The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1901-12-12

NN Bot w. NC WIZ pe
Y V twcnty-six this bless
ed day, will be Mas
ter john" said Nurse Cotter softly to
herself as she stood in shady corner
of the old.fashoned garden, her eyes
bent upon a thick patch Of sweet vlo-
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 q good
deal since the weary day he left us.
But for Miss Kitty, dear lamb, there
would hardly be q 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-
Killed., toil-worn hand touched the fresh,
green leaves, as 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
1t was Sarah Cottcr 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 be 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 be looked
with Jealous eye on his nephew, and
the least word from the lad was suf-
hcient 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
the young fellow being ordered out
or 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 a pocket, and she remem-
bered he bad worn 1t last the week
before Master John had been home.
Then contritbL sharp and stern,
seized upo.aa sDastian Stuart, and be
advertised diligently, but nothing was
heard Of Jack, and time rolled on.
well. l must go and make my
cakes" nurse muttered, sadly turning
away. Miss Kitty will have them,
like as he was coming down. All, dear!
1t goes hard to lose them as you have
nursed and dressed and tended"
The violet patch seemed a favorlte
spot that spring afternoon. Kitty
came there presently, and turning up
her frock went down on the damp soil
to search among the leaves for the
fragrant little flowers.
1T seems a long time to wait" she
connded to the messy wall as she
stood against an old tree arranging
her blossoms, the bright sunlight fali.
ing on her chestnut head. But IL be
Is alive be will come back. He never
broke promise to me. There are MI
ways violets out for jacks birthday
never knew them to fail"
And we always wore half each and
now you are keeping them ALL" said
an eager voice behind her.
She turned to see n tall hron7oa
man; she turned to see her boy sweet
heart, and the sad days, the lonely
months, were all forgotten as the two
who had carried the vlolets from the
woods ana tended them as children
met In that shady corner again.
he Is so sorry, Jack" she said nj
length, when the tale was told. "You
WIN not be hard on him, will Won
dear?v ''u
Hush Here he comes"
ana strangely enough, a third vjsl.
TOR came toward the bed of violets
now a bent, dreamy-eyed old gentle.
man, who nearly passed them ana
then stopped abruptly.