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Article "Mrs. Quilliam." ← Page 6 of 7 Article "Mrs. Quilliam." Page 6 of 7 Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1
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"Mrs. Quilliam."
" Well , aunt , " he said , as lie sat down , taking Tony on his knee , " I have taken my passage for this day week for America , and as I have business in Liverpool , I am off to-morrow morning . " I was leaving the room Avhen I heard this , and involuntarily stood still . I had not expected it so soon , and my heart sank liko lead .
" You re never goin in a hurry like that , ' Mrs , Quilliam remonstrated , " bless mc , I hevn' them stockins done yet . AAV , but AVC' 11 miss you terrible , we'll be longin' shockin ' . " " Wliere are you going , Uncle Evan ? " asked Tony . If its back to America I am going too , and so is Witch , for Ave couldn't do Avithout her , "
No , lony , you AVIII have to stay here to take care of Mammj Quilliam , " saiel Nanny . "No , I'll not , " answered Tony , resolutely . " Don't be naughty , Tony , little boys don ' t knoAV Avhat ' s good foi them , " Mrs . Quilliam observed , in her pious tone .
" I am not naughty , and you are a ugly olcl woman with cracks in your face , and I bate kissing you , " broke out the child , blazing into sudden passion . It was some time before he AVUS quieted , and put to bed in a repentant mood . I had gone into the parlour and Avas sitting idly gazing into the fire , when I heard a knock at the door . It AVUS Evan coming to say good-bye , I supposed .
"I havc a favour to ask 3 * 011 , Miss Lace , " lie began . I have to leave Tony behind , and if you will undertake his education , a great Aveight will be taken off' my mind . " My first impulse was to refuse . 1 felt that this also was done out of pity ; but after a time I AVIIS convinced by his representations that this would bc much better for the child , than for him to be sent amongst strangers , and 1 consented to take the charge . There Avas an awkward pause after this , Avhich I felt 1 must break .
1 AVISII you a pleasant passage and good-night . Am will have many things to do yet , I dare say . " " Good-bye , " he said , holding my hand . " Thank you for all your kindness . Will you sometimes think of me , and write and let me knoAV IIOAV Tony is getting on ?"
I made a hast y assent , and strove to free my hand . For a moment 1 looked into his eyes—there was no mistaking them this time . It was love I SHAA * there . But it was too late UOAV . In another moment 1 had said good-bye and be had gone .
CHAPTER XII A year had passed uneventfully . At lirst , it AA-US hard to go about my duties and keep my thoughts from dtvelling on what might have been . But 1 had p lenty of employment happily , and little leisure to dwell npon my mistake . I S ; IAV it p lainly enough noAV . I had spoilt my life by ray hasty pride . It AA'as little comfort
to know that 1 should regret it more than he for I decided that in HOAV scenes , be would soon forget me . Still , on the whole I was not unhappy even at first , for the thought that Evan loA * cd me , tho' it often made my heart ache for his presence , oftener matle it rejoice that he had chosen mc .
Mrs . Quilliam , I think , never tpiitc forgave me for my refusal . "Do you remember yanther night , " she said one evening , " when ye tirst heard of Holmes' Bank being broke ? Evan AVUS in tt terrible way for ye . ' I'd rather , ' says hc , ' have lost every penny , than that she should suffer . ' 'Can't you ask her to marry you ?' says I , ' that AVOUUI be makin' everything square . ' ' Impossible , ' says
he , " she wouldn ' have me . ' Chut , ' says 1 , 'Can't 3 * 0 ask her and see ? ' But I was wrong it seems . AAV , pride inn bad thing . I ' m thankful I ' ve got noane of it , tho' there ' s ones that ' s sayin' I ' m lioldin ' my head hig h , and I conic of good people on 1113 ' niaAvther ' s side , but we ' re all come from the same auld stock , and its not right to look down on nobody . "
"Mrs. Quilliam."
AVhen Nanny got on the subject of her own humility it AVIIS hard to stop her , and I went on Avith 1113 ^ OAVU thoughts . Had I overheard more or less that night ifc mi ght ha AX been different—but I must make the best of it IKW , and I would not let this mistake spoil my life . Very soon my spirits regained their usual buoyanc }' , and I AVUS content , if not happy .
