The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-23
...1SABEL-..
[BY wINIFRED ROBINSON ENGLE.]

"You presume upon good nature, nurse"
Not so much as you may think dearie and If you
will but sit down here beside your old nurse, and
listen to what she has to say to you you will be
convinced that she has only your good at heart
With an indulgent smile the young girl seated
herself upon hassock and leaning her head against
the wOman's knees as she had been accustomed to
do since childhood said laughngly looking up into
the troubled face above her:
'Now for your very weighty reasons why 1 should
marry Vincent Gray, man whom 1 distrust and
abhor 1 will listen to your story nurse and then
we will have done with this subject forever
"Dearie," began Nurse Wharton hesitatingly
this is birthnight nineteen years ago tonight
In this very room where we sitting a baby
girl first the light; tiny little thing delicate
and frail a snowflake In the anxiety for the
mother, the babe for the time being forgotten;
given to the arms of its nurse it hurried away
lest its presence should in some way disturb the
quiet which the only hope Of life to the young
mother, who had looked forward to the coming of
this little atom of humanity the browning joy of
her life. Do not look at dearie, turn your eyes
away, and do not speak until 1 have finished In
another home, an humble one, upon this
bling April night, another child born, fair and
rosy babe, but whose advent brought only deepest
sorrow and disgrace; but this sturdy little mite a
girl too doubled her tiny fists and prepared to fight
no welcome The little heiress of the great house.
left to the entire charge of it's nurse faded and
dropped, and one night when she thought it sleeping
it died AS she gazed horror stricken upon the little
WaXen face Satan put into her heart a thought
which grew into purpose. and in the stiffness Of
the night she took the tiny stiffening form in her
arms and stole quietly out When morning dawned
there was no empty cradle in the handsome nursery;
upon its silken cushions slept a blue-eyed baby
sweet and fair as newly opened rose.
The young mother did not rally and passed to
the other side without having kissed her darling
When all was over the broken-hearted father sought
his child, and clasping her tiny form close to his
breast Wept tears of joy that this comfort still re-
NAMED Dearie you were that child"
A cry broke from the lips of the girl she sprang
to her feet and said in an indignant voice: Ths is
no time for jeSting nurse; take back those fearful
words"
at is no jest Isabel; your mother was nv only
sister"
sit is false. false as the lips which utter the in
famous tale, gasped the girl, pale as DEATH culver
ing with Indignation, but with deadly fear in her
eyes How can you sit there so calmly and tell me
that you plotted such fearful deed? 1 do not be-
heVe YOU and she clasped and unclasped her white
hands in her excitement and anger
You should not reproach me child when but for
me you would be nameless outcast," said the
her
eyes
The girl Shrank from a blow
Isabel" resumed Nurse Wharton, "be calm ana
listen to me, have not told you this tale for the
purpose of robbing you of your name and home: on
the contrary there is no reason why you should be
deprived OF any of your valued possessions Should
this story come to the of your-of Sir Jaffrev
In his enfeebed state he could not withstand the
shock Why, then, should he be told the tale? One
act OF yours can save the honor Of the name as
well as the life of that proud old man who loves
you so tenderly. One act Of yours can rescue the
woman who bore you from abject misery and want
one act of yours seal forever the lips that could
give your secret to the world"
and that act nurse?"
Your marriage with Vincent GRAY"
Never, oh never! Marry that man with his low
brutal instincts? No, death first What is Vincent
Gray to you, that you make him your acconpce in
this infamous business?"
He IS my son. When his father died leaving
me penness l gave him to the care of Thomas
Gray a distant relative, and warm friend of the
family What are your objections to him? He is
finely educated, and you must admit that he is hand
some"
The girl shuddered. Handsome? Yes, with