Gratia's Trials — page 78: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* : ~ > “i? 1 . 4 ~~. GRATIA’'S TRIALS. 69 curé a more trustworthy maid than Natalie has proved her- self.” Gratia colored high with shy gratification, as she turned to carry little {Ida to the hotel, murmuring a word or two of assent. ‘“ What's your name?” asked Ida, gravely, ‘*Gratia Kempfield.” ‘‘ Gratia—Gratia !” repeated the little girl. ‘It’s a pretty name. Ilikeit. Ilike you, Gratia.. I wish you’d stay and be my nurse.” Gratia hardly knew what response to make to this startling overture, ‘* Perhaps your mamma wouldn't like it,” said she. “Oh, I havent got any mamma,” said Ida, innocently. ‘Didn't you know it? My mamma died when I was a “e-tle, fee-ny baby. If I'd: had a mamma, she wouldn’t have let me fall down the area steps and hurt my leg so I have to walk with a crutch. Oh, dear !”—with sudden remembrance—‘‘ and my crutch is gone, too. It’s lost in the water.” ‘*Never mind,” said Gratia; ‘‘you can easily get. another I? one. | At this moment the-father of the child joined them, and took Ida in his own strong, tender arms. ‘My jewel,” he whispered, softly, ‘‘my little, dark-eyed lamb, whom I had so nearly lost. It makes me tremble when I think of the danger you have so narrowly escaped.” ‘‘Papa, don’t cry, faltered Ida, herself moved to new tears through the impulse of sympathy. ‘‘1 was ‘most drowned, but Gratia pulled me out of the water. Papa, can Gratia be my nurse now?” The gentleman colored and looked a little embarrassed. Gratia comprehended his dilemma in an instant. ‘‘Tam one of the chambermaids at the Ocean Wave, sir,” she said, herself turning scarlet. ‘‘I happened by good for- tune to be on the shore at the moment when ico Gomicbooks (E(0) lm;