Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-10-04

The house had been mlseraDly DARK
and cold to me since Uncle Dennis
died. The three little children chung
to me in the most pitiful way, and
my heart almost broke for them
when the lawyer told me that they
would have nothing in the world after
everything was settled up. They came
TO me when the lawyer was gone,
sweet little Mary. and Bess and Ben,
the jolly twins. | couldn't tell them
then, their grief was too new, and be.
sides how could they understand? 1t
was on the third day that letter
came from Charlie, and my heart
lightened even before the envelope
was opened The letter was like All
OF his bright and CHEEKY, only this, of
course. was tinged with little sad
ness on account of my recent bereave-
ment. In the letter he urged
speedy marriage, and | was so sorry
to be obliged to tell him that the
children were left without a penny.
and that | could not leave them.
felt sure of Charles sympathy. for
Uncle Dennis had been SO good to us
both. He had taken me, little or.
phaned girl and cared for me as
though i had been a daughter. And,
having known Charles father, he Sc
cured for the boy position that had
been of great advantage to him. OF
course / expected him to feel for the
little ones of his old friend. Instead
of writing, Charlie came. / saw him
as he walked quickly up to the door.
and myself ran to let him in. How
handsome he looked in the stylish
city clothes! l felt so proud and
safe as he kissed me. Then we went
in the parlor. and 1t all happened.
Even now, after so many years, | can
not think of 1t quite composedly. He
had a plan and at once unfolded 1t
The children could go to an asylum,
| and we could be married at once
When he had said 1t all, the room
seemed to be whirling round with me
| pressed both my hands to my head
before / could answer.
Uncle Dennis didn't put me In an
asylum, Charlie; cannot send the
| children to one. l will not"
Charlie laughed, his handsome eyes
on my face.
Then what are they to do?" he
asked
"They will go where co. l re-
Piled
| Again he laughed.
Now. Allie. wouldn't we cut a pref
ty figure in New York boarding
house with three children? No, thank
you, my dear. cannot submit to
/ 1T"
II can work for them, Charlie"
said, strange pain in my heart; Il
can take care of them until they
are older; ! can't leave them, | am
good nurse; l can make enough
money, and Margaret will live with
them; she couldn't leave them any
more than l can"
Charlie made little gesture Of i'm
patience.
Allie, all that is sheer nonsense.
don't want an old maid for my wife
and do you think my mother would re-
ceive a girl who had been a common
uurse?"
The pain In my heart had grown
to terrible agony, but all the time
felt the wild Joy at the thought tina
was not obliged to listen to Charles
cruel plans. l don't know just wha
I said, my head was so hot, and my
hands were so cold, but / know h,
stood before me; his cruel, handsom,
face was all could see, and | longe,
to go away from him.
Choose between me and the chill
dren, Allie" he said, and for answe
I took my pretty engagement ring OF
and laid 1t on the table beside him
then, for fear he might know some
thing of what 1t cost me, raised M
head and bravely left the room.
How | cried and sobbed when
knew he was gone! After that Their
wasn't much time for grieving owe
lost lovers. knew how impossible |
/ would be find work in our dear, sleep
little town, so we took the children
Margaret and l, and went to a largeI
buster town. We rented rooms an
before long l secured a position a
| NURSE u MISS IliluSlOu, wealthy III
valid.
So my new life began | tried /
: every way to brighten the life of tn
poor lady, and at last. from doing s
much for her. l began to love her dea
ly; then my work was light indee,
l Many were the presents she sent tn
a children, and had them sometimes I
come for tea with her.
But in spite of it ALL my life wa
t not very bright, and missed the ga,
r ETY. young people love. One evenin
DIR. Murray. who was treating he
and with whom / had become goo
E friends, came in with a great bask,
. of roses.
See. Miss Ellington, what "
brought you. Now, will you do som
3 thing for me?"
v Tell me, would be indeed har
, hearted to refuse she said. bendin
over the roses.