The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-05-08
LOVE CoNoUERs.
ny THE AUTHOR or "DonA THoRNR,"
ga ROSE IN THonNs," ETC.

simple mother: aud Kate unconsctously
smOothed her ripping hair as ho drew
near.
But Sir I,nye had no eyes for oven the
fairest OF maidens. lie mover saw tie dark
beautiful face WITH It's fosc-like hue. lie
took a seat 10y thc i.racs's side. A large
green bougb hung 80 low that he was conn
PEELED to thrust ID ASIDE DciOTe he could
see the group of ftccs.
al am glad TO niece ,uu all together" lie
said. al have pro- position 10 make that
II will he best lor you All 10 hear"
alt has nothing 10 d0 with my pretty
Kate" sighed the mother.
'lf he wants me H. uuy steam pillow,
shall not do it," Thought ,uo farmer; while
the beautiful face vf Tue younger son
flushed and paled.
"For some few days | have been think
| ing over what | have to say, aud how |
should best say it," ,aid Sir Rayo. "lou
know that leave you next week, strong
aud well, thanks ~ tue b,acing air and to
your kind care"
Something like murmur Of regret came
from the lips Of the comedy matron. The
| farmer still held his glass In the air.
"lou will follow me In what am going
| to say. You -'ould think II u sad pity TO
shut up In n dark box, where Its beauty
and perfume would Ice lost, a flower with
| brilliant cOlOrs and sweet smell"
"To be sure" said the farmer, with
nod-"to be sure"
"lf bird has strong pinions, and can
cut tho air like sharp knife with its
wings, you would think 1t sad to shut up
such bird in cage, where the strong
wings could never expand"
alt would be cruel" said the farmers
wife, with unmistakablc emphasis.
ain like Manner" continued Sir Rayo,
'if young man has great gifts, an artists
soul, thirst for knowledge, talents that
will make themselves known, the Will and
the power TO raise himself high above hi,
fellow-mon, do you not think II quite ~
sad to see such ono tied down to soma
commonplace lifey"
lie saw tho first faint dawn Of awaknins
fear In the mothers face, the first iluttof
Of pride aud ambition; and he saw thu
first sign Of dlsapproyal in the face OF thu
old farmer. Instinct rather than reasoi
told them what was coming.
"That Ia the case with your boy Vano,s
said Sir Raye. "lo your son has been Civ,
en- great talent. 1t would he cruol TO tic
him down to the routine Of fArm-life; fol
he has no taste for 1t, and never will have
Let him try his wings, let him fly away.
from the home nest, and work his way,
which prophesy will be triumphant
one, and lead him 10 great honors. Now
make this offer. I am lonely man. l
all the wide world there Is not ono creature
who calls me kinsman; there Is not one
who loves or cares for me. i have no
brother to be proud Of the honors have
won, and have no son to succeed me. l
am alone In the world"
There was a ring OF pain and passion in
his voice which might have touched any
one.
"My proposition is this" he resumod.-
81 see in vano Fraser, your son, gifts and
talents that will, IL cultivated, make
him n leader amongst men. Having
no son Of my own, l will adopt him
l will take him home with me, and edu-
cate him In those arts and sciences for
which he has most taste. | will instruct
him In my profession, for which he appears
TO have special aptitude. lie shall be to
mo an adopted son. A grand career, a
magnificent future lies open 10 him; but
there arc few conditions to which his pa
rents must consent before 1 can carry out
my scheme"
The summer air stirred the limo-boughs,
half-prophetic shadow came over the
mothers comoly face, while the farmer,
suddenly remembering that his glass was
In the air, emptied 1t with n look Of most
profound wisdom.
"The conditions wish to make" con-
tinued Sir Raye-"and you must think
them over well before you decide as to
their acceptance or rejection--are these
First, If your son leaves you at all, he
leaves you forever. After teaching, train
ing, and looking upon him as my son, 1
could not tolerate tho idea Of his return
ing here and leaving me. lilo must give
up home II he comes with me-"
"That seems hard" said the farmer
And the mother shook her head slowly.
"Hard, | grant; still It is Just. II I
adopt him and bring him up lls my son, l
shall not care to know that some day he
may leave me, aud that all my trouble will
have been in VAIN"
Vane's face grew pale, and his lips quiv
cred. lie did not speak, but looked al
his mother the whole time.
al should treat him as though he
were my own son; 1 should wish that be
would take my name. Let him be called
Vane Fraser Wharf. Unless am greatly
mistaken in him, he will ennoble any
name. Understand me rightly. 1 air
neither cruel nor unkind. l do not fol
one moment say that you arc never 10 SOC
the boy again, never to hear of or fron
him, or anything of the kind. lie car
write to you as often rs he will; he car
come and see you when he wishes. But
to all intents and purposes you must give
him up. II he acts as 1 believe he will
he will one day stand foremost In the rank
OF men, and then 1t might be TO his dis
advantage to have his origin known; Il
might In that case be against him."
The farmer In a low duh voice said
"My son will never be ashamed OF hii
parents.
"No," returned Sir Raye; "he nevel
,, need be ashamed Of you. But 1t is posi-
BILE that, If he makes a great name In tn,
world, his lowly origin may be agains
him. If you give me the boy at all, yoi
!. must give him to me entirely. am sur,
you will see the wisdom of 1t. give 20,
three days in which to consider; and thoI
you can let me know your decision."-
With these words by way Of conclusion
lie stood up, bowed, and moved away.
CHATTER III.