Show D o 0 The Thou TE Gayest Me BEING Ti THE TIiE STORY OF NElLL Written by HALL CAINE Copyright 1912 1812 bv bt b Hearst's s Magazine CoP Copyright In Great Britain Copyright ht ht 1913 by J 1 J. J B B. Lippincott Co t n 0 1 What a n Ii day a that was vas shout in r What V hand For O'Sullivan OSul 0 O'Sullivan SulI Sul I livan it was Donnybrook broo fair with the tho tail of hi his coat loft out anti and for it el road with What cheer old cock ck 1 and an unquenchable de desire ire to stand treat trtat all round But what T I remember is ms s. s that tho the moment f t awoke and b before foro the tho idea iden that we were wed t and about to RO go o home had hall been fully grasped rasp l by 0 my mW n hazy zv brain tho the thought Hashed to 7 V mm mind Ins uN Now Now w you 11 hear of her M. M C C. C I. I v E ENl ENI D' D OF 01 COM CONRAD'S CONRADS ADS AD'S MEMORANDUM IE CHAPTER The Tb door of Nol Xo 10 0 was opened by hy a rather rathor uncomely woman 6 fit dt perhaps 30 70 yc years years' rs' rs of f a age aAe e with a weak face nil watery eyes This Tills was Mrs Ift Oliver Olivcr and aud it o occurred d io to tome me aie even at that first eight that sho ho tad had the frightened right l cd and amI evasive o look ofa of or ofa ora a wilo who eti under kinder the tho intimidation tion of a tyrannical hn husband She welcomed me mc hOW however l' l with a warmth that tartly partly dispelled my nio depression de do- I cession N sion and I foJ followed oed her into the thelt lt hen It was wits the only room on un tho ground floor pf of her Louie bOlle except a scullery and it seemed sweet ant antI and clean and comfortable com com- having hating a table in the tho middle of or the floor a sofa oa under tinder tho the window a a ar r rocking r on on bun side of the tho lira lira- place a a. a swinging baby's cot on I the he theother theother other side and nothing a about out it that was not homelike and reassuring except t two o large photographs over O the tho mantelpiece mantel mantel- piece of men meu stripped to the tho waist ai t tand and sparring sparring- H Weve WC ero been looking for fol yon you all day tIny ma maam ma'am am am and had nearly give he you up bhe said i Then she h e took baby haby out of my Ill arms mn removed her bonnet and tined lifted her barrow coat to examine b her r limbs I asked her a age c. c kissed her on ou tho the arms tho tho- nc neek k and the tho legs Jogs end and praised ed her without measure And And what's her name ma maam ma'am la am sus f Mary Mary Isabel but hut I wish her ber to bo be o called aIled Isabel fI Isabel A beautiful name too lit Fit for a a. an angel cl maam ma'am ma mn am And she is a little angel bless her Such ro rosy cheeks Such Buch a ducky little mouth Such blue 1 i cf bine aea p blue a as the blue billa bells in the conict conic conic- t i r Ty r She's as pretty as u waxwork wax sho really i is and any woman in iii t the he world might be proud to nurse h her T A young mother is such n a L weakling e l that praise of hot hOI child however crude acts like a charm chaim on her and in ept spite of myself I T was waa w s he beginning to feel fecI more at ease care when Mr Ir Oliver Oliver's s 's husband bus hus- band l carne came downstairs He lIe was a short thickset man of about 35 xi with ith a square quare a very wry thick neck an and a close cropped red rea bullet bullet hult bul hul- let t head and he was in in his stocking t 4 i f feet t and ind shirt sleeves ea as if he had barl b been en dr at sing aing in to go o out ont for th the evening J J I remember that it flashed upon me me mc 1 i r don dont don't ont t know why that that h he had seen 10 me from the tho window w of tb the room upstairs upstairs' u rs dr driving jn a up in tho the old man mans man's Js four four wheel or and aud lu hul d drawn from that innocent circumstance tanco certain deductions about my character and m. m my ca to payI pay I I must ha have i been heen rJ right h for as it soon as our introduction was over o and l I had hail interrupted Mrs r Olivers Oliver's praises 01 of my b baby's bv I beauty b bv by speaking about material matters sa ln saying the terms were to bo ho 4 I shillings hillin the tho man who had seated himself on the soft to put on his boots said in a n voice that was like a ashot ashot shot hot out ant of ot a n. blun ls erb Five Ji l r cHow 1 you von mc mean n said tits Mrs Oliver timi timidly l- l c Didn't Didn t wo we sa say Five o said the man again ain with a astill astill astill still louder volume of voice I 1 could see sea that tho poor woman va wa was trembling trembling- but a assuming the tho sweet air of persons who live Iho in a constant state suite tc C rJ off It fear she said Oh yes ves It n was wa five now I her lien T reminded her that her letter had said ill four but hut sho she insisted that T r must be bo mistaken and when I told hor her I had tho the letter lettel with mo me and sho she could see sec it if she h wished she sho said it must have been a slip of lh the pun pen iu in a manner of speaking nia maam am We Pc alms allus tall talked of oC five Didn't wo WI Ted reH fedt Certainly said sai her husband who was still busy y with his boots J I taw saw what was going on and I felt Lot hot and an angry rr but there thero seemed to bo ho nothing to do