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

think Dorcas has done 1t all. der IN
huence has been wonderful"
"She deserves great deal of credit, l
am sure" said Mr.. Paley. 81 should like
to see her and thank her. I've brought q
few presents for her-a warm shawl,
silver snuff box and black stuff gown. !"
DR.. Defer gasped little. .
'.She-I don't think she takes snuff
said he, feebly.
"All these nurses do"
"Yes-but there she is now"
The door opened and Dorcas Wynter
came in, carrying student lamp, which
she had Just filled and trimmed anew:
Mr.. Paley dropped the silver snuff box
IN establishment.
Il beg your pardon, l am surel' STAN
mered he.
And when the doctor suggested that
the nurse had better accompany young
GUY on the journey home she assented
without remonstrance.
Nurse, indeedr' said Miss Sophronia
Paley, a gaunt, high featured damsel OF
80. "As if pretty simpering chit OF
thing like that could understand anything
about nursingp
brick, Aunt Soph. And l dent believe
| should be alive now If it wasn't for her.
"You are quite well enough by this
time to dispense with her services, said
Miss Sophronia. "a boy that eats the
quantity of mullins and plum jam that
you did at tea last night cannot call him
self an invalid any longer. She has been
here month, and
But she's not to go away for all that,
Aunt Soph," said Guy, who was devourlng
roasted chestnuts like dragon. ASK
papa. She's to be Mrs Paley one Of these
Mrs. Paley" Aunt Sophronia turned
green and yellow. "It's come to that,
then, has it? Well. I've suspected it this
some time. And all I've got to say is
Seven years from now" said Guy, with
his mouth full of chestnuts, Il shall be
81, and she will be &C. Not enough diff
ference to signify. And" he uttered with
grin, as his aunt iounced wrathfully
out of the room, you'll get your walking
ticket, old lady, when I'm married! Id
as soon have a deaths head and bones
around the place any time"
He was sitting curled up in the easiest
chair in the library, reading book, half
an hour afterwards, when the door opened,
and his father came ill.
Something in the paternal glance and
movement struck the boy.
Il never saw father look so young and
bright before, he thought. something
must have pleased him very much. Per
haps Aunt Soph is going to marry some
old fogy or other, and the coast will be
clear"
80 you knew all about it, Guy?" said
Mr.. Paley, laughing.
About what, SIR"
About my engagement.
The book fell with crash to the floor
Your what, father"
cat least YOU told Aunt Sophronia
about it. Well, I'm glad you are pleased,
my boy, and Dorcas says she will always
love you as if you were her own son. AS
a general thing, don't approve of step
mothers, but you and Dorcas love each
other so dearly that Why, Guy, what
is the natter" for the boy had rushed
out of the room with an odd suffocating
sensation in his throat.
He met DOrcas coming up the garden
path with bunch of scarlet holly berries
in her hand.
"Dorcas, he cried, "Dorcas, you are as
false as the serpent woman! You beau
| She comprehended him in an instant,
though his voice was choked into silence.
She flung away the scarlet cluster, and
put her arms tenderly about him.
Dear Guy" she whispered, 81 love
him. but if you are unwilling-if Intakes
away any of the home feeling for you, it
only remains for you to say so, and"-
Her voice died away, her head dropped
on his shoulder
There was an instants silence, and then
Guy said bravely:
"Well, so let it be- My father is
trump, and you are the only woman alive
who is worthy of him. And l suppose
people would say six years was too much
difference in our ages, although how
they're to get over the fifteen years be-
tween you and father don't know" he
added, with forced laugh. And then
and there Guy Paley learned his first les
son in self abnegation-
Dorcas picked up her holly berries and
went into the library where her promised
| husband stood.
Il have just seen Guy" she said.
Isn't he pleased?'
Yes, think he is, hesitated Dorcas.
Guy is a strange bOy-a noble nature
| am not sure, Horace, she added, with q
dimness in her eyes, that l would have
married you if I could not always have
had Guy with me-"
And my true wife will be Guys true
mother!' said Mr.. Paley, drawing Dorcas
tenderly to his side.