San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-29
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burrows scored hisYcIcylad~ bracketed
his firmly closed MOUTH sparse white hair
vas brushed unevenly about his head; be-
meath heavy brows peered out the peda-
gogue's eyes, alert, shrewd, suspicious. He
was quick to find fault, impatient of ignor-
ance, slow to trust, hard to please, butts
there not a saving clause in every naturea-
he was capable OF strong, self forgetting af-
lection; and the wife, who for forty years
had been his faithful helpmate often said
that she had never had an unkind word from
him.
His distress may be imagined when one
day this cherished wife, who had fretted her
self into low state of health over his recent
humiliation, fell grievously i'll Reuben sent |
for the doctor, young man in the first flush |
of his professional gravity and dignity, who, |
after examining the patient very carefully, |
seated himself TO write a prescription in |
ominous silence. Reuben watched him at |
once anxiously and distrustfully.
"What dost think of her, young manr' he |
asked at last.
''She is in very critical state, and ought
never to be left. Is there no one to share the
nursing with your
Reuben threw up his head sharply. ''There
isn't woman i'm the place but ud be proud
to be called to the bedside of my Mary, but
won't trust any of 'em. She and /, we've
always done for one another, and I can't
have meddlesome neighbor in now"
'Have you no daughterF'
"None but my sons wife, and she's naught
but tricked out fool. Used to be a milliner's
gal, and learnt to dress the outside of her
head instead O. the inside. Got fine long
name like lady's, but don't know who Ju-
Illus Caesar was, and calls the top of a pud-
ding the bottom because it's turned out low
est-poohW
A sort of grim smile flckered across Reu-
bens face as he made this last singular charge
against his daughter, but it only lasted a mo-
ment.
'The old womans bad, thenln he said, his
eyes fastened apprehensively on the doctors
face
II am afraid So" said Mr.. Walters,
gravely. II wouldn't refuse help in the
nursing if were you. You might regret it
when it was too late"
"Let me alone, young mani" retorted Reu-
ben, fiercely. "D'ye think Pm no better than
a silly woman3 I've got good head on my
shoulders, and my wife's more to me than
she is TO any one else. Tell me what ought to
be done, and I'll do it."
"Very well, Mr.. Sparrow" said the doctor,
coldly, "but remember that you are human,
and if sleep overtakes you just when you are
most wanted, you will be responsible for the
consequences"
He gave several minute directions, and left
the house, vexed at Reuben's obstinacy. But
the next morning, when he called, the sons
wife was already installed by the patients
bedside and Reuben, with an air of immense
knowledge and superiority, was passing on
- her the instructions received by him the
previous day.
snow, girl, lift her a bit. Lori can't We
do it without sticking a stack of hair into her
eyes? Stand aside-now seel"
He put his arms under the old woman
whose breathing was quick and difficult, and
cleverly raised her into an easier position.
The doctor came forward, a little curious
to see the disparaged daughter-:n-law., AAi
far as exterior went, she answered pretty ac-
curately to Reubens description of her. hav-
ing figure obviously nodded by tight lac.
ing, and a face Swallowed by quantity of
black hair brought down to her eyes. HeI
clothes were unsuitably dressy, and ON the
table lay number of cheap silver bangles,
apparently taken or at Reuben's direction
But she had a pleasant, intelligent smile, and
bore her father-in-law's structures with q
modesty and good temper which augureC
well for her readiness to submit to instruc-
ton, and to pick up the little devices Of
nursing upon which a patients comfort de-
ponds.
Old Mary Sparrow was much worse, and
Reuben, who turned his penetrating eyes
alternately upon her face and the doctors,
felt cheered by neither.
"You look worn, Mr.. Sparrow. Go and
lie down." urged Mr.. Walters.
mind your own work, young man. I'm
not your patient. How is shei'
Mr.. Walters did Gil he could for the sick
woman, and then, drawing Reuben out of
tho room, broke to him as gently as he could
tho certainty that his wife could not live
many hours. Reuben would not believe it,
and gave vent to expressions of savage con-
tempt for the whole race of doctors.
But next day poor old Mary died, and the
stricken husband shut himself up to be alone
with his grief. Even at the funeral he would
not exchange a word with tho many kindly
mourners who gathered round the grave.
The following morning, however, he sent
for his son and his daughter-in-law, and
made arrangements to live with them and
their little boy.
"Gwcadolne," no said, more gently than
usual, 'you did your best for her. You're
worth more than thought. We'd better all
live together" !
'Of course, father" said his son, heartily;
swell make you comfortable, and Gwen III
try to take mothers place"
''Keop sensible tongue in your head,
boy" said Reuben, with slow scorn. "Your