San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-12

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"Let me read, too"
Che colonel was in the office; Missy
saw the CLEAN of his light through the
window as she crossed the yard. Too
"a-rar to delay for permission, she pushed
OPP. the door and entered with the
words My father" but she could say no
more.
Her father looked up in some alarm,
hut when h" saw behind her a bent old
negro leaning un a staff, he half believed
that he must be dreaming: it seemed in
credible that old Gilbert should be stand
ing on that threshold, with scarce
wrinkle more than when he traded for
the mule
The colonel started to his feet stagger-
ing. and put out both hands. "Gilbert"
he said, "Gilbcrt? Is this YOU
"Tubbe sho, mawSter! Use been GAVIN
a long time, but de LawI is spared me
ter git back
MY SON." faltered the colonel.
Missy burst into tears. Make him sit
down." she 5obbed There is 50 much
to tell"
Sit down." the colonel said, pushing
a chair toward him.
I'm 'bIeedgcd ter YOU, mawster," old
Gilbert stamInered; to be seated in the
presence Of quality shscked his sense of
decorum. DE wuz a wagin gin me a
lif as l come along. l lighted by de
back lot ter git ter my house, en- deere |
met Missy"
SIT down. the colonel commanded,
and old Gilbert felt he must obey. But
he stunned the chair, and spying box
in the corner lac went over and pcrched
thereon with sigh, while Missy eagerly
repeated to her father the account given
of Nicholas.
''And he has a letter for you from
Brer Nicholas; will you not read it," she
entreated.
The colonel could not speak, but he
put cut his hand for the letter that old
Gilbert was seeking in the crown of his
dilapidated hat.
My pcndance wuz strong in de Heb
emily MaWater ter spare me ter han you
dat, sub, he said. I'd a fotch hit buff
TO, but de- rromatiz split my chances ter
wuk out my traveln' 'spenses.'
The colonel seized the letter, but his
hands trem5Ied 50 that he could hardly
adjust his glasses.
"Well. well. mawster is come ter spec
tikleS!" said old Gilbert in admiration.
En- yo hair is a-sheddin'. Minds me of
yO' paw. You is middlin' ole, mawster,
tubbe sho."
The remark was intended as a compli-
ment, but the colonel was absorbed in
his sons letter and it escaped him.
Let NE read, too" Missy entreated,
leaning over his shoulder Il cannot.
cannot watt
1t was touching appeal in which the
baniShed son besought his fathers pro-
lection for his wife and child, and then
implOred justice for the devoted old slave
who had proved so true friend lie re-
counted how freely old Gilbert had sup
piled him with money, the savings of his
years of industry, and beSought his ia
Their to discharge this debt.
''Ah, my brother, come back" sighed
Missy, passionately kissing the letter,
land everything you ask shall be dOnew
colbert" said the colonel, with a
tremuloUs smile, chow much money did
YOU lend my som"
"Dullaw. mawster: Is Mawse Nick
wrotened YOU bout dat? En- / tole him
not ter fret, seem dis ole no count mig.
ger is mos ter de eend of his row.
dOan 'zaCtlv re-collict. had it on ter
scrap o paper Mawse Nick writ me, en-
a tally stick besides, which could oner-
stan better, but los EN- bot, long with
my rumberilIa, on de tieI' O battle. Is
you been in de wah, mawster?"
"Ges, said the colonel.
Praise be ter glory" calculated old
Gilbert. Den you kin oncrstan' de wuz
pow'ful scatterin' times, en- hit druv de
amount plum outen my min. Some of
hit WIZ what MissIe-vrey sont him, en-
had ter purten' lax hit wuz all mine ter
git him ter borrer hit. Hit wuz like
Nawse Nick wuz my chile. Not but ez !
Onerstan' hit, mawster YOU wuz boun'
ter shet yO' eyes Jegiust him fur cree.