except submit m nut Y Verv cry well weH well we'll say five fi then Ulen I I Is s said id Paid in advance sa said 2811 the man roan I and when I answered cred that that would suit uit mo inn very ver well he lIe added A A month in n advance nance ance you know Bv By this time I f felt folt lt myself m trembling with in indignation h ah ati well as quivering quivering quiver quiver- ing ine with fear for while I looked upon all l the tho mOll money J- J JJ I J possessed a belonging to 1 baby b to part with almost the whole I of it jn in one moment would reduce mo me moto meto to utter titter helplessness so I said aid turning turning turn turn- in ing to Mrs rs Oliver cr Is that usual It Jt did di not escape escape- me that the unhappy unhappy un- un happy woman oman was consta constantly studying her husbands husband's face and when ho he glanced up lip at t. t her with a meaning look 1001 she answered hurrie hurriedly 1 I II Oh Oh yes es 11 maam ma'am am quite usual A All 11 the women in the row has it No o 5 she she- has twins and gets ets a month in in hand nand with both hoth of then them But well we'll take four weeks t and ana I I. I cant can't sa say no fair fairer r than that can an I II But why I asked Well you see ma maam ma'am ain youre you're O s youre you're re a stranger to us and aDd if baby was le left t on our hands Not as wo we think you'd you'll leave Jea her chargeable as tho the saying aying is but b if you rou were ever ill and got t a n bit back with t your payments a v we c being heing only poor people Whilo While tho the poor woman was floundering floundering floundering flounder flounder- ing on in this way war ni mV my blood was boiling boiling boiling boil boil- boil boil- II ing and I 1 was beginning n to ask h her r if she sho bo supposed for one moment that I Ii i meant to lo de desert ert my child when the theman roam man who had finished tho the lae lacing ng of his boots boot rose rost to his feet and sai said YoU dont don't want yer ba by to be give o i o over or to to t the thc he Gu Guardians for the the sake sako do i of or a week wc-ok 01 of two you jOU That settled everything c t I 1 took out ant my purse and with h n trembling hand laid Inid ray my last precious sovereign eo on tho the table A moment or two after this thia Mr r. r Oliver Olivor who had put on his bis coat Boat and a cloth cap mado made for the tho door H Evenin maam ma'am he said and with what grace raco I 1 1 I bado him goodbye You area aren't arent t n going n-going to tho the Sun Sun tonight to tonight to to- night nig-bt are you on Ted asked Mrs Oli orn ver or n Club Club said the tho man and tho the door clashed behind i hind him I breathed more freely when ho he was gone and 11 his wife wife- from whoso whose face tho the tonic look of fear vanished instantly was lik like another woman Goodness she sho cried grac gracious ou with a kind of haggard hilarity wheres r my lj head M Me never r offering you rou a cup of tea and arld you Jon lookin looking so white after your our journey I took baby back hack into m my arms while sho put tit on tho the kettle sot a black blae teapot on the ho o hob to warm v laid a piece pICCO of tablecloth t. and n a thick cup and saucer on the end ena of the table and then knelt knelton on tho the fender to toast a 0 little bread talking m meantime half apologetically and antI half proudly about her lier husband ITo JIo was a n hr bricklayer by trade and sometimes worked at the tho cemetery which I t could seo see at the other sido side of 01 tho the road rO behind the long railings and the tall taU trees tres but was moro moro generally engaged as a sort flori of fighting lieutenant to a u labor Jea leader or whose business it was wat to get up strikes Before tho they wore ware married he lie had Imd been tho the light weight champion of and those o were ero photos of or his fights which I could see seo over o the mantelpiece but ho be never ne did no knocking of people about now being quiet and matrimonial In spite of myself my may heart warmed to tho the woman oman I wonder onder it did not occur occur occur oc oc- oc- oc cur to mo mb there thero and then that living in constant dread of her tyrannical husband husband hus bus band she would always bo ho guilty of the dissimulation I had scan scon au an example ox- ox ample of already and that the effect of ot it would be e reflected upon my ray child It did not I only onh- told myself that I she was wan aR cI clearly arl fond of children and would bo ho a kind nurse to my bab baby It oven o pleased me in my foolish motherly selfishness s that she was a plain featured featured fea fea- featured person whom t baby bab baby could never no come to love lovo as sho she would I was roas sure aure love Jovo me inc I J felt better after I r hall had taken tea and rig as it was then 7 a o'clock and the tho sun stuff was WaR setting horizontally through the time cypresses es of tho the cemetery I knew it was time timo to goI go o I T could not do that though without undressing baby and sin singing n her to sleep And even then I sat for awhile with an richin aching heart and Isabel on 01 my knee thinking of how I should bould have havo to togo togo g go to bed herl that night for tho the first time without tier her Mrs 7 Oliver in ill the tho meantime