San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-12


! saw a smile towering on Mrs. Mark
hams thin lips. Evidently she found
Joyce amusing. but just then loud
peevish voice was distinctly audible in
the passage.
Mother, mother, | say! Go away, judi
dy. tell you. You are nasty disagree
able old cat-and will go to motherr'-
this accompanied by ominous kicks.
| signed to Hannah to take the children
into the adjoining room. 1t was Reggie's
bedtime, and Joyce was tired with her
journey. The door was scarcely closed
upon them before the same violent, kick
ing was heard against the nursery door.
1T is only Rolf am afraid he is very
cross" observed Mrs Markham, placidly,
shivering little, after the fashion of peO-
pie who lived in India, as she moved away
from the open window, and drew lace
scarf round her hudson is such a bad
manager She never does contrive to
.amuse him or keep him quiet"
'Ile will brighten Reggie" I remon-
stratcd, for she did not offer to stop the
noise. and | went quickly to the door
There was a regular Scutile going on in
the passage A little boy in Highland
dress was endeavoring to escape from
young woman, who was holding him back
from the door with some difficulty.
master Rolf-maSter Rolf, what will
your mamma say You will make her
head ache, and then you will be sorry"
II shan be bit sorry, Juddy, tell
you! | will go in, and" Here he stop
ped and stared up in my face. He was
pale, sickly looking child, rather plain, as
Miss CnpritOn had said, but he had beau
tful gray eyes, only they were sparkling
with anger The young woman who held
him by the arm had thin, care-worD
facc-Ekpbably her post was harassing
one. VITA an cXacting mistress and that
spoiled boy.
"Who are you?' demanded the boy,
rudrIy.
Il am Miss Fenton, the nurse" | re-
turned. Your little cousins are just going
to bed. and cannot have that noise to
disturb them"
Il shall kick again, unless you let me
come in and see them
For shame, Master Rolf! Whatever
makes you so naughty tonight"
Il mean to he naughty. Hold your
stupid old tongue, Juddy. You are silly
woman. That is what mother calls YOU.
l am Il BtnNltllltu, anu Slldll he naughty
if like. Now then, Mrs. Nurse, may |
come in?'
Not Tonight Master Rolf. Tomorrow,
if you are good
Nurse" interrupted Mrs. Markham's
voice behind me, Il do not know what
right YOU have TO exclude my boy. Let
him come in and bid goodnight to his
cousins You will behave prettily, Rolf
will you n0t?'
One look at the surly face before me
made me inCredulOus Of any pretty be-
haviOr on Rolls part | knew Joyce was
nervous child, and easily frightened,
and already the loud voices were upset
ting Reggie. could hear him crying, in
spite of Hannah's cOaXing. felt | must
be firm. The nursery was my private do
main. | was determined Rolf should not
cross the threshold tonight.
Excuse me, Mrs Markham" l return
ed, quickly, II cannot have the children
disturbed at bedtime; it is against Mrs.
MOrtons rules. Master Rolf may pay us
a visit tomorrow, if he be gOod"-laying
a stress on gOOd-"but l cannot admit him
tonight"
She looked at me with naughty incre-
dulity.s
81 consider this very impertinent," she
muttered, half to herself. But Judsou
must have heard her.
Come with me, ROiI darling. Never
mind about your cousins. ! dare say we
shall find something nice down-stairs;'
and she held out her hand to him, but he
pushed it away
Bring him to the drawing groom, Jud-
SON." she said, coolly, not at all discom-
posed by his rudeness; but could see my
tirmnesS had offended her. She would not
soon forgive my excluding Rolf.
Rolf waited till she was out of sight,
and then he recommended his kicks. l
exchanged glance with Judson; her
harassed face seemed TO appeal to me for
help.
Master Rolf" said, Indignantly, you
call yourself gentleman, but You are
acting like an ill-tempered baby, and 1
shall treat YOU like one" and to his in
tense establishment l lifted him off the
ground, and, being pretty strong, man
aged to carry him, in spite of his kicks
and pinches, down to the hall, followed
by JudsOn. Probably he had never been
80 summary dealt with, for his kicks
diminished as we descended the stairs;
and l left him on the hall mat, looking
rather subdued and ashamed of himself.
l had gained my point, but felt out of
heart as l went back to the nursery. I
had entered the house prejudiced against
Mrs. Markham, and our first interview
had ended badly; my conscience justified
me in my refusal to admit Rolf; but all
the same, felt had made Mrs. Mark
ham nv enemy Her cold ewes had mons