San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-21

she had enough of her fathers spunk
about her not to let on that she saw Har-
mon foolin' with Virginia Wake at the
noonin's.
There was splendid sleighing that sea-
son-the kind we don't have these days
and some Of the young folks wanted to
have general sleigh ride. II was put of
from time to time, till twas finally set for
one Thursday night
1T was the night Of the regular weekly
prayer meeting, and after the time of the
ride was all settled Harmon. who was the
only professor In the party. tried a little
to have it changed. But Virginia Wake
declared. with q wicked shake Of those
jingling curls. that she could say her
prayers Just as well In a sleigh as she
could cooped up in that stupid barn Of
meeting house.
Everybody thought afterward she
fixed the ride for that night to show
Mercy Avery the power she had over Har.
mon Page.
well. the party started from Amity.
Vile long about FIVE o'clock. They were
all In big two horse load, except Vir
GINA and Harmon.
'.She had arranged for them to go ahead
in his cutter alone, and I'll admit they
were a splendid looking couple-he with
his fine eyes and teeth. and she in a rich
crimson hood that set off her dark beauty
to perfection.
"Our route-for / was one Of the party
Avery's Just as we turned into it who
should we meet but the deacon and Mercy.
They were late. for the meeting was
81, ,nI Errlt
but Mercy had probably waited awhile for
Harmon, who. for year back. had taken
her to Thursday meeting as regular as the
day come round.
She sat up straight and queenly. be-
side her father, as they passed. and seemed
not to hear the malicious sally Virginia
called out to her
I'VE, in the back team, were near
enough to catch the scornful glance she
threw from those deep eyes. gray as steel
that night.
'As for Harmon, he turned white to
the lips. and for mile hardly answered
the banter that Virginia kept up After
that he seemed to grow perfectly reckless
laughed and joked louder than any of the
rest. and was so careless that he drove on
a stone wall, and we. following were all
upset in a heap together. and had hard
work to get tied up so as to make our
way home toward morning. more dead
than alive.
at was sorry day for Harmon Page
He was waited upon by a church com
mittee headed by Deacon Avery. who de
nounced his whole conduct toward Mercy
as unchris:ian and highly inconsistent in
a church member
He didn't have much to say for him
self. and they churched him on the spot
He was pretty down in the mouth, but
kept up some hope till he saw Mercy
Avery
He had refused to see Virginia Wake,
and that night he went up the familiar
hill to Deacon Avery's stone house.
Mercy herself came to the door, calm
and self possessed, as if nothing had hap,
pened. and showed him into the sitting
room There was a steady light in her
gray eyes. though, that made Harmon
tremble. and. without beating about the
bush bit, he came right to the point,
and asked if all might be forgiven and
forgotten and they become as good friends
as before He worked himself into pas
sion. cried and took on like a child. they
said
But, lawi it didn't move her an atom
She had the genuine old Avery grit, if
she was mild hammered, and she told him
that. as long as the church had put him
out, she, of course, couldn't take him
back
He pleaded and entreated until 10
o'clock at night. a late hour in them days,
but it didn't make a mite of difference
no An't hot 81,
had considered gross breach of faith
that time his spirit seemed to leave him
utterly"
And what about Virginia Wakee"
interrupted. unconsciously cutting my
finger N my eager interest.
oh after the girl had done all the
mischief possible. public opinion toward
her changed main quick. and she left
town in few days, and was never heard
from in these parts again"
And Harmon Page; what became of
bim?"
He never got over the shock He be-
came silent and melancholy, and finally
had to be taken to the retreat. He grew
worse. and the sight of handsome woman
with red cheeks and black curls would
always throw him into his most violent
tantrums he died in the asylum at last .
Now. think that was real mean" said
|, wrathf1ly winding cotton around my
bleeding thumb If Mercy Avery hadn t
turned him of his lie might not have
ended 50 sadly think she ought to have
taken him back"
All. hal" said Grandpa West, quizzi-
cally: do you mean that?"
Certainly said l, with dignity. why
shouldn't II"
oh. nothing" he replied; "onIy If she
had Harmon Page would have been Your