San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-17
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author of barbara HeGthCote'S Trial."
"Qucente'S Whtm," "T'hc Search
for Basil LmdhurSt."

gesture.
"Nurse." she said, harShly; 81 am ex.
trcmely surprised at the liberty you take
in my sisters absence | am quite sure
she would be excessively angry at your
taking the children to Wheeler's Farm
without even informing me Of your inten.
ton"
II mentioned it to Miss Cheriton," re
turned somewhat nettled at this, for Gay
had warmly approved of our little eXcur.
sion.
Miss CheritOn is not the mistress OF
the house" she replied. in the same gall.
ing tone. IF you had consulted me }
should certainly not have given my con.
sent. think a servants relatives are not
proper companions for my little niece
and, indeed. rather wonder at your chooS
ing to associate with them yourself, " with
a concealed sncer hidden under polished
manner
Mrs Markham. ." returned, speaking
as quietly as could, Il should certainly
not have taken the children to Whce!er's
Farm without my mistress sanction.
had her free permission to do 50; She knew
the S0werbyS were highly respectable
and, for my own part, | wished to give
pleasure to Hannah, rs | take great i'll
tcTest in her.
II shall certainly write to my sister on
the subject" was her answer to this.
You must have entirely mistaken hel
meaning. and owed it to her to watch
ever her Children
NV temper was decidedly rising
'Nou need not trouble yoursrli,' ! re
ylird, culdIy: my mistress, knows every
rhing do. should hay" written to hrl
myself Tonight; she ha, peri, Ct confidence
in me, and have never acted again>l hei
wishes: my conscience is quite clear about
this afternoon. but | should not have tax
ru Rolf without your permission.
81 should hope not, still more haughti.
X. but would not listen to any more;
. was not her servant could not have
served that hard mistress. found moth.
ing to reverence in her cold, stlt-aDSorDcc
nature, aud without reverence, service
would be bitter drudgery
As passed down the avenue little
sadly, | came upon a pretty scene: tea.
table had been set under one of the clmS
and Gay had evidently been presiding
over il: but the fcaS had been long over
She was standing by the tab" ROW,
crumbling sweet cakes for the peacock
Lion was sitting on his launches watch
ing her, and Eidgets was barking furious
lv, and little behind her stood Mr.. Ros.
sitter.
Mrs. Markham swept up to them, and
could hear her say, in Il frosty voice that
showed evident ilI-temprr; "WhF ha'
not Benson removed the things2 II is
nearly seven, and we must 90 in to drea,
for dinner; you know Mr.. Hawty is com
ing"
II was not aware of it. Adrlaid2'-hoW
well knew that careless voice,-"but il
is of no consequence, that | can see; MI
Hawtry is always here.
He cannot come too oftcn,' in point
ed manner. 1--WE all think highly of Mr.
Ilawtry, | know. Oh, are you going,
Mr.. RoSsiter? Well. perhaps it is rather
late. What are yOu doing. Gay?' Sc
sharply that though | had reached the
house | heard her, and turned my head K
look.
BcLsOn and the under-fOotman were
coming out of the side door, but Mrs
Markham stood alone under the trees
Gay was saunteriug down the avenue witt
the young Curate still at her side, ant
Lion was following them. and wondered
if Mrs. Markham saw her stop and HicL
that rose.
went up TO the nur9,.y rather th"ISht
fully after that. | knew girls were odi
and contrary sometimes. Mr.. RoSsitel
was very nee; he WAS good, earnest
young man. and liked his sermons; bu
was IL possible shat Gay could seriously
prefer him to Mr.. Hawtry2 or WAS she
just flirting with him pour pdS%1r Il
temps, after that Odious custom of som'
girls? But | could not believe it some
how of Gay CherIton; she was 50 simple
80 unseltish, 50 free from vanity. 1t needed
Il c0aIsor nature than hers to play THU
sort of unfeeliuG game. We shall see,
said to myself, as | put Reggie into hi
cot; ..nd then | sat down and wrote Il
Mrs. Morton.
| CHAPTER XVIL-A PLEASANT SURPRISE.