Frostburg mining journal., 1899-11-11

thing about you seems to have recalled
her to him.
Gabricllc's heart softcncd ut once
Going straight up, she took the tiny.
outStrctched hands in her own and
murmurcd. Poor. mothcrlcss little
one
The father held out his umbrella
over her, and for the first time she
looked at him. The face was Rob
ert'S
She was glad for the excuse of turn
ing to the baby again and murmurcd
something mintclligihlc.
However. he had not recognized her
80 she drew all her strength to her
assistance and succeeded in hiding her
emotion.
"If you will walk under my umbrCl
In. as | am going your way. YOU can
keep dry. And. too, | fear baby wont
like to part with you now"
There was no easy way to retreat
1t would have been absurd to scud off
in changed direction through the
pelting rain. SO she continued talking
hurricdly to the child.
As they reached the foot of the
broad stone steps she stopped
81 cannot thank you enough for hay
ing calmcd Leslie. His nurse left this
morning and he will not be conSolc1
by any of the other servants. SO
finally told Mrs. Clarke, the house
keeper. that would try him for n
walk But will you not take the UNI
brella? 1t will be il shame to expose
yourself to such Il deluge.'
She gracefully declined all thanks
and such Kind offers and glided quick
ly off. Il tall black robcd figure, daring
the wntcry drops. But perfect shrek
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 go. Again she came back 10
him.
"Will you please come into the house
with him? Mrs. Clarke may there be
better able to get him away than l."
So Gabrielle, carrying his child. Les
lie, entered the house, unknown, but
welcome even tGcn. Lcslies was not
to be easily deceived, and all the ruses
We're seen through Immediately by his
careful, big blue eyes.
eve must get n nurscmaid this very
night" declared Mrs. Clarke as she en-
deavored, in her practical, cold hearted
way, to invcigle the young lord from
his new "mamma."
But" groancd Mr.. COurtright,
"where can one get one whom he can
trust on such very short notice"
A bold idea entered Gabriellc'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 prcsumptuous
in me to offer myself? | can show you
some excellent references. and | am
looking for some such position"
You n nurSemaid!' exclaimed Mr..
Courtrght In amaZement. Then, Il
moment later, he would have given
much to have 1t back unsaid. Her
plain. black gown was darned at the
elbows. 1t was merely her way of wear
ing it that gave her the appearance of n
woman of long founded culture and
delicacy.
Two years went by in which Miss
Narney. as she was then known, un-
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 call MabelI" she began,
starting from her station at the win
dow.
"No, Miss Varney, stay. have
something to say to you. You remem-
Der how moved | was the first time
Leslie called you mammal 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, il the fatcS had been kinder.
DO you know, Miss Narney, that you
often remind me cruelty of n woman
| loved better than the worldY
"Your wife,"
"No. One loved before | met my
wife. Can you, will you, hate me if
ask you thus to be Lcslie's mamma in
truth as we'll as in wOrdY'
Moment after moment went by. The
shadows came closer and the rim Of
lighter clouds near the western hori-
zon grew narrower. At last she said:
Il, too, loved in the long ago. And
can never in any way love another
man. But
Miss Narney"- he broke in.
"No. let me finish" she continued.
Take an umbrella and 20 down to
the east gate. DO not ask question.
but take the umbrella and wait there"
Then she sped up stairs. lie was
daZed; maybe that was the reason that
he, as in a dream, did rs she had bid
and took his station down by the rus
/ tie gate" where the softly falling rain
dripped through the leaves on to the
gravel of the walk.
Suddenly he was conscious of rus
tie at his side, and, turning, there
stood tall girl. with Il loving smile
beaming above the same dark collar,
with a sweet face shining from be-
/ bercd so well from long ago, and an