San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-04
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author of barbara HeGthCOtc's Trial."
"QueeniC'S Whim," 1.-THE Search
for Basil LyndhurSt"


for Basil LyndhurSt."
CHAPTER 1.-THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION.
Merle, I may be a little Old-fashiOned
in my notions; middle-aged people never
adjust their ideas quite in harmony with
you young folk, but in my day we never
paused to count fifty at full stop"
Aunt Agatha's voice startled me with
its reproachful irritabilty. Well, l had
deserved that little sarcasm, for | must
lessly. My favorite motto was ringing in
my ears LdbOrdre est Ordre.
Somehow the words had set themselves
to resonant music in my brain: it seemed
as though were chanting them inward
ly all the time l was climbing down the
steep hill with Christiana and her bows.
LdborGrc est orGrc. And this is what |
was reading on that still, snowy Sunday
afternoon: But we will come again to
this Valley of Humiliation. 1t is the best
and most fruitful piece of ground in all
these parts. 1t is fat ground, and, as
you see consistent much in meadows and
if 4 man was to come here in the summer
time as we do now, if he knew not any
thing before thereof, and if he delighted
himself in the sight of his eyes, he might
see that which would be delightful to him.
Behold how green this valley is, also how
beautiful with lilies! | have known many
laboring men that have got good estates
in this Valley of Humiliation.
Merle" observed Aunt Agatha, little
dryly, 1--WE may as we'll leave Oft there,
for it seems that you and are to have our
estate among the laPoring men i'll this
very valley"
Aunt Agatha was clever woman, and
could say shrewd things sometimes, but
she never spoke truer word than this;
but my wits were no longer wOOl-gather
ing.
What pity you stopped me just then"
remarked, somewhat sententiously: I'VE
have missed the purest gem of the ale
CORY:
"'He that is down need fear no fall,
He that is low no pride"
But here hand was lifted in protesting
fashion.
Put the marker in the page, child, and
spare me the rest; that is in favor of your
argument, not mine;" for a weary dis
cusSion had been waged between us for
two whole hourS-a discussion that had
driven Aunt Agatha exhausted to the
couch, but which had only given me a
tingling feeling of excitement, such as a
raw recruit might experience at the sight
of battlefield. Aunt Agatha's lady-like
ideas lay dead and wounded round her
while l had made that last impetuous
charge.
81 am of age a free English woman;
living in free country; and not all the
nineteenth-century prejudices, though
they are thick as dragons teeth, shall
prevent me- Merle Fenton, of sane mind
and healthy body, from doing what | be-
lieve to be my duty"
"Humph, am rather doubtful of the
sanity; always told you that you were
too independent and strong minded for a
girl; but what is the use of preaching to
deaf ears!" continued Aunt 4 5atha, ia
decidedly cross voice, as she arranged the
cushions comfortably.
1t was true that | was getting the best
of the argument, and yet was sorry for
Aunt Agatha. | felt how / was shocking
all her notions of decOrum and propriety,
and giving pain to the kindest and gent
lest heart in the world; but one cannot
lead new crusade without trampling on
some prejudices. l knew all my little
world would shrek "fy, " and for shame"
into my ears, and all because / was bent
on working out new theory. The argyll
ment had grown out of such little thing
had shown Aunt Agatha an advertise
ment in the Morning Post. and announced
my intention of answ ering it in person the
following morning.
"NURSR.-Can any lady recommend
thoroughly conscientious superior person
to take charge of two children, baJY ciyh-
teen months old? Assistance given in the
nursery. Must be a good plain needle
woman. Princes Gate, 5. w"
To the last day Of my life l do not
think that shall ever forget Aunt Aga
tha's face when she heard that advertise
meRt - tn+.u,.,o-.u .,, -, .s,.
situation, Merle-to lose caste, and take
your place among menials' 1t is enough
10 make my poor brother rise in his grave,
and your poor dear mother, too, to think
of Fenton stopping to such degradation"
But will forbear to transcribe all the
wordy avalanche of lady-like invective
that was hurled at me, accompanied by
much wringing of hands.
And yet the whole thing lay in a nut
she'll l, Merle Fenton, sound, healthy,
and aged two-and-twenty, being orphaned,
penniless, and only possessing one near
relative in the world-Aunt Agatha-de-
clined utterly to be dependent for my daily
bread and the clothes | wore on the good
will of her husband and my uncle by mar
riage, Ezra Keith.
No, was not good l dare say l was
self-willed, contradictory, and as obstinate
as mule that will go every way but the
right May; but. all the same | loved Aunt