The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-05-08

we must De UP Dy suh-lltc 70 httehu W
the hay"
Hut pretty Kate remained with her
brother.
"vane," she said, "go-go and bo a gen.
tlcman. 1 wish some lady would offer In
the Same way to adopt me. I should not
DO long In deciding. Go aud be gentle
man, Nane."
The two had walked to the end Of tho
lime.ttees, aud stood 10 King over tho
white gate that gave access To the cloyerc
fields. The air was heavy with summer
dcws and fragrance, the moon had risen,
and graceful shadows lay over the grass
The beauty Of tue pale moonlight touched
the boys heart, 80 full Of longing and am
btion.
alt would not be Of much use for me to
be u gentleman, Kate, II could never
come home 10 be one Of you again"
"What would 1t matter about being ono
OF usY You would he u gentleman aud In
time you might marry harJory Lynn"
The boys face flushed.
81 must not think about MarJory Lynn"
he said, "whrn go out into the world To
work"
elf you say NO. vAno, you will be sor-
~ for It all your life afterwards; Of that
l am quite sure. lie wise and be warned
| In tune"
u
love all Of you. l shall not like 10 leave
yOu.s
"Think how much you could do 70 help
us II you were a gentleman. You could
keep father and mother without work,
| Desford could have tho farm, and well,
l could bo lady, Vano Why should 1
potf"
"Loavc me Katc, I should like To think
| IL over alone" he said. "Good night,
pretty sister, happy drcamsp
"Lot me be- a lady, Nano," she request
cd, as she kissed him aud len him alone
in the moonlight
The whisper Of tho wind among tho
lines, tho rustic OF tho long grass, the
rush OF tho water In tho mlll-stroam, tho
song Of tho birds, all came to him like long
forgotten musio-swoct familiar sounds
that helped to mako up what he called
homo; his fathers kindly rugged yoiee,
his mothers sweotor tones, and Marjory
Lynn's musical laughter were mixed with
them. There came before him tho quaint
old-fashioned farmhouse, with Its homo
legends, tho HOLLYWOOD Forest, tho river
Mead, aud the grand old BAndon hills
How no loved them ALL His heart seemed
to warm and cling to them as It never
could TO any other pscc. Should he leave
them for tho great unknown worldi
lilo loved his father -ho understood his
sterling honesty and simplicity, his kindly
rough manner-his mother too, with her
gentle pride and loving heart. lie loved
his pretty sister, and had a genuine aiiec-
ton for his brother Could ne give them
all up, and In all probability cut himself
of from themi The dream Of riches and
power was sweet, but the love Of home
was sweeter.
II he said "No," how dreary aud Hat all
the rest OF his life would seem to him -
lie would do nothing but spend II at homo
In work that was most distasteful 10 him
self and almost useless to others. Yet, he
thought, he would remain with those who
loved him, safe IN the haven OF home
Then the great gifts tnst Heaven had given
10 him stirred his soul, and lie felt that he
must go out into the world and use thom.
One voice, the voice OF home and kindred,
babe him stay, thousand other voices
urged him to 20. On his decision the rest Of
his life depended. II seemed to his excit-
ed fancy us though the whole wOrl Of ma
ture stood still while he decided on what
he should do with his life.
"StayW cried home-lovc.
"GoW cried the voices of pride and am.
bition; and the boy, listening to them said
10 himself that he would ego"
His parents said little when he an.
nounced his decision, his fathers hands
trembled slightly, and his mothers face
paled.
"You have the right to please yourself
Vane," said the old farmer. "You are
going TO be a gentleman. To my mind the
truest gentleman in the world is the one
who honors the place where Heaven has
placed him. You will never be gentle
man In my eyes II you live to be ashamed
OF your home and your kindredp
al never shall do that, father-neyerP
no answered proudly; while his mother
looked at him with tender yearning In hei
eyes.
"For your own sake am glad you are
going" she said; "but my heart will b.
empty, Vane. never knew how much
loved you, or how proud | was Of you un
til now. l know you will never forge
u.s."
So Vane Fraser had decided his fato, ant
resolved on trying his strength.
Gravely enough the farmer and his wifi,
waited on Sir Raye, to tell him that theil
son had made up his mind TO accept his Of
fer.
al think" said Sir Rayo Wharf, oh,
has decided most wisely. Such great tai
ents are given to be used"
At the same time the emotion In the ole
farmers face and the quiyering lips OF thu
mother touched him with keen pity ant
compassion.
There was great deal of silent grie
during the next few days at the farm
There were no preparations 10 make; Si
Raye had told them that as they wen
through London he would get all vane re
quired. And they quite understood wha
he meant-that nothing they could &c
for him would be Of any use.
II the farmers face was clouded and hi
wife shed many tears, no one noticed it.
Desford, in his stolid, silent fashion, sale
nothing.
Kate was wildly excited because Van,
was going to be gentleman; tho pros
pect seemed to open yistas OF delight u
her.
The summer morning came whom Van
rose early and went to the mill-stream, Il
the beautiful banks OF the river, to Hol
wood Forest, and round the meadows u
say goodbye 10 each and all the lovely ia
miliAr spots he had known from his child
hood. The time for his departure wa
, come; and now he stood In blaze OF Jul.
sunlight, aud babe goodbye TO father All,
mother, sister and brother, kindred an,
home.
"You will be gentleman when yol
come back, Nanc," said Kate.
, ado not forget u.s." cried his mother
and there was ring Of passionate pain il
, her voice. "Comc DAck TO us my darling