San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-11


faltered.
II have two sisters" she returned,
quickly; Gay is much younger; she was
not grown up when married; my eldest
sister, Mrs Markham, was then in India.
Two years ago she came back a widow,
with her only remaining child, and at my
fathers request remained with him to
manage his household Domestic mat
tiers were not either in his or Gays line,
and Mrs. Markham is one who loves to
rule"
confess this slight sketch of Mrs.
Markham did not impress me in her favor
conceived the idea of a masculine, bust
ling woman, very different to my beloved
mistress.
Il am going to be very frank with you,
Merle" she said, after moments
thought, land do not think | shall re-
pent my confidence | know my sister
Adelaide's faults. She has had many
troubles with which to contend in her
married life, and they have made her
little hard. She lost two dear little girls
in India, and as Rolf is her only child, she
| spoils him dreadfully; in fact, young as he
| is, he has completely mastered her. He
| is a very delicate, willful child and needs
| firm management; in spite of his faults he
| is a dear little fellow, and | am very sorry
| for Rolf"
Twill he be with us in the nursery?" /
asked, anXiOusly.
mo, indeed; Rolf is always with his
mother in the drawing-rOOm, to the no
small discomfort of his mothers visitors.
Sometimes he is with her maid Judson,
| but that is only when even Mrs. Markham
| finds him unDearable. 4 spoiled child Is
| greatly to be pitied, Merle; he has his own
| way nine times out of ten, and on the
| tenth he meets with undesirable severity.
| Adelaide either will not punish him at all,
| or Furnishes him too severely. Children
suffer as much from their parents temper
as from over-ndulgence."
81 am afraid Rolls example will be bad
| for Joyce"
That is my fear" she replied, with
| sigh. II wish the children could be kept
| apart, but Rolf will have his own way in
| that. There is one thing of which must
warn you, Merle. Mrs Markham may be
| disposed to interfere in your department;
| remember, you are responsible to me,
and not to her. | look to you to follow
| my rules and wishes with regard to my
| children"
ooh, Mrs MOrtOn"I burst out, ''yOu
are putting me in a very difficult position.
| If any unpleasantness should arise, | can
not refer to you. How am to help it if
| Mrs. Markham interferes with the chill
| dren?"
"You must be firm, Merle; you must
| act in any difficulty in the way you think
will please me- Be true to me, and YOU
| l, I ,b III
| plants of you. | wish had not to say all
this; it is very painful to hint this of sis
| ter, but Mrs. Markham is not always jul
| dtCiOus with regard to children
"Will it he good for them to go to Meth
| ertOn under these circumstances"
There is nowhere else they can CO."
| she returned, rather sadly; my husband
has such horror of lodgings, and he will
not take house for us this year-he
| thinks it an unneCess AIRY expense, as later
on we are going to Scotland, that he may
have some shooting All the doctors speak
| so we'll of NethertOn; the air is very fine
| and bracing, and my fathers garden will
| be paradise to the children"
We were interrupted here by Mr.. Nor
| ton.
ooh, are you there, Miss Fenton?" he
| said, pleasantly Che so often called me
| Miss FentOn now; II was just wanting
you. Violet, your sister has telegraphed
| as you wished and the rooms will be quite
ready for the children tomorrow"
morrow l gasped.
Yes" he returned, in his quick, de-
cided voice; you and Hannah will have
| plenty of work to-day. You are looking
| pale, Miss Fenton; sea air will be good for
you as well as joyce. l do not like people
| to grow pale in my service"
Il have been telling Merle" observed
| his wife. anXiously, that she is to have
| the sole responsibility of our children
Adelaide must not interfere: must she,
Alick"
"Of course not" with a frown. my
| dear Violet, we all know what your sis
ter's management means; Rolf is a fine
little fellow, but she is utterly running
| him. Remember, Miss Fenton, no I'M
wholesome sweets and delicacies for the
children; you know our rules. She may
stuff her own boy if she likes, but not my
| children" and with this he dismissed me,
| and sat down beside his wife with some
open letters in his hand.
l returned to the nursery with a heavy
heart. How little we know as we open
| our eyes on the new day, what that days
work will bring US! l think ones waking
prayer should be, Lead me in plain path
| because of mine enemiesy'
1 was utterly cast down and disheart-
ened at the thought of leaving my mis-
tress. The responsibility terrified me. l
should be at the tender merces Of stran-
gers, who would not recognize my posi-