San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-26

hOpihS bildL onO COu1Q ever CdI6
for grizzled old fellow like him
self, but that his sentiments would
never change, and that if, at any future
time, circumstances should lead her to
reconsider her present views, she would
find him eager and grateful to throw
himself at her feet. He concluded by
requesting that she would forbear to
mention the episode to any one, even to
her father, lest the latter should be
grieved to discover that she could not
bring herself to consent to an alliance
with his oldest friend. BeaSrix replied
that she had no wish to speak of what
had occurred, and that she hoped they
both would forget it as soon as possible.
Hereupon Jocelyn took is leave, and
went back to New York, probably re-
GREETING the issue of the adventure al
most as much as he professed to do, al
though perhaps for reasons other than
those he thought it expedient to allege.
The third event was the death of poor
Professor Dorimar, which occurred sud-
denly and filled Beatrix with grief, not
withstanding that it appeared in one
sense the most natural thing that could
have happened to the good and mag
unanimous old man. He had had habit
of looking upward as he talked, and
Beatrix had thought that he seemed
much of the time communing with
better world, and perhaps derived from
some angelic source his grand ideas about
music and its mission to mankind. 1t
was the first death the girl had ever wit
messed, and it invested the three years
of the association together of the pupil
and her master with sort of RETROSPECT
tive sanctity. They had been altogether
the happiest years of Beatrix's life. The
professor had taught her something else
besides how to sing. Less by words than
by some tacit, sympathetic influence he
had led her to perceive and mediate
upon the nobler and loftier aspects and
capacities of human nature. AS to his
share in her vocal culture and her own
proficiency he never had made any def
mite pronouncement; but on the morning
before his death he requested her to
sing for him the air from Handel's
oratorio of The Nessiah'-'I know
that my Redeemer liveth." When she
had finished he said: my child, you
have enabled me to thank God that my
voice was destroyed, and that my life
has been for SO many years lonely dis
appointment. have had triumphs and
blessings that most men do not even
know how to desire. A mighty scepter
is In your hand" he went on, turning
his grave and gentle eyes upon her. II
have helped to show you how to WELD
it. Power is very sweet, but it needs
almost an angel not to use it harmfully.
don't know what life may be before
you, my dear: but whatever it may be /
trust that when You come to the end of
it You will find as little cause to regret
having met me as have much cause to
rejoice that have known you" Beatrix
hardly knew how to understand this at
the time. but afterward the words fire.
quently revisited her memory, and may
have had some influence over her at crit
ical moments of her career.
In autumn the old Randolph home
stead looked as if it were showered with
gold. The great elm trees, transmitted
by the touch of this Midas of the seasons,
stood in a yellow glory Of myriad leaves,
which every breath of the cool west
breeze scattered profusely eastward,
where, with the still unchanged grass,
they formed spangled carpet of green
and gold. The apples thronged the
crooked boughs of the orchard, some like
glowing rubies, others like the famous
fruit of the Hesperides, though there
was no guardian dragon to give them
fictitious value. The broad roof of the
house itself was Uttered with innu-
merable little golden scales, Of work
manship far beyond the skill
of any human goldsmith, yet of
absolutely no market value. What is
the significance of this yearly phantas-
magoria of illimitable riches, worthless
because illimitable? Is it a satire or
consolation? Does it mock the poor
mans indulgence or cause him to hope
again for competence? 1t comes as the
guerdon of Nature, after her mighty
task is done; but when she has composed
herself to her wintry sleep it is trodden
into the earth and forgotten, and the
new year begins his labors with new sap
and naked buds 1t is only the human
world that has to bear the burden of in
heritance: and perhaps we shall never
enjoy true wealth till we have learned
the lesson of the trees.
Poor Mr.. Randolph certainly had lit
tie else beside autumn leaves wherewith
to satisfy his creditors, and the winter
of his discomfort WAS close unOn him.