Perhaps the arrival of the American mail helped in this . Every month it brought lAan ' s letters , und curried mine back . I Avrote freely , telling of all our pursuits , and perhaps he gathered hope from those letters . Perhaps it Avas Tony ' s doing . The child had learnt to Avritc very quickly , and one evening he asked mc if he mi ght send a letter of bis OAvn to Uncle Evan . This AA-as his letter : — "Dear Uncle , —Como hoame sune , 111 c and AVitch Avants 3 * 011 verry bad . "
Some time after a letter came which puzzled Mrs . Quilliam very much . " I left some property- in the Isle of Man which I thought valueless , could vou tell me if it is worth 1113- coming home to look after it ? "
" I naver kneAV he had bought any land , tlid 3-011 , Miss Marcia ? " Mrs . Quilliam asked , eyeing mo critically . " I could not keep from smiling as I replied , "I don't knoiv anymore than you do . "
" AVell , he AVUS ahA * ays a close chap , but yo'd bather tell bim that property is going up in the Isle of Man , and he'd as Avell come home nnd look after it . " So that AVtis the message I sent .
CHAPTER XIII
One evening , 11 I ' Aveeks later , 1 Avalked into Peel to buy some groceries for Mrs . Quilliam . It Avas curly . summer , and the country looked fresh and green . How Avell I recall each AA'ell-knoAvn scene . The river running lazily along to my right , Avith the IOAV sod
hedge between , and fields beyond , 3 * elloAv Avith gorse , while Slieu AVhallian rises steep ancl dark on 1113 * left ; the stream b y Ballamoar , where ferns grow abundantly—slender lady fern , sturdy hart ' stongue , delicate shield . The road turns now , and the trees meet over it , nnd J see Peel Hill standing out against the evening sky .
Iarther on is the olcl mill , and across the river the steep road leading up from Glenfaba . I have reached the top now , and Peel is in vieAV , and I look down on valley and riA-er . The olcl castle rises before me in the distance , the fishing licet standing out to sea . AVI 10 is this I sec coming towards me , his faco li g hted up with more than the light of the setting sun Y
Almost before I realise it is Evan , he has clasped 1113 * hand , and I cannot disguise thc joy in mj * face . " Have 3-011 come to meet me , Marcia ? " he says . 1 look up inquiringly , but have not spoken a AA ' ord 3 'et . " Ah , 3 * 011 did not get my letter , but 3 * 011 tiro glad to see mc ?
AVon't you 8113 * a Avord or AV el come '* A cart passes noisily along the road . A man and Avoman look at us curiously . My welcome could scarcel y IIIIA ' C been heard , but I think it AVUS enough . I think 1113 * face AVUS . sufficient without any words . " Ah , Marcia , we have wasted a year , " he says , after a while . " How do yon knoAv ? " I ask happily .
* ' I suspected even when you told me you A \ 'ould rather beg A'oin * bread , but 1 . AVUS afraid tif your pride and determined to wait a year . I thought you woultl be ready to come to 111 c then . " I told him what I bad thought about his offer , and he was amused" Poor little girl ! How could you bc -so foolish 'i I Avas 11 blunderer , but J fear you gitA'c me too much credit . I would never have had snch an unselfish thought . I loved you , Marcia—I can't remember the time when 1 didn ' t love you . Thro' all these
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
"Mrs. Quilliam."
" Well , aunt , " he said , as lie sat down , taking Tony on his knee , " I have taken my passage for this day week for America , and as I have business in Liverpool , I am off to-morrow morning . " I was leaving the room Avhen I heard this , and involuntarily stood still . I had not expected it so soon , and my heart sank liko lead .
