El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-29
The Herald's Daily
ShortStOry

aMaTTImU
matters she mentioned his last letter
IN which he had spoken of his engage
ment to Maisie.
4 shall be very glad to meet your
1iancee next week when L am IN
town." she wrote. Perhaps you Will
invitations to dinner. / never quite
know what TO do with that sort of peo-
pie. What about her friends, too? VIII
1t not be wise to get to know her own
people? 1 suppose this will be almost
necessary if your marriage is really
to take place. She must have relations
of some sort hope they are not COM
mon, vulgar people"
He drew himself up sharply. Luckily,
poverty did not always spell vulgarity,
and Maisie was never, never vulgar He
determined to again speak to Malsle at
the earliest opportunity of the neces-
sity of knowing something of her peo-
pie.
The next day he was motoring
through the Midlands on his way to
spend a couple of days with an old
school friend up north when, driving
along d narrow road and taking q cor
ner too rapidly, the car SkIdded,
mounted the bank, and both he and
the chauffeur were thrown out, the
latter rather badly bruised. whilst
Lord Wyeth was rendered unconscious
Luckily there were labOrers at work
nearby and he was carried 10 the first
cottage, doctor summoned and it
was found that his wrist was severely
sprained-
He was ordered to rest for at least
a few hours. and the good dame Of the
cottage expressed herself as entirely
a { his service.
But as he entered the quaint little
parlor he gave start of surprise, for
there fronting him over the mantel-
piece hung a large framed portrait of
Maisie Macdonald, the expert replica OF
one she had given him when they be-
came engaged.
admirin' that, sir. It's a nice pictur &,
hain,t it? That's my grille, that be-
Very nice, he murmured, but she
was showing him more: and with a
found himself looking at Wellnigh a
dozen portraits Of Maisie at different
stages OF her life There she was as
q small girl, her merry eyes alight
with smiles; there she was as a baby,
and there were others showing her at
various ages.
Despite the dainty meal which was
served he could eat but little, and the
old woman looked anxious
Bless me. SIR she exclaimed; why,
you've hardly eaten enough to keep a
mouse alive. Now, thiS'u never do
1T was very nice, indeed, Mrs. Stew
art" he said; and she stared at him.
That baint my name, sir, she said
My name is Biggs, Mrs. Biggs I be,
and my poor husband were the keeper
for Mr.. Stewart what was"
He felt beWildered, and was about
to ask a question when a familiar voice
set his heart beating fast
Nurse, dear, NurSle, dear cried
the voice in the little livingroom be-
yond. where are your
My grille" cried the old woman, and
the next moment MaiSie stood in the
doorway, radiant and smiling. At sight
of her lover her eyes grew big with
wonder, and rushing forward she took
his hands in hers.
pick. my darling" she cried. You
here? What has happened2 An acci-
dent2 Oh, nursie, dear" and she
is it? This is Lord Wyeth, the gentle
man I am going to marry Dick do
tell me-"
But it was quite a long time before
the whole state of affairs could be
cleared up, and Lord Wyeth hardly
knew whether TO curse himself as an
unmitigated prig. a laundering idiot.
or congratulate himself as the luckiest
man in the whole word, as slowly the
truth reached him.
This is my old nurse. Dick" ex-
planned Maisie. When my mother
died she brought me up; and when my
father committed suicide, she was al
the world to me"
Dear old nurse" she cried. "she
has been as good as a mother TO me.
The only mother I have ever known.
in fact, for my mother died when I
was quite tiny. She has always called
me her girl, you see. Now, and she
smiled at him happily, but bending he
kissed her.
Now my mother will be yours, TOO,
he said softly
Dick?" she said
Like YOU he cried LAS if anyone
could help. loving you, darling.
His words proved true. for now Lady
Wyeth speaks proudly of my daugh-
ter, Dicks wife"