San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-03


little effort; for the quiet, earnest youth
was tall and very handsome, and would
graduate with honors; in consideration
of which attractions his earnestness might
easily be forgiven, even, indeed, If the
earnestness itself had not q certain charm
Of its own, as at least novelty. So, if Rob-
ert had pleased her, and she had pleased
Robert, unlike each other, as they were,
and everybody acknowledged that it was
O perfect love match on both sides, why
might it not be possible that she would
please Roberts relations? though not so
much as a slipper bow would she sacri-
fice from her pleasant worldliness to
secure that much to be desired result.
As it CHANGED, test of her resolution
In this respect was offered Immediately.
Mrs. Marvin and Edith had hardly been
shown to their chamber, after their ar
rival ct the Longworth home, before
Edith opened her travelling bag and ex-
claimed in disinay:
''Oh, dear!T oh, dear! Mamma, my
slate pencil is all broken into bits, and
my crimps are all out of curl. Whatever
shall do? Oh, know! Esther said she
would be in the next room If wanted
anything s--
In another minute she was tapping at
Esther's door.
81 am so sorry to trouble you, but my
slate pencil is all broken to bits in my
bag. Could you let ME have one of
yours
Thee would like a slate pencil?" said
Roberts serene sister, with evident be-
wildermcnt.
"Yes, for my crimps, you know, they
are all out of curl and so tumbled that l
can't possibly 60 down stairs looking So"
"But could thee not comb them out? I
could lend thee comb to comb them
out"
II could, of course, but you've no idea
what fright l am without my crimps.
Robert never saw me with my hair
straight, and know he would hate to
have his mother see me unless l was
looking my very. very best. OF course,
you know, have another bang in my
trunk" Edith made this frank confess
sion with a wild instinct that it would be
best for Roberts relatives to know the
worst at once, SO that any possible con-
cessions to be made afterward, though
she would not yet acknowledge the pos
sibility of concession, would strike them
in the light of unexpected improvement,
"but my trunk hasn't come; 50 if you
could lend ME pencilp'
IL am afraid have no slate pencil"
faltered Esther.
well, pipe would do; haven't you
pipe handler Just a common white
pipe, such as the children have for soap
bubbles, you know"
IF thee will wait a moment l will
see" said the discreet Esther.
Edith in the meantime made her way
back to her own room and waited in
suspense, while Esther went slowly down.
stairs, questioning her conscience, and
yet very loath to disappoint the little witch
who was depending upon her. She had
made up her mind to be very tolerant of
the worldliness of Roberts fianoe, but to
be suddenly called upon to aid and abet
her in it, was almost more than could be
reasonably expected of her, even by Rob
ert. And yet it would be so unfortunate
to begin the visit with family jarI She
had a terrible consciousness that there
little nephew, had had it for soap bub-
bles only the week beforehand to tell a
lie, even white lie, and permit herself
to be unable to find it, was something
more terrible to Esther's conscience than
even conniving at a curl. As it hap
pened, however, she really could not find
it. Here was certainly sufficient excuse
for going back empty handed; and yet,
and yet-when she came to the foot Of
the stairs, Esther, instead of going up,
turned aside into the kitchen.
Bridget, could thee spare moment
to 60 across to the corner grocery and
get me pipe-a common white clay
pipe2"
"a pipe, is it?" said the wonde ing
Bridget.
Eyes, Bridget; pipe; pipe for-for
blowing soap bubbles" stammered Es-
Their. Thee knows Bridget-a pipe
sucn a Richard had for his play"
Eyes, I know" said Bridget, wiping
her hands on her apron, and then remov-
ing the apron. "And is it soap bubbles
they do be wantin' to blow already
Faith, I'll send 'em up plate full for
dinner"
Edith has won her first battle, " wrote
Mrs. Marvin to her husband that even
ing, ''and without wound or a scar on
either side. ] only wish you had been
here with your detective camera to get
an instantaneous picture Of the two girls
when Edith opened the door and Esther
handed her the pipe"
As Edith had confidently expected, it
was the first of a long series of victories
over Roberts relations, which she gained,
not by trampling down their prejudices
under the high heels of her French
slippers, but by quietly teaching them to
like her just as she was. She had an
infinite amount of the gracious tact
which comes with certain kind Of aris-
tocratic, high bred worldliness, and she
was at heart most winningly affection
ate and true hearted girl Had she been
merely wording, the French slippers
would not have fought for her or con-
quered her enemies, but Roberts rela-
tons made the surprising discovery that
a really sweet hearted creature remains
sweet even on high heels; and before a
week was over Edith was the acknowl-
edged ruler of the entire household.
It was even decided in family conclave
that it would do to give her what, in the
worldly world, would be known as a
reception" They had no idea of doing
this in looking forward to her visit. 1t
was felt that it would be concession
enough for them to consent to receive as
a visitor into the bosom of their own
family the young woman who had disap-
II. e.