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

asleep, in his cot, she came up to wish the
children goodnight, but she did not stay
with us ten minutes. remarked that she
looked very i'll and exhausted.
''Oh, | am only little tired" she re-
turned, hurriedly: Il have been paying
calls all the afternoon, trying to make up
for my idle week, and the talking has
tired me. Never mind, it is all in the
days work" And she nodded to me kind
ly and left the room.
CHAPTER X. ~ TRUST THEM TO YOU,
MERLE
With the early summer came a new
anxiety; Joyce was growing very fast,
and like other children of her age, looked
thin and delicate She lost her appetite,
grew captions and irritable and had crying
fits if she were cOntradicted, and tired of
all her playthings. 1t was hard work to
amuse her; and as Reggie was rather
fretful with the heat, | found my charge
decidedly onerOuS, especially as it was the
height of the season, and Mrs. MOrton's
daily visits to the nursery barely lasted
ten minutes.
DR.. Myrtle was called in, and recon-
mended change for both the children.
There was want of tone about Joyce;
she was growing too fast, and there was
slight irritaOility of the brain, not I'M
common thing he remarked, with nerV-
Gus, dellcately organized children.
He recommended sea air and bathing.
She must be out on the shore all day, and
run wild. Fresh air, new milk, and cOun-
try diet would be her best medicine: and,
as Dr. Myrtle was an oracle in our house
hold, Mr. Morton at once decided that his
advice must be followed.
There was long, anxious deliberatiOn
between the parents, and the next morn
ing | was summoned to Mrs. Morton'S
dreSsia S-rUOm. | found her lying on the
couch; the blinds were lowered, and the
smelling salts were IN her hand. She
said at once that she had had a restless
night and had one of her bad headaches.
| thought she looked wretchedly i'll, and,
for the first time, the fear crossed me that
her life was killing her by inches. Hers
was no; robust COnStitutiOn-and, like
joyce, she was most delicately organized.
Late lOurs and excitement are fatal to
these nervous constitutions if only | dared
hint at this to DR.. Myrtle-but / felt, in
nv position, it would be an act of pre-
sum- tiuu. She WOuld not let me speak of
herself; al Lly lirst word of sympathy she
stopped me.
Never mind about me, | am used to
these headaches; sit down a moment; |
want to speak to you about the children.
Doctor Myrtle has made us very anxious
about Joyce; he says sac must have change
at once"
He has said the same to me, Mrs. Nor
ton"
my husband and | have talked the
matter over: if | could only go with you
and the children-but no, it is impossible
How could | leave just now, when our
ball is coming off on the eighteenth, and
we have two dinners as well' Besides, /
could not leave my husband; he is far
from well. This late session tries him
dreadfully. have never left him yet, not
even for day"
And yet you require the change as
luch as the children" l could not help
saying this; but she took no notice Of my
remark
I'VE have decided to send them to my
fathers. Do you know Netherton, Merle?
1t is a pretty village about a mile from
Orton-on-Sea. Netherton is by the sea,
and the air is nearly as fine as Orion.
Marshlands that is my fathers place, is
about half mile from the shore"
heard this with some trepidation. In
my secret heart l had hoped that we
should have taken lodgings at some wat
ering place, and thought, with Hannah's
help, | should have got on nicely; but to
go among strangers! l was perfectly I'M
aware of Mr.. MOrton's horror of lOdg-
ings, and it would have seemed absurd
TO him to take house just for me and
the children.
81 have written to my sister, Merle"
she continued, "to make all arrangements.
My father never interferes in domestic
matters. have told her that l hold you
responsible for my children, and that you
will have the sole charge of them. l laid
a stress on this, because l know my sis
ter's ideas of management differ entirely
from mine. can trust you as l trust my
self, Merle, and it is my wish to secure you