San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-06-05

Played out" she certainly was. She
could scarcely climb the broad, low
stairs, and walked so YEARLY along the
corridor that the good natured chamber
maid was fain to offer her her arm for
support.
Are you going to put me in No. 4j:'
uueried the sweet old voice, TREMENDOUSLY,
as they went past door after door, along
way which began to seem strangely ia
miliar, like the places one has seen in
dreams.
NO, ma'am, not 45," replied the girl,
cheerily, that's taken. Forty-seven is
the number" And she displayed the
shiny tag depending from the big brass
key which the clerk had given her.
obi" said the old lady in meek disap-
pointment, I'm sorry fer that! | was
in hopes | could have the same room
ag'in. It's only for this once, We know,
an Ioick an me had it afore; fifty years
ago"
I'm sorry too, them" said the plump
chambermaid, sympathizingly. But it
was taken yesterday. There's young
couple in it. | guess they amt been
married very long; and she's as pretty
as a piCter You'll see her gOin' in and
comm out, | shouldn't wonder. Your
rooms right opposite.
LAS pooty as picter," repeated the
old lady, musingly. That's what lsick
said | was. Ye wouldn't blieve now
tat my hair was bright waller onc't,
would ye?" as the .girl thoughtfully and
kindly removed the queer little black
bonnet from the tired head.
"Idon't know" replied the other, dubi-
ousIy cying the thin, gray hair she had
uncovered; and, then-for there was
something about this curious little old
woman which touched her unwOntedly-
she added softly, The trueSt things is
| hardest to believe sometimes, an your
hair S fine an pretty now"
Thank We, dear" said the Old lady.
| We're proper good to me. Now I'll just
set here an rest spell. You can call me
when teas ready, if We like. An just
leave the door open. Maybe the young
lady'll come out by'embye." "AS pooty
as picter--aS pooty as piCter," she re-
peated softly to herself, rocking quietly
back and forth in her chair, while the
chambermaids retiring footsteps echoed
more and more family along the corridor.
And then, somehow, the world and its
| troubles faded gently from her, and the
old country lady sat there, fast asleep,
amid the whir and roar of the unheeding
| city.
When she woke it was dark; the gas
was lighted in the corridor, and in the
opposite doorway-the doorway of No
| 4j-there stood a vision! Golden haired
blue eyed, in soft, clinging robes of gray
she seemed to be gazing back across
the chasm of fifty years, upon herself as
she had stood once in that selfsame door
way, waiting for Isaac to come and take
her down to tea. Quick steps sounded
near and nearer. A young man, tall and
strong as ever Isaac had been, came
along the corridor, and the vision bright.
ened at his approach. He held out for
her acceptance a bunch of delicate, fresh
rOSebuds, and she fastened them at her
belt.
Then they locked the door of 4j, turn
ing the same key, perhaps, which Isaac
and she had turned half century be-
fore, and passed slowly on together, out
of sight.
When the plump chambermaid came
to summon her charge to tea she found
the door closed, and within little, old
lady, sitting alone in the dark, whose
face looked withered and pale when the
light once more fell upon it from the gas
jet in the hall.
Il guess | don't care much fer tea
after all, she said, YEARLY. I'D ruther
go to bed. Would you mind unlockin
the carpet bag, dear, an gettn' out my
things? feel all queer like, somehow,
an my feet's so numb an cold it don't
seems if could stan up long enough ter
| undre5s."
Two hours later, when the golden
haired bride and her husband came back,
Marcia, the chambermaid, stayed them
at the door.
Il hate ter bother ye, ma am" she
said but the poor old body opposite is
like ter be down sick, I'm afraid an not
soul in the house belOngin' to her. BY
all | can make out, she come here, fifty
years ago, on her weddin' tower, an
she's here ag'in now, because 'Isick,
whoever he was, said they'd keep their
golden weddin' here. But he'd ha done
better if he'd held his tongue till the
time came, for now he's dead an cleared
out, an left her ter keep it all alone.
poor thing Not that there's much dan