examining examining exam exam- ining the surplus linen which I had brOll brought ht in my nIX parcel was bursting into whispered d cries eriCS of delight bt over oer it and being beinA told T thad hail made the clothes m myself myself my my- self soU was wa saying What a a wonderful seamstress you might be if you liked liJe ma maam am At length tho the timo camo came to leavo ba baby and no not woman knows the pain of oC that experience t who has bas not gone gono through it it Tho Though h I really believed m my darling would bo be loved and aud cared forand for and knew sho she would never miss me or yet know mow that I was as gono gone thero there was a n. pang pans oven o ovenin ovenin in that thought and rind in every other kind of comforting not holp it that a's as as I was waR putting my cherub into bercot her ber cot my tears rained raIDed down on her little face faco and awakened her ner so that I bad ball to kneel by bJ her side Hide and rock tier her to sheep again agnin bo be good to m my child wont won't you Mrs OI Oliver Olivet l erP I said aRId Deed I will ma maam ma'am am t tile the woman replied lied 11 You 11 bath her every day will you ou oun n not nett oU Night and morning I allus does docs ma mn am And And rinse rinso out her bottle and soc see that she sho has bas nice nice- new milk fresh from tho cowf cowl Sure Suro I Sura as sure Bure Ina maam am But dont don't you rou fret no more moro about tho the child ron maam maam am I Ive I've e boon beon a n mother myself Belf mn maam ma'am am am and Ill I'll be bo as good to your little angel as if sho was my own come conic comeback back hack to me Gad bless you I said in a burst of nn an anguish and after remaining a moment mo mo- moment ment longer long long-cr on m my knees b by the thc cot speaking speaking- with all my heart and atil soul though neither to nurse nuro nor to baby baby I r rose roso o to m my feet dashed clashed tho the tears front from rol 1 my eyes and ran out of the house CHAPTER I knew that m my y e eyes eves es were not fi fit to tobe tobo tobo bo be seen in ill the streets so I 1 dropped my dark veil an and hurried alon along 1 being conscious of nothing for some time tints except except ex ex- tho the clang of electric cars ears and the bustle of passersby to whom my poor sorrow orrow was nothing at all But I T hail had not gone gono ono far I far I think I had bad hadnot not though my s souses were confused an and vague vague- vague before before before- I bc began an to feel ashamed to take myself to task and to ask what what I had bael to cry about 1 If I had parted from ni ill my baby it was for her own good hood an and if 1 had paid away my mJ last fO sovereign I had bad provided for her Ier for a month mouth I had hart nothing nothing- to think of now except myself and how bow to get et work I never nover doubted that I should got ot work or that 1 I should get et it immediately immediately immedi immedi- atel tho the only open question being heing what work an and where Hitherto I had but thought that being quick with my pen 1 might perhaps become secretary to somebody f but now no remembering tho the typists typist's star story I firms dont don't like Jike it it an and wishing to torun lun run no DO risks in respect of my child 1 I put that expectation away and began hegan to soar to higher thin things s. s How vain they the word were Remembering some kinds words the r reverend mother hind had said about mo me at the convent where I had taken moro prizes than Alma though I had never mentioned it before I told myself that I 1 too was nn an educated woman J know Italian French and German and having having- heard heard hear that some sonto women could mako make a living b by y translating books for publishers 1 I thought ht I might do the same Nay I could oven o write books my my- self I was sure I could one could one book at atall atall all events o about friendless girls who t have havo to face th the tho world for themselves and all aU good g women would read rend i isome it some good men also because they would see that it must be true Oh how vain were ere m my thoughts thought Yet Tot of in another sen c they were not all nIl nIlan vanity vanity van van- anity ity for 1 was not thinking of fame or what would say nay a about what I should wr write tc but hut only what I should get for it I should get Iret monc money not a great deal perhaps yet enough for baby and me that we nc might have that cottage o in the roses where Isabel would run rUll about tho grass ra s by and by and pluck tho flowers in in the garden So what have c you von got to cry about you ou ridiculous thi thing I 1 thought while L hurried burned along with a high step now as if jf my my soul f had brul ad been hren in in m my 10 feet But Dut a mother mothers visions of the future are aro like a mirage always gleaming with the fairy fain palaces which her ici child is ill- to inhabit some some da day and 1 J 1 am not tho the first to find lH her r shadows fade fado away I must have been heen in sonic soni walking for s om i time feeling no weariness s at all when I camp came to the b bv by Bow church h. i There Thero I had bad intended 11 to take tahe a i tram I but not being tired 1 J went on farther thinking n o er every stage t. t e I J could walk wall would bo ho |