San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-21
MERLE'S CRUSADE.
BY ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author of "3urbGrG HedtbcOte'S Trial."
"QuecniC'S Whim," 1.-THE Search
for Basil LyndhlTSt."

l
believe that only very busy and hard
worked people really enjoy holiday
listless and half-OCcupied lives know moth
ing of the real holiday feeling and the
joyousness of putting ones work aside .OI
a few hours of complete idleneSS.
| felt almost as buoyant and light-heart'
ed as a child when | caught sight of the
old bridge and the gray towers of All
Saints. The river looked blue and clear
in the October sunshine; there were barEes
floating idly down the stream; small
steamer had just started from the tiny
pier: two or three ClumSy-lOOking boats
with heavy brown sails were mOOred tC
the shore: there was a man in red cap II
one of the boats; two or three bare-legged
urchins were wading in the water. There
was line of purple shadow in the dis
lance. little sparkleS of sunlight every
where, yellow and red leaves fluttertng,
little skiir with man iii white llanMel
coming rapidly into sight, OmniDueeS,
cabs, heavy wagons gathering over the
bridge. Beyond the white arches OF lie
rev bridge the busy hum of workers, the
hnaving of great cranes, the toll and strain
Of human activity.
stood aside with others to watch until q
weII-knoWn figure in the distance recalled
me with a start Surely that WHs Aunt
Agatha crossing tn" road by the bridge;
no one else walked in that Way-that
quick. straight forward walk, that never
seemed TO lingrr or hesitate, that COuld
only belong to her Yes, it was she, tul
there was the dear woman holding ont her
hands to me. with the Old Kind smile
breaking over her face.
Il came to meet YOU. Merle; did not
want to lose. one minute of your company,
but was q little late after all, dear child.
What stranger you are, all these months
that we have not met
at has seemed long time to me, Aunt
Agatha; so much seems to have happened
since was last here
'IOu may we'll say So she returned,
gravely; eve have both much for which to
to be thankful. Your accident, Merle,
which might have had such grave results,
and here she chez ked herself, but
something in her manner seemed strange
to me.
1--WE need not walk quite 50 fast, sure
ly," | demonstrated. "HOw these people
JOSlIC OuG. dlNl l want 10 ldlA W Gu 81.
and | to you. Never mind, we shall
find quiet corner under the shadow of
st. Mary's.' And as she spoke we tIrned
into the narrow tagged path skirting the
church, with the tOmbs and gray old head
stones cleaning here and there. There
were fewer people here
Are you sure YOU are quite well?' |
began, rather anXiousIy. "You are look
ing paler than usual, Aunt Agatha, and,
if it be not my fancy. a little thinner
"NrS, and Older, and perhaps a trihe
Grayrr," she returned, rather bri>kly; but
| thought her chccrfUlness little forced.
1--WE have not yet learned how to grow
younger, child Well, if you must know
and This il why | came to meet you, that
we might have our little talk tOgcther-l
have not been without my troubles; your
uncle has been very ill, Merle SO i'll that,
at one time feared | might lose him;
but Providence has been good to me and
spared my dear husband. And here
Aunt Agatha'S voice tremblcd and her
eyes grew misty
WAS almost too shocked to answer; but
my first words were to reproach her for
keeping me in ignorance.
avon mast not blame me- Merlu," she
replied. gently. Il wanted you dreadful
Iy felt quite sore with the longing to see
you, but knew you could not come to
me. Mrs Morton was in SCUtland YOU
were in sole charge of those children.
Unless things grew worse, | knew had
no right to summon YOU Thank God,
was spared that necessity: the danger only
lasted forty-riGht hours; after that he