San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-01-26

ayes, Pm your uncle's wife" she an
swered, stiffly, land hope you're going to
be q good girl, and not make US too much
trouble"
"Why, she isn't but mite" her uncle
said, gazing at her disapprovingy, "and
Mary was fine, large girl But then that
little whippersnapper of Frenchman wasn't
bigger than pint cup"
"Hush" said his wife, in a low voice.
But Lucille, who had never heard the word
"whippersnapper" before, and understood
English but imperfectly, only gazed inquir-
ingly at the speaker
"Well, come to the house, and take of
your bonnet" said Mrs. Hart She led the
way, Lucille following her, with all elasticity
gone from her steps, and a half frightened
look in her eyes Was this to be her home,
and that harsh. coarse man, was he her uncle.
and her lovely mammals brotherf Oh, why
did mamma send her to themf
"Heres your room," Mrs Hart said, open
ing a door, --aao there's your trunk been
brought up. You'd better have a wash be-
fore you come down to dinner"
"Merci, madamer' Lucille said. 81 mean
l tank you, my aunt"
You'll have to talk better English than
that" Mrs. Hart said, with a grim smile,
''or you'll be laughed at Hurry up, for
can't keep your dinner waiting; it's against
my rules"
As she closed the door Lucille sank on her
knees by the bed, and burying her face in it,
wept violently. "Ah," she sobbed, in her
own dear language, ~ don't understand their
words, but their looks, yesi They do not
want me- They grudge me the shelter Of
their roof. They despise me. All, why,
when mamma died, did I not stay in Dinard
as a servant, nurse, anything rather than
come to these cold heartsi All, dear Dinardl
II could go back, if l could wake up in my
own little room and find this an ugly
dream"
She closed her eyes, and before her rose the
fields Of Dinard, with their masses of scarlet
peoples against the dull green background of
waving grain. The solemn rhythm of the
sea was In her ears, she was dancing the
ronde with her plsymates by moonlight, and
her mothers beautiful eyes were smiling
tenderly at her.
"Ah, she wanted me to comet" Lucille
said, resolutely. She knew what was best for
me, and will be brave a nd cheerful and try
to make them love me-"
AS she smoothed her hair before the small
mirror, you saw Lucille was not pretty. She
was pale and thin, but her eyes were full of
graceful There was refinement in the girls
every look and gesture, the refinement Of
good breeding and good blood on her fathers
side, and her pretty mother had been quick
to mold her own habits and tastes on those
Of her husbands. The family was half
through dinner when Lucille entered the
kitchen. Her uncle looked UP.
"You can't be hungry much, or you take
too long to drink. This is your cousin Lucy,
boys. That's her name iii this house, for no
Frenchified Lucille for me. ,
Lucy, that's your cousin Stephen" point
ing with his knife to the larger Of the two
tall young men, who grinned and looked ,
sheepish, but did not rise from their seats, I,
and extend a hand of welcome This is :
James +, and here is Bob, no account Grip |
pie, as you can see. You'd better sit by him,
reckon, you're both so puny"
The young men stared and looked more
sheepsh than ever, a. their cousin, with her
pretty, graceful step, went to each, shook
hands, and tried to say few courteous
words in English, which only made them
stare harder, and giggls until their faces
were red.
IF you don't talk the funniest lingom her
uncle cried, with rude laugh. ~ tell you,
Lucy, the first thing you must learn is to
talk English so that folks can understand
you"
She smiled good humoredly
'Ah yes, mon oncle, haf no English. We
spik it not in Dinard Only 20 strangers,
travellers, are English. l will learn it bien-
tot Ny cousins will help me-" with an ap-
pealing smile at them which they met
stoidly.
To Lucille that dinner was a revelation Of
how much men could eat, and how loudly
they could talk without quarreling. Gazing
at them she was reminded Of menagerie,
whore she once saw the animals fed
Bob alone was sulky and silent. He was
offended at what his father had said about
him, and leaned back In his seat eating moth
ing, and giving frettul answers to his mother
When Stephen and James left the table to
measure pony, over whose height they had
had fierce alteration, Bob followed them,
and az he took his first step Lucille saw that
he was lame-a most painful lamenesS, where
one Of his feet doubled up as it touched the
floor
To Lucills's surprise, neither father nor
mother tried to assist him, but his father
called out roughly, as the boy stumbled:
Serves you right for trying to get along
without your crutchl Folks will notice your
foot just the same If that's what your trying
to hide"
Lucille did not understand the words of the
boys reply as he turned his angry face to his
father, but the look and tone shocked and
surprised her. Whatever may be the faults
of French training, want of respect to par
ents and old persons is not among them.
As for Bob, blind with anger, he tripped
up against box lying on the floor and fell
fat
IL moment Lucille was beside him, and
as he scrambled up, she took his arm. .
"Vill you not lean on met" she said, in her
soft voice II can help you out"
81 let me alone will Won ~ he cried ROUGHLY