San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-31
HIS STEPMOTHER.

as II some GEM Were udSullS pans Va
water against the easements.
'It's rain, Guy. The equinoctial storm,
you know"
"And that dreary moaning down the
chimney-is it windf"
The boy shivered little and drew the
bedclothes up around his chin. The red
flames from the blazing log on the hearth
danced up and down like a magic lantern;
the shaded lamp burned steadily on the
table. Dorcas Wynter stitched quietly
away at her sewing without looking up.
1T must be an awful tempest, Dorcas,
uttered the lad, as fresh gust Of wind
seemed to shake the octagonal tower to
its very foundations.
ut is, Guy. l heard old Capt. Lake
say that the tide had not been so high
since the year the Royal Victoria was
wrecked off Paine Point"
at is better to be here, even with
broken leg" said Guy Paley, slightly lift
ing his eyebrows, than out at sea in
such blow as thisH'
"a good deal better, Guy"
Not that I'm coward Dorcas" cried
the boy. There are worse things than
storm at sea, and l have an instinct that
shall be a sailor yet. But this sickness
has taught me, this sickness and you,
Dorcas, that it's better to go for thing
in an honest, straightforward way, than
to try to reach it by sneaking. But al
ways supposed it was a fine thing to run
away to sea, or else | shouldn't have tried
the get-out of the window-by midnight
dodge and broken my leg. I'm wiser now"
Dorcas smiled at him with melting
hazel eyes and rose red lips, revealing
line of pearls.
"Poor Guyl" said She ut was hard
lesson, wasn't itT'
81 think | needed it, Dorcas. If ever
there was a thorough paced young
ruffian it was l." groaned the boy.
"But, you see, nobody ever talked to
me- Seedlings without end | got, grant
you, but no one talked common sense to
me before You are the only one who
seemed to think me worth reasoning with;
and you shall see, Dorcas, that am worth
the trouble. Once Pm up from this scrape
III tackle my lessons in real earnest and
try to do something better. And, say,
Dorcas"-
eyes, Guy2"
You're the prettiest girl ever saw"
Nonsense, Guy"
'Oh, but you are! and the sweetest and
most sensible. | can't think how you
ever came to be housemaid in a place
like this"
Dorcas colored a little.
Shall tell you, Guy? l came as gov
erness to the primary department, but l
had no discipline, they told me. The
younger boys did exactly as they pleased.
I've always thought that Mrs. Vail, who
succeeded to the position, had something
to do about the bad reports of my mis-
management that reached DR.. Delfer's
ears. But that can't be proved; neither
can it be helped. was alone here and
friendless, and was glad to accept va
cant position under the housekeeper to
mend linen, care for the occasional cases
in the infirmary and make myself gener-
ally useful"
II knew you were lady" exultantly
cried the boy. Il could see it in your
face"
II would rather you would call me a
true woman, Guy, than lady, said Dor
cas-, moving the lamp few inches farther
back, so that the light would not shine in
Guys eyes.
but say, Dorcas, how old are your"
Rather young, l am afraid Guy-only
nineteen"
And am fourteen, Dorcas. Will you
wait seven years for mel?
"Guyp
"Ishall be twenty -one then, and my own
master" eagerly added the boy; and III
work like slave to get a good profession,
and if you will marry me, Dorcas, I'll
make the best husband that ever was to
you, for I'm desperately in love with you,
that am"
Dorcas burst into laughter.
Guy" she said, what a child you
are"
But you do love me, don't you"
Eyes, of course love you; but not a
bit more than do Cecil Parker or little
frankie Gaines"
"Dorcas!'
well, trihe more perhaps, because
I've had all the care of you these four
weeks, and you've really behaved very de-
Gently, but
Promise me, Dorcas."
II won't, Guy"
"Were engaged, all the same" said
Guy, with deep sigh of relief; ''it's a
bargain. And now you may get me my
Cruel"
Eyes, Mr.. Paley," said DR.. Defer, with
a nod of his specialized brows, that wild
bow of yours is different creature. And
the infrmary nurse has done it all. Not
to mention the credit the doctor gives hel
for keeping down the fever and managing
the troublesome splints. He was the
worst boy in the school. l don't minc
admitting to you now that was contem
plating expeiling him from our mem
bers."
"Guv always was a wild sort Of chap,
admitted Mr.. Paley. "But his aunt'
spoiled him. He never had any bringing