Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-04-03

had been craving for love since her moth
er was taken away, and must have died
without it, as surely as a plant must die
without sunlight.
But how was she to be weaned Of this
love-food in order that Nurse Gertrude
might in time return to her hospital?
Every day her appetite grew by what it
fed on. All the clinging affection she
had borne to her mother she now exhibit
ed towards Nurse Gertrude The child
had recognized the likeness that had
struck me; mother and nurse alike, in
some respects, were still of the same type
of woman-and an excellent type, too.
After a time it became obvious that
Laure was not to be weaned and that
to take away Nurse Gertrude would in
had endured in losing her mother. There
upon there were consultations between
Flexmore, DIR. Awdrey and me.
1T Is obvious that Nurse Gertrude is
very strongly attached to your child"
said DIR. Awdrcy.
"She is not unhappy here; she looks
better than when she came," said Flex-
more.
"Oh, undoubtedly she is BETTER" DR..
Awdrey agreed The confinement Of the
hospital and the air of London were
telling upon her-in fact, l must admit
that in recommending her l was influ-
enced by the consideration that the
change would be to her advantage as well
as your daughters"
"If she would only consent to stay here
as a companion to dear Laure-in any
capacity, on any terms. !" said Flexmore
DO you think she would"
go and ask her." said l.
She was asked; but DIR. Awdrey was
the negotiator, for Flexmore had not the
courage Of mouse. And Nurse Gertrude
acquesced- setting aside all other con-
| siderations for the sake of the child whose
love had won her heart. SO DR.. Awdrey
put it.; for my own part | could not see
what sacrifice she had made in exchang-
ing a close hospital ward for a pleasant
and airy house, and an il-pad slavery
for very remuneratlve position where
she was free to do just as she liked. No
l looked upon it that the young lady, to-
gether with other very good qualities, had
a very clear perception of her duty to
herself, and that she foresaw as plainly
| as l did that sooner or later she would
become Mrs. Flexmore.
However, to stick to the facts of the
case that day Nurse Gertrude came down
to dinner without the becoming little car
which had previously distinguished hel
as an official nurse; and il we had come
to think her pretty in her cap, we were
bound to admit that she looked still nicer
without it-her pretty hair drawn neatly
up and coiled plainly on her head.
We have flower show in our towr
once year. The first day is the best
Of course, and, the prices excluding thu
poorer kind of people, only the upper sor
are there. There was rumor that titlet
visitors were staying with the Casely's
and that probably they would visit tn
show in the afternoon wherefore 20,
may be sure that Mrs. Yeames and he
"superiah' set were all there in full
feather.
About three o'clock / saw Miss Dal
rymple come in with Laure; she neve
missed any occasion of giving pleasure t
the child, or of taking it herself for tha
matter. She was plainly dressed; but
to my mind, there was no more elegan
young lady there. Mrs. Yeames wit
three of her finest friends stopped them
and with the most distant patronizing in
clination of their heads to Miss Dalrym
pie, bent down to kiss Laure, and as
after her poor, dear papa. Then Mrs
Yeames, taking the child's hand, led he
to bank of cut flowers, asking he
whether she could spell the labels al
tached.
In the midst of this instructive dispa
of her own requirements, there was a flut
ter amongst the visitors, and word wa
whispered that Mrs. Casely had arrive
and had brought Lord Dunover with her
And there, sure enough, was Mrs. Case
with a tall, whitc-haired, aristocratic oil
gentleman, coming right down upon til
little party. There was not time to ge
nurse Gertrude, when Mrs. Casely me
them and introduced his lordship. Dun
over bowed stifiy, but suddenly catchn
sight of Miss Dalrymple, his face becam
illumined with smile of heartfelt pleas
ure, and exclaiming, What, Gertie, m
dear, you here!" he took her by bot
hands and kissed her pretty lips. The
turning to Mrs. Casely, he said.
"Mrs. Casely, let me introduce you +
my mecca little democrat who almos
shakes my class prejudice, for she prefer
independence as hospital nurse to shar
ing the fallen fortunes of her family"
Then it was known that Miss Dalrym
pie was actually the niece of an earl
And she and Laure spent week a
Casely Manor, where Mrs. Yeames AM
her "superiah" set had never been allow
ed to stay longer than half an hour.
(To be continued.)