San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

the magnificent piano, and for the next
| five minutes / seemed to be far away,
down in the old home, as forgot where
I was, In singing my poor dead fathers
fayorite ballad, /" robin Adair;' while,
as finished, had hard work to keep
back the tears. .......-...
"Ro-bin A-dair," she sang, as !
rose, in not unpleasing voice. 4" Now
let me hear you read. always make
nv companion read to me q, great deal /;
and mind this, hate to hear any drone
like schoolgirl. Go over there into
the corner Of the window and stand
there. Take that book; you'll find the
mark left in where Miss Belleville bah!
| believe her name was Stubs and her
father green-grocer-left Oft. Now
then, begin" 3lL CO., 7 r.'
She pushed a lounge-chair close up to
the window and sat down with her
hands in her muff, while stood there,
feeling like schoolgirl and ready to
drone, as l began to read with faltering
voice what happened to be ,Thackeray's
most beautiful chapter-The death OF
poor old Colonel Newcombe. l know
my voice trembled at times, and q
strange sense of choking came upon me
as l went on battling, oh, so hard to
read those piteous heal t-stirring lines!
but was weak and suffering,I was
faint with hunger and exertion, sick
with that despair of hope deferred, and
at last the room, with its costly furni-
ture, seemed to swim round before me,
"a cold perspiration bathed my face, and
with q weary sight i caught feebly at
the curtains and then fell heavily upon
the polished floor. '-"'-
1 have some faint memory of being
lifted and wheeled in chair whose cas-
tors l heard chirrup to the front of. the
fire, and then, as my senses began to
return, seemed to feel arms around
me and pleasant voice saying, half
aloud: p diH.r =
"And she Just lost her poor father,
too-to set her to read such a thing as
that! I declare I'm about the wicked
est, most thoughtless and unfeeling
woman under the sum-"
Then there was the refreshing odor of
q vinaigrette, and the sick feeling be-
gan to pass away. .....,..,. .., ...,.-.f
ell beg pardon" I faltered, try
ing to rise.
7'I beg yours, my DEAR" she said,
tenderly. "Sit still, sit still. Now,
then, try and drink that ~. le,8.
Some sherry was held to my lips, and
then l was almost forced to eat a bis
cult. They, however, rapidly revived
me, and found Mrs. Porter had torn
off her bonnet and mantle and was kneel-
ing by my side. ..... j '9
"That's better, my dear,';' she said,
smiling at me, as she passed her arm
round me and drew me nearer to her
and kissed me in gentle, motherly
way. And now this was too much, for
was weak and hysterical. l could !
fight against harshness, but her tender
words and ways unlocked the flood.
gates of my grief, and l laid my head
1own and sobbed as if my heart would
break "a at.,. r... .. .... ... II
An hour later, after she had literally
orced me to partake of the breakfast
hat was ordered up she sat beside me,
holding my hand, and more than once
saw the tears steal down her pleasant
ace as she won from me, bit by bit, the
tory of my troubles andmy bitter strug-
lies here in town. Il. .".'... .'t
At last l rose to go, trembling and ex-
,ectant. Would she engage me? 1t
vas more than l dared to hope.
"Sit still, my child" she said tender
y. cit has pleased God to7make me-
childless, widowed woman-His
toward over much wealth, and if | did
lot make this home for one of His
lambs | should be a
worse woman than | think l am. Stay
With me; we shall bethe best of friends.
stayed-stayed to know her real
worth and to win her motherly love-
tayed to find, when John Murray re-
urned, that his love was greater for my
lister than for me, and patiently resign
d my love to her, and then battled with
long illness when they had gone to-
ether to the far-otf home. But every !
ay gave me new lesson on not judg-
ng too hastily. That is ten years since;
nd am still in my peaceful happy ,
ome, though only /" as companion to a ;
ldy. "-CasseH's Magasine.nab . ,