San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-01

mona, WHO WOulN look AT MIN so rOgulSnly
from under long lashes and would not lis
ten. And now he heard her voice calling:
"Lightfoct, Eghtfoot, come up, come
up; come to me. accushlar" and the tinkle
of the cowbell echoed back again. He
pictured her sitting on the little stool and
milking the COW; he knew how she would
look-he had often watched her. The
sleeves of her frock would be pushed up
over her round arm; the dark rings of her
hair would lie loosely over her head and
float against the dull dun of the cows
side. He imagined he could hear her talk
ing and cooling to old Lightfoot, who
seemed to him so unappreciative.
He remembered Aileen. She-and Mona
were about the same age, but so unlike in
appearance that kinship would have never
been suspected. While Mona was rather
below the average height, Aileen was
above it; MGna's curly tresses were black
as midnight, and Aileen's bronze gold.
1t had beer a proud moment to them all
when my LAZY Lindores sent for Aileen to
come to the big house." as the tenantry
all termed the great stone mansion, and
prouder still when my lady made known
her wishes that Aileen should accompany
her as maid.
Not a throb of jealousy quickened Mona's
pulses at Aileen's good fortune. She re-
jOiced with her cousin, and was unfeign-
eddy glad. And now my Lord and Lady
Lindores were home for short while after
a year of absence, and Aileen was back
once more in the home of her childhood
With tears of delight her mother and
Mona greeted the traveller, her father sur
veyed her with complacent pride and APP
prevail: to them she was more beautiful
than ever.
The month drew to a close. The big
hoUSe" would soon be empty again and
silent. The days had been busy ones; new
cottages had been erected, new barns and
buildings; the wide estate had been re-
fenced and improved. And now all would
he quiet till winter, when it was expected
that the mansion would be filled with a
merry crOwU of guests, and the logs would
'laze on the hearthS, making Christmas
cheer.
My lord and lady, alike beloved by their
people, had been planning some amuse-
ment for them as an appropriate and vel
come wind up of the work. The wide new
barn seemed particularly adapted for the
purpose and Lord Lindores announced
that here he would give dance and boun.
tiful supper.
Mona slipped down to the river in glee
at the good news Aileen had just brought
to her She swung herself up to limb
that reached half way over the water, and
scrambled recklessly out upon it till the
bough swayed.
Gerald" she called eagerly down the
river Hi, Geraldr'
He was not in sight but she thought he
would probably be just around the bend
fishing In one moment the familiar faded
red boat came swinging around.
"Come here, Gerald, jist as quick as We
CAM she calls, quiyering with excitement
and splashing the water below with impa.
tient heels.
Comm" he answers "Shure. Mona,
what is it, Is the cow after dying? Or the
pigs stoleS Tell it, colleen"
1.-The cow!' she says, her eyes dancing;
"oh, Gerald, it's me feet can't kape sthill
long enough to spake wild me tongue. The
dance we're goin to have in the new barn
tomorrow night; We didn't know that
now? have come iist to tell We uvit."
And is that ALL" says Gerald as he rests
his oars and looks at her surprised "An'
thought, Mona, We had thing to tell,
and afeard the news. A big bite lost,
too, for whin We called so fast didn't bide
to finish"
'Well, amt ye glad now. Gerald, for me
to tell you"
Faith an knew that same already. 1t
was no news TO me, Mona"
Mona's red lips pouted
$50 back thin, Gerald, to your fishin';
It's not for me to bother ye."
Earol1 CI,ryava6 hpr wit N an odd pypraS
sion on his face.
Look, Mona" he said, drawing little
bundle from the pocket of his corduroy
trousers "See what am goin' to ask the
purtiest gurrl in kilgarnock to wear to-
morrow night" And he carefully unroled
a wide pink silk handkerchief and held il
up for Monas inspection. The little maid
claspcd her hands in admiration. She had
nothing like it, and never doubted that it
was intended for her.
"'Tis beautiful, shure, Gerald"
He crancd his neck around to one side
to behold tie kerchef from her point of
view
Eyes" he said calmly, and then folded
it up very carefully in its tissue wrap
pings, and put the bundle back into his
pocket.
"Good-by, Mona" he called bending
over his oars again.
She did not answer, but stared rather
blankly at the little boat till y disap
peared.
"Indade, thin, don't care if it's not for
me. | wouldn't have it," shaking her
head and speaking emphatically. 81
wouldn't have it at all, at all"
She climbed Off her perch little more
slowly than she mad mounted it, and be-