El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-17

MAJ and her heart babe her linger.
For the first time the man spoke to
her.
| Il must beg your pardon, madam.
His mother has just died, and some
thing about you seems to have recalled
her to him."
| GabrieIIe's heart softened at once.
| Going straight up, she took the tiny,
| outstretched hands in her own and
murmured, Poor, motherless little
oner'
| 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 murmuTed
something unintelligible.
| However, he had not recognized her,
| so she drew all her strength to her
assistance and succeeded in hiding her
| emotion.
eff you will walk under my umbrel-
la, as 1 am going your way, you can
keep dry. And, too. fear baby won't
like to part with you now"
There was no easy way to retreat.
1t would have been absurd to scud off
in a changed direction through the
pelting rain, so she continued talking
hurriedly to the child.
AS they reached the foot of the
broad stone steps she stopped.
ct 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 I
finally told Mrs. Clarke, the house
keeper, that 1 would try him for a
walk. But will you not take the UNI
brella? It 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 perfect shrek
from baby arose whsn 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.
"Win you please come into the house
with him? Mrs. Clarke may there be
better able to get him away than I"
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.
1--WE must get a 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
49,, y< cI,
A bold idea entered Gabrielle'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? 1 can show you
some excellent references, and 1 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 appearance of a |
woman of long founded culture and |
delicacy.
Two years went by, in which Miss
Varney, as she was then known, IN
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
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
diT11 xxyha N ~
right finally entered.
Shall L call Mabel?" she began,
starting from her station at the win
dow.
NO, Miss Varney, stay L have
to say to you. You remem-
Der how moved l was the first time
Leslie called you mamma? You
thought then, no doubt, that it was be-
cause Of the memory of my wife. Part
~ SO, but mostly because 1 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
[ loved better than the world?'
'Your wife?"
NO. One l loved before l met my
wife. Can you, will you, hate me if I
ask you thus to be Leslie'S mamma in
truth as we'll as in word?'
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 1
IAN 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
he east gate. Do not ask a question,