San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-15

little, sickly, wailing infant In her arms, and
looked weary enough to have dropped by the
way, yet she pressed on TO the corner where
Lawyer Fernald lived He owned the old
house in the hollow, and she wanted TO get his 1
leave to occupy 1t. The old man tried to
induce her TO remain for q time under his
own roof, but here he came In conflict with
certain gentle pride and obstinacy which
were marked constituents Of Letty's charac-
ter. No arguments could make her open her
lips about Gabriel or consent to any favor
more than the use of the old house, and Mr.
Fernald was reluctantly obliged to give way.
So. Lefty set up her poor little home within
the deserted walls where she had once laugh
ingly declared she would like to keep house.
She supported herself and little Gabrielle
for so she had named the baby-by needle
work and by such odd Jobs as she could find
among the village housewives They were
glad TO do what they could for her; and, as
she was thrifty, and the means Of living cost
but little in Stonybank, her small earnings
answered well enough.
People wondered at first what Gabriel Dali
las would do, now that his wife had returned
to the neighborhood. But Gabriel simply
ignored her. Once only did he show that he
was aware Of her presence. Lefty had gone
over TO StOnybank Corners to do piece Of
work, and the baby was with her, one thin
arm clasped about her neck. At Lawyer
Fernald's gate they came suddenly face to
face with Gabriel, who was going out, and
the child, moved by some impulse, began to
crow and stretch out its little frail hands to
him, almost falling from it's mothers shout
der. Gabriel instinctively put up his hands
to steady it, and over tia baby's head the
husband and wife for a moment looked into
each others faces, Gabriel's dark and sullen |
as usual now, Letty's pale and wasted, but
with the same sweet look in the deep blue
eyes Then Gabriel turned away without a
word, and Lefty passed on silently.
But one October day the baby died, with
cred up like a frail little flower in the autumn
frosts. Every one was sorry, for whatever
the rights of it between Gabriel and his wife,
Lefty and the baby had enlisted general SYM
pathy So, in their simple way, they did
their best to comfort her, and by her wish
the tiny grave was made beneath the
branches of a hemlock tree beside the win
dow, where she could see it at her work.
Again people wondered about Gabriel
Would he be at the funeral! He was not
there, but one who was, and who saw him
the same day. thought she could never for
Ecu ZIG SCtllC vi Il IcI llttIu Ltil SOLlc ONSi
with her grandfather to the old house in the
hollow, but, when they were about to return
home, Mr. Fernald recollected matter of
business some few miles further on, 20 Cora
concluded to walk back through the woods |
After the close little room down there, it was
relief to be In the open cir, and she went
along enjoying the beautiful Indian summer
like day, the splendid colors Of the forest foil
nd ba email ~ tba yK-itharirn oil
brakes. branch of brilliant scarlet maple
caught her eye ard drew her in search of it.
Entering small clearing, she came suddenly
upon Gabriel Dallas at the foot of the blood
red maple tree He was sitting on log, hi
head in his hand, and great tears dropping
Down his cheeks The girl spoke with impul-
sive pity:
"Oh, Gabriel" she said, II am so sorry the
poor little thing is dead-so sorry for you
and Letty!"
Gabriel had started up and dashed his hand
over his face. He stood looking straight at
her, as she stopped confused.
Thank you" he answered with grave cour-
tesy, but there are some things 1t does no
good to talk about" He touched his hat and
turned away, then, as if moved by a sudden
thought, came back again
Miss Fernald," he said abruptly, do you
hear from Mr. Underhin nowY'
The young lady was taken aback by this
question, so directly yet so respectfully put
But Gabriel stood waiting, and under the
spell of his gloomy black eyes she answered
hesitatingly:
why, yes-sometimes"-
Don't marry him, " said Gabriel earnestly
Don't have anything to do with him. He isl
q bo6 man IIa DoucaJ apd a1Jn1 /
Don't be offended with me for speaking SO toI
you, but you and your grandfather haveI
been very good to me, and don't want you
to be unhappy. If ever l saw that man
again l should kill him" With that he
struck off into the woods
Cora Fernald was completely bewildered,
and told her grandfather that she thought
Gabriels troubles had turned his brain But
the old man thought he saw glimmer of
light upon the mystery. Quietly, without
word to Cora, he wrote to Underhill asking
him some very direct questions. With this
he was forced to be content Any further
appeal to Gabriel would be useless, and with
Lefty it had already been made in vain at the
time of the baby's death. Less than ever
would she attempt any reconciliation with
her husband since that chance meeting when
she had seen his sullen face and abrupt with
drawal, but not his subsequent emotion. Her
life was hard, but if it had not mattered be-
fore her child's death it surely did not matter
now. Tearfully but firmly she thanked Mr..
Fernald for his kindness and begged him to
urge her no more
So Lefty was left alone In the old house in
the hollow. The leaves lost their brilliant
colors, and bitter winds swept them through
the woodlands; the days grew short and cold
and the snow haa several times hidden out of