San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-16
DARBY AND JOAN.

spring rain was falling gently, con.
tinuously. on Mrs. True's garden The
lately transplanted geraniums and petu,
Mas lifted their heads gratefully to the
warm shower and the fuchsias and sweet
lily frightened under its influence.
II their mistress could have seen them
she. too. would have rejoiced. for the
flowers were her children. petted darlings.
for whom no care could be too great, no
attention too painstaking She had
housed them in winter, set them out In
summer. trimmed. guarded. hung over
them year after year.
lnvoluntarily one looked for her mild
face at the window, smiling out upon
them. but she was not to be seen. For
the second time only In her life Mrs. True
lay in her chamber too Ill to heed the pat
tering rain or to think of the plants grow
ing so fast in the sweet. moist air. even
though. through the open window Of her
room. both sounds and scents entered
freely. the peaceful sounds and healthful
scents of the country
1t was very still in the room where she
lay; very still and orderly The old fur,
niture was polished and speckless; the
linen. white as snow against the pillows
which had been part of her bridal outfit
rested the gray head. still neatly cared
for, and the face. with its pallor. still
wore a look of kindly patience.
At her side sat her husband. good Deacon
True. with bowed head and sad eyes, and
in his work hardened hand he held her
feeble one
Presently a footstep sounded on the
muddy sidewalk outside. Then the gate
latch clicked. Some one walked up the
path and tapped softly on the house door,
and was as softly admitted.
But the two with their faces turned
toward each other took no notice
How is she?" said the neigkbor down
stairs who had dropped in
"Failin'." answered Fidelta Perkins, the
maid of all work. temporarily engaged for
the emergency.
"How's he?"
Fairly beat out with grievin' Seems
8 If he hadn't no heart for eatin' or
drinkin' or nothin' Just settin' up there
along o her, and holdin' her hand
| never did see folks set sech store by
each other as they do
We'll, they haven't nobody else to set
store by, you see. said the visitor, estab-
fishing herself by the fire. and holding out
two substantial feet to the blaze.
mo, that's so. assented Fidelia. tax
ing out her knitting Now you just
make yourself comfortable, Mis- Clapp
I'm real glad to see somebody. It's dread
full lonesome here. Jest those two still
critters up stairs. and me and the cat
down stairs, and nothin' on earth to do
Why, there amt so much as a teaspoon
full of dirt to clean up nowhere in the
house never did see sech housekeepin'. "
she was master hand for cleanin', "
said Mrs. Clapp, shaking her head
thoughfully. and as say. there warn t
no children to make dirt.
mo. there warn't, but them plants is
about as bad, to my thinkin'. cluttering
up the place half the year. and havin' to
trail around with waterin' pot, and
weedin' and stewin' over 'em the rest of
the time She took sight of comfort in
EN- though"
''She was real good woman. Mis- True
was" sighed Mrs Clapp, speaking al.
ready in the past tense.
"And he's powerful good man."
There amt no better
Queer sech good folks hadn't fam
ly."
"Wen. they did have one child"
"Do tell2 never heard of it before
Boy or girfT'
boy, l believe; Law, Mis- True was
most tickled to death about it. She was
as proud as an old hen with one chick, but
it didn't last long. Twas sent for to nurse
her. and she was dreadful sick woman
out Of her head. jest ravin' about the
baby; goin' on about she was meanin' to
do for it. She had it all planned out for
a lifetime how she was agoin' to rock him
to sleep nights and how. by and by. he
Was agoin' to set to the table in a high
chair alongside Of her and, finally. how he
was to take the farm and live with them
always Myl she was ramblin' on so fast
and smiling away to herself. while the
rest of us-me and the doctor and the
deacon-was jest a-fghting for that baby's
life, And at last. when she come to her
self. there warn't nothin' but dead body
to show to her"
Dear. dearl Did she take on much?"
said Fidelia. dropping her knitting in her
lap.
Take on? Well. not like some folks
She didn't screech. nor cry; but she jest
turned awful white. and her eyes got big