San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-18

eighteen. She was a bright, healthy Crea-
ture then. Look, that was her couch,
where she spent her days. There is mys-
terry in some lives, Miss Fenton. never
understood why she was permitted to suf-
fer all these years"
'SNo, indeed" observed Gay, who heard
this. Violet and | were so fond of her:
she could be so merry, in spite of her pain.
think some of my pleaSautest hours have
been spent in this + Dom. How pleased she
used to be when had anything new to
tell her or show her. do not wonder you
miss her, Mr. Hawtry; have always been
sorry for you"
thought he seemed sorry for himself,
for | had never seen him look so sad. /
wished then that Gay had not brought us
back to this room; it was evidently full of
relics of the past, when womanly hands
had busted themselves for the comfort of
the dearly loved son and brother
The little round table beside the couch,
with its inlaid work-bOX and stand of
favOrite books, must have been Miss Ag-
neS but the netting case and faded silk
bag on the other side of the fireplace,
with the SpeCtaCles lying on the closed
Bible, must have belonged to the mother.
How sorely must he have missed them!
Few men would have cared TO have pre-
served these little homely treasures; they
would have swept them away with the
dead past But now and then strong
manly character has this element of fcm-
nine tenderness.
think my look must have expressed
sympathy, for Mr.. Hawtry came up to me
as | stood alone by the window for Gay
-, bA SHALL. m M obi
drenN and said, Il little abruptly:
1t is good Of you to be sorry for me.
but time heals all wounds, and, in spite of
pain and loneliness, one would not call
them back to suffer" And then his voice
changed to lower key. Il wish Agnes
could have known you, Miss FentOn: how
she would have sympathizcd with your
work. All good women are fond of little
children, but she dotted on them, There
were so many children in the ChurCh-yard
on the day she was buried.
was too much touched to answer, but
be went on as though he did not notice my
silence
"You seem very happy in your work?'
VERY happy.
"One can see that; you have most con-
tented expression; it almost makes one
envy you. wonder how you came to
think such work was possible
do not know how it vas, but | found
myself telling Mr.. Haytry all about Aunt
Agatha and the cottage at Putney. l
even let fall a word or two about my mis-
cradle deficiency. | am not sure what l
said, but | certainly saw him smile, as
though something amused him.
was almost sorry when Mrs. Cornish
called us into the oak room, and yet
most pleasant hour followed. Mrs. Cor
nish poured out the tea, and the children
were very good; even Reggie behaved
quite nicely The room was very dark
and low, and furnished entirely with oak,
but a CHEEKY little fire burned on the
hearth; and though the thunder rain beat
heavily against the window, it seemed only
to add to our merriment. Mr. Hawtry
had promised to drive us home in the wag-
Onette, but we dared not venture until the
storm was over.
When the children had finished their
bread and honey they PLAYED about the
room, while we gathered round the win
dow.
Mr.. Hawtry spoke most to Cav, and l
sat by and listened. He spoke about Mr..
ROSSlter presently.
Il think him a capital fellow" he
said, in his hearty manner: and it quite
puzzles me why Mrs Markham dislikes
him so; she is always finding fault with
him"
"Oh, there is no accounting for AIDE
ladies likes and dislikeS,' replied Gay,
a little impatiently. sometimes | think
she would have found fault with St Paul
himself, if she had known him"
Mr.. Hawtry laughed "ROssiter is not
a Saint Paul, certainly, but he is down.
right honest fellow, and that is what |
like. Perhaps he is not a shining light in
the pulpit, but he is 50 earnest and pains
taking that we cannot blame his want of
elOquence. He is just the companion that
suits me; always cheerful and always
good and ready to talk on any
subject. | must say am rather partial
to Walter Rossiter.
Now | wonder what made Gay look 50
pleased, and why her eyes beamed so soft
ly on Mr.. Hawtry Bit she said no hing,
and Mr. ROSSiter'S name soon dropped out
of the conversation.
Very shortly after that the rain cleared,
and the wagOnette was ordered. While
we were waiting for it, Gay asked me to
come with her into the dairy, 10 see Lydia
SOwerby. | was anxious o see Hanuah's
sister, but own | was not prepossessed
with her appearance. She had red hair
like Molly-indeed, most of the Sowerbys
had red hair-but she was far palmer than
Molly, and it struck me her face looked
hard.
had to own by and by, however, that
m first NTr q