San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-06
CHAPTER WINERIES LAST EVENING AT
HOME.
80 it is all settled, Merle?'"

H1 eS, Aunt Agatha, returned, DISK
", for she spoke in a lugubrious voice;
and as one sad face was enough beside
the family hearth, | assumed a tOlerably
cheerful aspect If only Aunt Agatha's
eyes would not look at me so tenderly!
Poor Child!'' she sighed; and then, as |
remained silent, she continued, in few
minutes, Il wish could reconcile myself
more to the idea, but | cannot help feel
ing presentment that you will live to
repent this strange step you are taking"
| found this speech a little dampening,
but bore it without tinching. One can
never set out down some new road with
out few friendly missiles flying about
ones ears. Remember. told you such
and such a thing would happen if you did
not take my advice. | am only warning
yon for your good" Alas that ones
dearest friend should be transformed into
p teasing gadfy! What can one do but go
straight across the enemy's country, when
the boats are destroyed behind one? l al
ways did think that grand action on
XenOphOn's part.
You have not given me your opinion
of my new mistress" was my wicked re-
j0nder.
AuuG Agatha lGe" utISeIl up III IilS
and put on her grandest manner. "YOu
need not go out of your way to veX me,
Merle. | am sufficiently Inundated with
out that"
Aunt Agatha" I demonstrated; for
this was too much for my forebearanCe,
"dO you think | would do anything to veX
you when we are to part in a few days?
Oh, you dear, silly wOman!' for she was
actually crying. Il am only longing to
know what you think of Mrs. Norton"
she is perfectly lovely, Merle" she re-
turned, drying her eyes, as | kissed and
coaxed her. Il very nearly fell in love
with her myself. liked the simple way
in which she sat down and talked to me
about my Old pupils, making herself
quite at home in our little drawlng-rOOm,
and l was much pleased with her manner
when she spoke about you; it was almost
pity you came into the room just then"
Il left You alone for nearly half an hour;
please to remember that
Indeed! it did not seem nearly so long.
Half an hour! And it passed so quickly,
too. Well, must say Mrs Morton is a
most interesting woman; she is full of in
telligence and yet so gentle. She has lost
four months ago, and her husband does
not like her to wear mourning. She is
devoted wife, can see that; but have a
notion that you will have some difficulty
in satisfying Mr.. Morton; he is very par
tiCular, and hard to please"
81 have found out that for myself; he is
man of strong prejudices.'
"Well, you must do your best to cOncl-
late him; tact goes a long way in these
cases. Mrs. Morton has evidently taken a
fancy to you, Merle. She told me over
again how her baby boy had made friends
with you at once; she said your manner
was very frank and winning, and though
you looked young, you seemed very staid
and self-reliant'
Il wish Uncle Keith had heard that.
Did she say any more about me, Aunt
Agatha?'
NO. you interrupted us at that point,
and the conversation became more gener-
al; but, my dear, | must SCOld you about
one thing; how absurd you were to insist
on wearing caps! Mrs. Morton was quite
embarrassed she said she would never
have mentioned such a thing"
But have set my heart on wearing
them, Aunt Agatha" | returned, very
quickly; you have no idea how nice l
shall look in a neat bib apron over my
dark print gown, and regular cap, such
as hospital nurses wear | should be quite
disappointed if did not carry out that
part of my programme; the only thing that
troubles me is the smallness of my salary
i mean wages. Thirty pounds a year
will never make my fortune"
"YOu cannot ask more with good con-
science, Merle; you have never been out
before, and have no experience, Mrs.
Morton said herself that her husband had
promised to raise it at the end of six
months if You proved yourself competent:
it is quite as much as nursery governess'
salary"
"Oh, l am not mercenary," | replied,
hastily, land | shall save out of thirty
pounds year ! must keep a nice dress
for my home visits and for SUNDAYS,
though it is dreadful to think that shall
not always go to church every Sunday un.
til little Joyce is older; that will be a sad
deprivation"
Yes, my poor child, but you must not
speak as though this were the only seri- |
Gus drawback; you will find plenty of diff |
fiCulties in your position; even Mrs. Nor |
ton confessed that"
"The world is full of difficulties" I re-
turned, lOftily; there have been thOrns |
and briers ever since Adams time. Do
you remember your favOrite fable OF the .
old man and the bundle of sticks Aunt
| mean to treat my difficulties
in the same way he managed his. l shall .
break each stick singly."
She smiled approvingly at this, and .
then, as Uncle Keith's knock reached her