
there az her side he stood, looking at
her with the tenderness he could no
longer conceal in his eyes
knew you all the time,' he said
out thought it was better not to
speak-then. Tell me. Alice. have you
remembered the old days, too?"
For answer she put her hand in his
and the two walked down the street
together in the gloriiad Thanksgiving
sunshine. M