San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-24
MISS BRETHERT0N
By MRS. HUMPHREY WARD,

...YOAs.SS.OLI. :=.-:.5-== ------
Good heavensi could ne eaten that evening
train! He looked at his watch, decided that
there was time, and plunged, with his SER
wants help, into all the necessary prepare
tions. An hour and half later he was speed
ing along through the clear, cool moonlight
to Dover, realizing for the first time as he
leaned back alone in his compartment, the full
meaning of the nsWs which had hurried him
of. All his tender affection for his sister,
and all his sitting sense OF something unlucky
and untOward i'll his own life, which had
been so strong in him during the past two
months, combined TO rouse in him the black
est fears the most hopeless dependency
Mario dead-what would the world hold for
himi Books, thought, ideas ~ were they
enough? Could man live by them if all else
were gomez For the first time Kendall felt
doubt which seemed to shake his nature to its
depths.
During the journey his thoughts dwelt in
q dull, soro way upon the past. He saw
Marie in her childhood, in her youth, in her
rich maturity. He remembered her in the
school room, spending all her spare time over
contrivanceS OF one kind or another for his
amusement. He had vision of her going
out with their mother on the night of her
first ball and plying him for being left be-
hind. He saw her tender face bending over
the deathbed Of their father, and through a
hundred incidents and memories-all beauti-
full, all intertvined with that lovely self for
getfulnesS which was characteristic of her,
his mind Travelled down TO an evening scarcely
month before when her affection had once
more stood a frail, warm barrier between
him and the full bitterness of great renun-
citation. Oh, Mariel Mariel
1t was still dark when be reached Paris,
and the gray winter light was only just dawn
ing when he stopped at the door of his
brother-in-laws house in one Of the new
streets near the Champs Elysees. II. de
Chsteauvieux was standing on the stairs, his
smoothly shaven, clear cut face drawn and
haggard, and q stoop in his broad shoulders
which Kendall hid never noticed before
Kendall sprung up the steps and wrung his
hands. NJ de Chateauvieux shook his head
almost with a groan, i'll answer to the broth
sr's inquiry of eye and lip, and led the way
upstairs into the forsaken salon, which looked
as empty and comfortless as though its mis-
tress had been gone from it years instead of
days. Arrived there, the two men standing
opposite to each other in the streak of dull
light made by the hasty withdrawal of q
curtain, Paul said, speaking in whisper,
with dry lips:
There is no hope-tEo pain is gone, you
would think she was better, but the doctors
say she will just lie there as she is lynn; now
-till-the end"
Kendall staggered over to a chair and tried
to realize what he had heard, but it was i'm
possible, although his journey had seemed to
him one long preparation for the worst
What is it-how did it happen| he asked.
Internal chill She was only taken ill
the day before yesterday, and the pain was
frightful till yesterday afternoon, then it
Subsided, and | thought she was better-she
herself was so cheerful and so thankful for
the relief-but when the two doctors came in
again it was to tell me that the disappear
ance of the pain meant only the worst
meant that nothing more can be dOne-She
may so at any moment"
There was n silence. NJ de Chateauvieux
walked up and down with the noiseless step
which even few hours of sickness develop
in the watcher, till he came ard stood before
his brother-in-law, saying, in the same pain
full whisper, you must have some food,
then will tell her you are here"
"No, no; | want no food-any time will do
for that Does she expect meF'
Eyes; you won't wait! Then come" He
led the way across little ante-room, lifted a
curtain and knocked The nurse came, there
was a little parley, and Paul went in, while
Eustace waited outside, conscious of the most
strangely trivial things, of the pasSers by in
the street, of wraugle between two gaminS
on the pavement opposite, of the misplace
ment OF certain volumes in the book case be
side him, till tho door opened again and NJ
de ChateauvieuX drew him i'll
He stepped over the threshold, his whole
being wrought up to he knew not what
solemn pageant of death and parting, and
the reality within startled him. The room
was flooded with morning light, frosty De
cember sun was struggling through the fog
the curtains had just been drawn back, and
the wintry radiance rested on the polished
brass Of the bed, on the bright surfaces Of
wood and glass with which the room was
full, on the little tray of tea things which the
nurse held, and on his sisters face of greeting
as she lay back smiling among her pillows.
There was such cheerful home peace and
brightness in the whole scene-In the crack
ling wood fire, i'll the sparkle of the tea
things and the fragrance of the tea, and in
Lno ITeSn "nlIe surroundings OF the Invalid;
it seemed to him incredible that under all
this familiar household detail there should
be lying in wait that last awful experience
of death.
Marie kissed him. with grateful, affection
ate words, spoken almost in her usual voice,
and then, as he sat beside her, holding her
hands, she noticed that he looked pale and
haggard.
Has he had some breakfast, Paul? Oh,
poor Eustace, after that long journey! Nurse,
him hn, i. IL.