" You re never goin in a hurry like that , ' Mrs , Quilliam remonstrated , " bless mc , I hevn' them stockins done yet . AAV , but AVC' 11 miss you terrible , we'll be longin' shockin ' . " " Wliere are you going , Uncle Evan ? " asked Tony . If its back to America I am going too , and so is Witch , for Ave couldn't do Avithout her , "
No , lony , you AVIII have to stay here to take care of Mammj Quilliam , " saiel Nanny . "No , I'll not , " answered Tony , resolutely . " Don't be naughty , Tony , little boys don ' t knoAV Avhat ' s good foi them , " Mrs . Quilliam observed , in her pious tone .
" I am not naughty , and you are a ugly olcl woman with cracks in your face , and I bate kissing you , " broke out the child , blazing into sudden passion . It was some time before he AVUS quieted , and put to bed in a repentant mood . I had gone into the parlour and Avas sitting idly gazing into the fire , when I heard a knock at the door . It AVUS Evan coming to say good-bye , I supposed .
"I havc a favour to ask 3 * 011 , Miss Lace , " lie began . I have to leave Tony behind , and if you will undertake his education , a great Aveight will be taken off' my mind . " My first impulse was to refuse . 1 felt that this also was done out of pity ; but after a time I AVIIS convinced by his representations that this would bc much better for the child , than for him to be sent amongst strangers , and 1 consented to take the charge . There Avas an awkward pause after this , Avhich I felt 1 must break .
1 AVISII you a pleasant passage and good-night . Am will have many things to do yet , I dare say . " " Good-bye , " he said , holding my hand . " Thank you for all your kindness . Will you sometimes think of me , and write and let me knoAV IIOAV Tony is getting on ?"
I made a hast y assent , and strove to free my hand . For a moment 1 looked into his eyes—there was no mistaking them this time . It was love I SHAA * there . But it was too late UOAV . In another moment 1 had said good-bye and be had gone .
CHAPTER XII A year had passed uneventfully . At lirst , it AA-US hard to go about my duties and keep my thoughts from dtvelling on what might have been . But 1 had p lenty of employment happily , and little leisure to dwell npon my mistake . I S ; IAV it p lainly enough noAV . I had spoilt my life by ray hasty pride . It AA'as little comfort
to know that 1 should regret it more than he for I decided that in HOAV scenes , be would soon forget me . Still , on the whole I was not unhappy even at first , for the thought that Evan loA * cd me , tho' it often made my heart ache for his presence , oftener matle it rejoice that he had chosen mc .
Mrs . Quilliam , I think , never tpiitc forgave me for my refusal . "Do you remember yanther night , " she said one evening , " when ye tirst heard of Holmes' Bank being broke ? Evan AVUS in tt terrible way for ye . ' I'd rather , ' says hc , ' have lost every penny , than that she should suffer . ' 'Can't you ask her to marry you ?' says I , ' that AVOUUI be makin' everything square . ' ' Impossible , ' says
he , " she wouldn ' have me . ' Chut , ' says 1 , 'Can't 3 * 0 ask her and see ? ' But I was wrong it seems . AAV , pride inn bad thing . I ' m thankful I ' ve got noane of it , tho' there ' s ones that ' s sayin' I ' m lioldin ' my head hig h , and I conic of good people on 1113 ' niaAvther ' s side , but we ' re all come from the same auld stock , and its not right to look down on nobody . "
"Mrs. Quilliam."
AVhen Nanny got on the subject of her own humility it AVIIS hard to stop her , and I went on Avith 1113 ^ OAVU thoughts . Had I overheard more or less that night ifc mi ght ha AX been different—but I must make the best of it IKW , and I would not let this mistake spoil my life . Very soon my spirits regained their usual buoyanc }' , and I AVUS content , if not happy .
Perhaps the arrival of the American mail helped in this . Every month it brought lAan ' s letters , und curried mine back . I Avrote freely , telling of all our pursuits , and perhaps he gathered hope from those letters . Perhaps it Avas Tony ' s doing . The child had learnt to Avritc very quickly , and one evening he asked mc if he mi ght send a letter of bis OAvn to Uncle Evan . This AA-as his letter : — "Dear Uncle , —Como hoame sune , 111 c and AVitch Avants 3 * 011 verry bad . "
Some time after a letter came which puzzled Mrs . Quilliam very much . " I left some property- in the Isle of Man which I thought valueless , could vou tell me if it is worth 1113- coming home to look after it ? "
" I naver kneAV he had bought any land , tlid 3-011 , Miss Marcia ? " Mrs . Quilliam asked , eyeing mo critically . " I could not keep from smiling as I replied , "I don't knoiv anymore than you do . "
" AVell , he AVUS ahA * ays a close chap , but yo'd bather tell bim that property is going up in the Isle of Man , and he'd as Avell come home nnd look after it . " So that AVtis the message I sent .
