San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-24
CONTINUED. Commenced April 2l.l
GUYS CHORISTER.


them. When last h" had seen her, She had
been standing there, her apron at her eyes,
as she waved a farewell to Master Guy"
The old feelings of love and sorrow crept
into his heart as he took her wrinkled hand.
Here too Fides had fingered, sobbing as if
her heart would break, while her grandfath-
er stood beside her. stern and cold.
For moment the lOdge-keeper did not
recognize him; then she welcomed him joy
fully. lie spoke to her for little while of
her own affairs, then he asked about the boy
Harry SisSOn.
She shook her head
81 don't rightly know, Mr. Guy" she said
dOubtfully. There be such rare lot now
up there at the Hall that can't fairly tell
zee who is and who isn't. There be Brown,
know; but that can't be him, for he be the
butler and fifty, if he be day; and there be
Stay-yeS, there do be a SSsOnl For do
remember now that t'Other day Miss Fides-
whose only fault. bless her, b. that she have
taken your place, Master Guy-MiSs Fides
she coined home the other day with a little
lad all in rags with great blue eyes. And |
heard them tell at the lodge that she had
found him starvin like, and had stripped
him of his rags and put him into page-bOy's
suit and keeps him now to run errandseS for
her, and wash her pug-dogs, and feed her
pOll-parrOts and such like. And they do tell
me she be much set on him, and have called
him Granny Mead, though why | don't
know, when his name be SissOn."
That must be the boy Guy HalIam said.
"HOw glad | shall be to find him! Can you
send to fetch him for me, Mrs. Savage
She shook her head.
"Why, bless you, sir, | amt got no one to
send now! All the little 'uns-leastwise
what you remember little 'uns-are growed
up and married or out at service now. And
| suppose | shall stay here and open the gates
myself till | grow too stiff to do it, and they
come and put me under the daisies alongside
o my old man. But why don't you go up to
the Hall yourself, Master Guy? I'm sure, if
anybody has a right, it's your
II don't wish TO meet the ladies'" he an
swered. yet"
IF that's ALL you needn't be afraid. for
they've both gone out for the day. Miss
Fides told me they wouldn't be back till late,
and said was to 90 to bed when was tired
for | suffer SOrey with the rOOmaticS-as
they would come in by the other lodge"
Then will go and make inquiries" he
decided. ''GOOd-byeT
He strobe little way up the long drive,
and then turned on the well-remembcred
lawn. The way led past little plantation
to the terraces of Deepdene, which were all
ablaze with color. lie stopped and looked
at the dear old walls he loved so well, the
walls that were his birthright.
lie stood just beside the window of the
muslc-rOOm. 1t was open, and, with the
memory of his mother strong upon him, he
I,,4
organ stood open, and Oh it lay some music
which in moment he recognized as his.
InvOluntarily he laid his fingers on the KEYS
-invOluntarily began to play. The twilight
was deepening fast into dusk, and an eerie
feeling crept over him as the great room re-
echoed with the organs tones.
Again he struck the prelude Of the marvel
lOuS song, and again, with sense of bewil-
delment and almost awe, he heard the glOri-
Gus voice take up the words, "lntreat me not
to leave thee"
Almost mechanically he played through
the song to the end, then he turned round
slowly and faced the singer
IL was FideS GrimswOld.
Into his eyes there came look of bewil-
derment since his chOrsters voice. unmis-
taxable and unique, had echoed through the
room; now there was no one there but his
cousin, the original of his priced portrait
Sweeter than ever he had pictured her, she
stood with soft lace wrapped mantilla-fash-
ion round her small head.
"l-l-beg your pardon for being here" he
stammered. They told me there was no
chance of my seeing you, or l should not
have trespassed. You must forgive"
Her eyes lit up with CLEAN of supreme
triumph.
"0nly on condition that you play me the
next page" she said cOnstrainedly.
lie turned and Obeyed her bidding won
deringly
Look round now sir" she said; and, as
he heard the natural tones of her voice, his
heart gave wild thrOb.
He faced her slowly. Had he lost his
senses? The mantilla had dropped from her
head, and showed short-cropped silky curls
beneath, and she had thrown over her shout
ders white garment that had lain beside
her. There in the shadows OF Deepdene. as
in the sunlight of Downbury, stood Guy Hal
lam's chOrster
She held out both her hands with charm
ing gesture.
Don't you know me now, Guy? Can't
you recognize me- though my face and
hair are not darkened? How much more
shall have to tell your she added, almost
In whisper.
He clasped the slender fingers.