San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-28

brick walls Of the parsonage.
All along the white road people are going
10 church. They do not look particularly
devOut nor very anxious to get there, but the
dccp-toned bell is calling out relentlessly,
and though they fain would stay at home
with plenty of fans and iced drinks, still
their conscience and the bell have brought
them to step gingerly along the white, dusty
road.
Helen, who has been wondering iffOr once
she could not break through her rule and
stay at home from church, is amazed on en-
tcring her sisters room to find that young
lady carefully adjusting her Sunday hat,
preparatory TO joining the tlIrong of church
gOcrS.
you do not mean to say you are going to
church,! cries Mis-. Rodney, aghast What
new freak pOSSeS1tS You"
as ii so very unusual for me to go TO
church," says the other, half pettishly.
But what is your 0bject-you who never
go"' returns her sister, walking to the win
dow and staring vaguely out at the hot,
white road. And on this br0iling day too.
Whew! the air seems rs hot HS the sun"
She is leaning her arms upon the window
Sill; the little warm ZcphyIS are PLAYING
hido-and-seek among her bright, brown
day. The huge drlgOn-ilipS are too warm to
even buzz: they have divcd far down in the
honey suCkle flowers, seeking shelter there.
About the river banks and on its limpid
waters tired Iookmg flies and many insight
ly insects are stalking. The flowers one and
all have drOOprd their pretty heads and
above
The sunbcUms ficrcely beat
And the silent hills and forest tops seem
reeling in the heat
Eleanor has completed her toilet entirely
to her own satisfaction, and now turns half
sharply to her sister:
Are you going or not? 1t is late and
DOME is waiting"
on, yes Yes, cries poor Helen rising to
her feet with a litt,c~hc sigh. Not for
worlds would she be outdOne by this Dolce
far niCTtG."
So five minutes later finds them marching
along the kings highway The minister
never rides 10 church. If not a day of rest
for him, it is certainly one for his faithful
serving little horse.
They have reached the church, and walk
slowly with hu'hCd footsteps up the soft
carpcted aisle to take their places in the
dark, highbacked pew. Miss Hathwell is a
good deal stared at to-day, but she does not
seem to observe it.
The service wears on; the minister's grave
voice reads OF with slow mOnOtOny. Flea
nor falls TO thinking what good man he is
as she sits looking at him in the soft church
light. A stray sunbeam has crept through
the blind, and is resting like a halo on his
silver hair. 1t must be blessed thing to be
good.
She glances around at the scattered con-
grcgatiOn. There are not many; some ear
nest, some wholly Indifferent All are fan
ming.
The sermon is well advanced Daisy lies
with her head pillOwed in her mothers lap,
sleeping as only children can sleep. Helen
is nOddIng, too. She has not meant to, but
this drOwSy stiffness is too much for her.
Most of the others are following her exam
pie.
Eleanor is not nOdding. She is staring
out of the window on to the covered fields
and fair, green pasture lands, about which
the COWS are wandering.
And now the benedictien is pronounced,
and they file slowly out Daisy has been
awakened and is Sleepily rubbing her blue
eyes. On the steps they pause to wait for
MI Hathwell and Helen says inquistiyely:
"WhO in the world were you looking for
in church. Nell? You stared first one way
and then the other. Who was It?''
"WhO should be looking for? retOrts The
other sharply; 50 SHARPLY that Helen with
good deal of sagacity. decides that her sister
was looking for some one.
But indeed, she might have spared herself
the search, for the object of it is at present
lying on his back in the coolest spot of the
Professors lawn, with brandy and soda at
his elbow, and the smoke of a fragrant cigar
curling upwards from his lips.
They walk slowly hOmeward, the minister
and Helen in front Eleanor and weary
Daisy bringing up the rear. Mrs. Rodney,
turning, sees that some one has Joined her
sister-a young man with an eager, happy
face.
81 watched you all through church," he is
Saying joyfully. did you see me%'
NO"
81 thought of throwing my prayer book at
yOu," he goes on. 81 cOughcd most con-
but you would not look at me-"
II did not even hear you
She is so terribly disappointed. She wishes
he would not talk to her so necessarily, but
she may as well wish for the sun to stop
shining
"How inattentve you WERE" staring with
glad, eager eyes at her fair, young face.
"You looked out of the window throughout
the entire sermon"
"And what Were you doing|' she returns,
rousing herself to something like attention.
"You are in a glass house, remember"
lie laughs. "Oh, but | was looking at
pOu," he says simply.
She frowns This homage bOres her. and
she does not know what 10 say.
They have reached the gate, and the min
ister turning, sees her companion and well
comes him heartily.
"Ah, Mr.. Allen, come in and dine with
us, won't you? It's true we have not much
on Sunday, but you will excuse minister's
little hobby, and my girls will make it up
for you with welcomes. Eli, Helen?"
Eyes, do stay" says Mrs. Rodney gra-
ciously.
The young man hesitates and glances at
Eleanor. She does not appear to have heard
them; she is watching Trico, who is making
frantic efforts to break from his chain, and
so rush to spring upon her with eager well
comes.
THANK you, sir, believe 1 WILL" says
Allen.
He has not strength to refuse so charming
an invitation. So, blissfully unconscious of
the frown which darkens his dear lady's
brow, he walks up the path beside her.
II Is four o'clock. They have eaten their
cold mutton and partaken of small, sweet
cakes and sherbet The minister has de-
parted, Helen has disappeared, and Eleanor
and her lover are alone.
He has persuaded her TO come out among
the great ox-eyed daisies and red clover bios