The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-25

II must beg your pardon, madam.
Ills mother has just died, and some
thing about you seems to have recalled
her to him."
Gabrielle's heart softened Mt once.
Going straight up, she took the tiny.
o~utstretchei hands in her own and
murmured, Poor, motherless little
one!!"
The father held out his umbrella
over her, and for the first time she
looked ut him. The face was Rob-
ert's.
She was glad for the excuse Of turn
ing to the baby again and murmured
something unintelligible.
However, he had not recognized her.
SC she drew all her strength to her
assistance and succeeded in hiding her
emotion.
IF you will walk under my umbrel-
la, as l am going your way. you can
keep dry. And, too, l fear baby won't
like to pat with you now"
There was no easy way to retreat.
1t would have been absurd to scud off
in O changed direction through the
relting rain, SO she continued talking
hurriedly to the child.
AS they reached the foot Of the
broad stone steps she stopped.
u cannot thank you enough for hav-
ing Gained Leslie. His nurse left this
morning, and he will not be consoled
by any of the other servants. So l
finally told Mrs. Clarke, the house
keeper. that l would try him for a
walk. But will yon not take the UNI
brella? 1t will be a shame to expose
yourself to such a deluge."
She gracefully declined all thanks
and such kind offers and glided quick
~ off, a tall, black robed figure, daring
the watery drops. But a 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 to
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 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 a nursemaid this very
night" declared Mrs. Clarke as she en-
deavored, in her practical, cold hearted
way, to inyeigle the young lord from
his new .mamma."
But" groaned Mr.. COPYRIGHT,
where eau get one whom he can
trust on such very short notice."
A bold idea entered Gabrielle's head.
She tried three or -four times to speak
and her voice failed. Finally She
ctloked back the lump in her throat
and said: Would it be presumptuous
in me to offer myself? I can show you
some excellent references, and l am
looking for some such position"
.You a nursemaid!" 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 it that gave her the a~ppearanceSof a
woman Of long founded culture and
delicacy.
Two years went by, in which Miss
Varney, as she was then known, un-
discovered, was loved by and loved in
return Mr.. Courtright's two children.
1t was n 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 Mabel?" she began,
starting from her station ut the win
dow.
mo, Miss varney, stay. 1 have
something to say to you. You remem-
Der how moved l 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 l 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 a woman
l loved better than the worldy"
"'Your wifeY
mo. One l loved before / met my
wife. Can you, will you, hate me If
ask you thus to be Leslie's mamma il
truth as well 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
81, too, loved in the long ago. And
can never in any way love another
man. But
"Miss Varney''- he broke in.
mo. let me finish," she continued
Take an umbrella and so down tt
the east gate. Do not ask a question
but take the umbrella and wait there
Then she sped up stairs. He wa.
dazed; maybe that was the reason tina
he. as in a dream. did as she had biz