Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-10-31
( :
! HE WILL COME BACK J
s by Edith Berkeley.

ed day, will be Mas
ter John.' said Nurse Cotter softly to
herself as she stood in a shady corner
Of the old-fashioned garden, her eyes
bent upon thick patch Of sweet viO-
let leaves growing almost wild under
the messy wall. Planted them him
self, he did, my pretty boy, when his
head was little higher than the kitch-
en- table, and Miss Kitty helping. Of
course. Always together, they was,
and now two years gone and no sign
Of him. Master has altered a good
deal since the weary day he left us.
But for Miss Kitty, dear lamb, there
would hardly be sound of life now
in the house. Oh! Master John, Mas
ter John, do you think this day Of your
sweetheart. Miss Kitty, of your home
and the old nurse as loves you?"
| Very tenderly the old woman's wrin-
kled, toil-worn hand touched the fresh,
green leaves, IS memories of the stur-
dy young rascal Who had planted the
| violets stole back to her heart. How
proud she had been Of John! He was
the orphan nephew Of her late mis-
! tress, who had adopted him, but she
had died soon after Kitty's birth, and
it was Sarah Cotter who had taken
care of everything and worked early
and late for them precious children"
for her master, Sebastian Stuart, was
an absent, highly irritable man who
rarely quilted his study
When the boy grew up rather wild
nurse declared that he was but high
spirited, and whatever his faults he
was devoted to Miss Kitty, and that
no one could deny. But kitty was the
one creature for whom her father
cared, and consequently he looked
with jealous eye on his nephew, and
the least word from the lad was suf-
fcient to open the walls Of his wrath.
Two years previously, when John had
come down to spend his birthday as
usual, his uncle had suddenly missed a
number Of bank notes. Jack alone
had been in his study; Jack was
known to be in chronic difficulties, and
there was terrible scene, ending in
of the house, never to return or see
his cousin again.
, He went, and the following autumn,
; ;, when nurse got out her masters Win
, ter coat, there were the notes, crum-
pied up in q pocket, and she remem-
bered he had Worn it last the week
before Master, John had been home
Then contrition, sharp and stern,
2 seized upon Sebastian Stuart, and he
advertised diligently, but nothing was
, heard of Jack, and time rolled on.
well, l must so and make my
Cakes" nurse muttered, sadly turning
away. Miss Kitty will have them
like as he was coming down. All, dear
it goes hard to lose them as you have
/, nursed and dressed and tended"
| The violet patch seemed a favorits
spot that spring afternoon. Kitty
came there presently, and turning III
her frock went down on the damp sol
). to search among the leaves for th
{ fragrant little flowers.
9 1T seems long time to wait" sh
confided to the messy wall as sh
f stood against an old tree arrangin,
her blossoms, the bright sunlight fall
ing on her chestnut head. but if b
is alive he will come back. He neye
T broke promise to me. There are al
t ways violets out for Jacks birthday
: I never knew them to fail"
"And we always wore half each an
, now you are keeping them all,'' sal
an eager voice behind her.
She turned to see q tall, bronze
= man; she turned to see her boy sweet
o heart, and the sad days, the lionel
S months. were all forgotten as the tw
r who had carried the violets from th
p woods and tended them as childre
met in that shady corner again.
He is so sorry, Jack" she said 6
y length, when the tale was told. '.Yo
g will not be hard on him, will yo
n dear?"
" 'Hush! Here he comes"
And strangely enough, third Wis
tor came toward the bed of violer
! now, bent, dreamy-eyed old gentl
man, who nearly passed them. az
then stopped abruptly.