CHAPTER XIII
One evening , 11 I ' Aveeks later , 1 Avalked into Peel to buy some groceries for Mrs . Quilliam . It Avas curly . summer , and the country looked fresh and green . How Avell I recall each AA'ell-knoAvn scene . The river running lazily along to my right , Avith the IOAV sod
hedge between , and fields beyond , 3 * elloAv Avith gorse , while Slieu AVhallian rises steep ancl dark on 1113 * left ; the stream b y Ballamoar , where ferns grow abundantly—slender lady fern , sturdy hart ' stongue , delicate shield . The road turns now , and the trees meet over it , nnd J see Peel Hill standing out against the evening sky .
Iarther on is the olcl mill , and across the river the steep road leading up from Glenfaba . I have reached the top now , and Peel is in vieAV , and I look down on valley and riA-er . The olcl castle rises before me in the distance , the fishing licet standing out to sea . AVI 10 is this I sec coming towards me , his faco li g hted up with more than the light of the setting sun Y
Almost before I realise it is Evan , he has clasped 1113 * hand , and I cannot disguise thc joy in mj * face . " Have 3-011 come to meet me , Marcia ? " he says . 1 look up inquiringly , but have not spoken a AA ' ord 3 'et . " Ah , 3 * 011 did not get my letter , but 3 * 011 tiro glad to see mc ?
AVon't you 8113 * a Avord or AV el come '* A cart passes noisily along the road . A man and Avoman look at us curiously . My welcome could scarcel y IIIIA ' C been heard , but I think it AVUS enough . I think 1113 * face AVUS . sufficient without any words . " Ah , Marcia , we have wasted a year , " he says , after a while . " How do yon knoAv ? " I ask happily .
* ' I suspected even when you told me you A \ 'ould rather beg A'oin * bread , but 1 . AVUS afraid tif your pride and determined to wait a year . I thought you woultl be ready to come to 111 c then . " I told him what I bad thought about his offer , and he was amused" Poor little girl ! How could you bc -so foolish 'i I Avas 11 blunderer , but J fear you gitA'c me too much credit . I would never have had snch an unselfish thought . I loved you , Marcia—I can't remember the time when 1 didn ' t love you . Thro' all these
Ad02602
WINTER AND THE POOR . Field Lane Refuges and Ragged Schools WORK AMONGST THE POOREST CLASSES—50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE . Tlie Committee earnestly appeal I ' or Funds to enable tlieni to continue their beneficent WOrk . WI > IIVIT \ T Tn ? r M i T t * „ i ¦ - . 1 700 to 800 Christmas Dinners for the Homeless . hrJiClAL MliLr is asked ior so that the ^ . „ ^^^^ . ^ ,, ... ., Dmner for 600 Deserving Families . Committee may provide __ __ . _ . _ „;; .- T > „ , .,, J New Year s Dinner for 800 Poor Children . FUNDS are also urgently needed for "The Refuges for the Homeless Poor . " £ AI ()()() required before Christmas . Ji ! i :. \ .-i i : i : it . WII . I- 'llllJ . \ . liKVAX . Kst * . HANKKIIS , JIKSSIIS . HAHCLAY , IJI'VAX , & Co ., ol , l . onil . ni-il St rot l , N . C ami 1 , hill . Mull Knsl , S . W SKIHI - . TAIIV , Jlit . I'KIIK'IIIINK I'l . ATT , Kit-lil bum * Institution , Vint- Strcvt , Clerl-a-mvcll Uoad , K . C . II )* any of whom Contributions will Ije thankfully rocoivod .