San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-21

been quite privilege to nurse him; not a
complaint, not an irritable word. | al
ways knew he was good man, but i'll
ness is such a test of character
but you hive worn yourself out |
mbled: you do not look well.' But
she interrupted me.
do not notice my looks before your
nncle,' she said, pleadingly; he is so
anxious about me; but indeed | am only
little tired; shall be better now | have
told you and got it over. You have been
on my mind, Merle, and then that hOrrid
accident" But | would not let her dwell
upon that. We had reached the cottage
by this time, and Patience was watching
for us: she looked prettier and roster than
ever.
found Uncle Keith sitting pillOwed up
in an armchair by the drawing-roOm fire.
thought he looked shrunken, and there
was pinched look about his features
He had not grown younger and hand
sOmer to my eyes, but as he turned his
prominent brown eyes on me with kind
look of welcome, and held out his thin
hand, | kissed him with real affection, and
my eyes were a little wet.
"Hir-rumph, my dear, | am pleased to
see you-there, there, never mind my
stupid illness: | am quite Il giant now, ch,
Agatha? 1t is worth being i'll, Merle, 10
be uursed by your aunt: oh, quite & luN-
ury, | assure you. I!ir-rUmDh.' ..Hd
here Uncle Keith cIc1rcd his thr at in his
usual fashion, and stirred the fire rather
loudly. though he looked Il little pn!cr 1f-
ter the exercise.
But | am So drcalfHlly sorry, Uncle
Keith, | said, when Aunt Agatha had
| taken the poker from him and bu.lIgd
! out OF the room tn fetch him some jelly,
| 'tO think never knew how i'll you were.
"Ihat was all the better, Child,' lie re-
! :urued. Checrful!y. agatha was wise
woman not to tell YOU; but Their" arc not
many people in the world, Merle. vino
! would come up to yOur aunt, not mHnT,"
! rubbing his hands together.
NO, indeed, Uncle KEITH
| GLOW do YOU think She luOK~y' he CON
| tinued, turning round rather sharply.
| "Havc tired her out, eh?"
..She looks a little tired, certainly"
..Iir-rumph, | Thought SO Agatha nv
| dear" as she re-entolrd with the i.IIv. 81
do not want all this waiting on now: it is
my turn to wait ON Won must not wear
| 10
| And thouoh we beth Iauobod at thot and
! Amt Aoaiha pretended that he was only
in finn If was almost nothatic to 500 how
he watched her bnsy movements about
| tbe room and hoy, he baorad her aooin
and ,oain to sir down and NOT fire her.
self. and vet she loved TO do if think
we both of rs knew that was NOT dis
! nnspd TO pitv Aunt Aratha as had done
! in former wears PprhaDs 7 had GROWN
older and more wOmanl in those eioht
months Of service, and less disposrd TO he
! critical ON uuipt. mattrr-or-rarr lives On
thr contrary I bcr3u tO understand i'm u
| VAGUE sort of way that Aunt AGATHA was
garnering in much happiness in her usc-
/ full middle age, in her honest. siugIe-eycd
service Love had come to her in sober
! guise. and without pretension. but it was
the right sort of love after all. no doubt
To youthful eyes, Uncle Keith was not
! more of hero: but plain honest man,
even though he has fewer inches than
his fellows. may have merit enough to fill
one woman's heart, and ceased to Won
der at Aunt Agatha's infatuation in be-
lieving herself happy woman.
We had not much talk apart that dav
Aunt Agatha could not leave Uncle Keith,
but | never felt him less in the way.
talked quite openly about things; he WAS
as much Interested ms Aunt Agatha in
listening to my description Of Wristbands
and Whecler's Farm, and had not Il dis
gauting word when praised Gay Cheriton
in nv old enthu,iastic way. and onlv a
soft "hir-rumDh" iutprruDted nv account
of Reggie's accident.
1t was Aunt Agatha who walked back