San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-08

Beunie StdadiSh bounded into the room.
Angular beyond the hither boundary
of primness, and not without its favor
of subacid, was the presence rising per-
pendicular to the cane sofa and seeming
to CLINT in the food of summer. For, on
that glad June morning of 1860, a soft
ened sunlight saturated the river breeze
ere it swept into the wide French win
dows of Rose villa.
1t needed neither the small bunch of
keys dangling at her girdle nor the
sleek bands of thinning hair above the
knotted forehead to proclaim Miss
Tabitha Fay's minated state. Her whole
being radiated spinsterhood, and charac-
teristic, while not unpleasing, was the
voice that said:
Nonsense, Brother Standish! you are
talking as though we had sold our dar-
ling into slavery!"
And the hong white fingers turned the
leaves of the housekeeper's book with
snap.
Benton Standish turned irresolutely
and walked toward the window. His
round, rubicund face grew Swallowed
and heightened visibly as he looked out
dismally upon the most tasteful garden
on all the banks of the lordly Hudson.
The breeze that played about his hair
was heavy with odors pilfered from the
flowers; but the sniff he gave was Of
discomfort; the gaze, turned inward.
rocked little of the landscape, Judging
from the half soliloquy, half reply:
"U-uml True, Mason said nothing
about mortgages and overdue notes.
Neither of Us could forget them, though.
And I tell you, Sister Tabitha," he added
more distinctly, "you hit it right. Its
just selling the child to keep Bose villa
in the family"
cit Is rather late to speak of that
now" the lady retorted in quiet mono
tone from behind the fertilization Of
fixed fact, "when the wedding is some
six hours off"
eyes, know it is too late; but, sister,
I never should have consented to let the
wedding day be anticipated with such
unseemly hastel" Mr.. Standish spoke
warmly and with decision.
MISS II dy lou Lei COLu gray CyOo iCosNh
him a moment before replying:
s'Mr. Mason thinks these impending
troubles in the south make his presence
imperative on his Red river plantations.
Naturally his Impotence could not wait
their settlement"
ga woman worth marrying is worth
waiting fort" Standish answered testify.
itch L
you are
"a donkey? So l am" he finished with
little laugh, dwindling to sigh as he
again turned to the window, adding:
But I'm worse than that; I'm a beggart
tell You, Tabitha, this match was none
of my making"
81 consider it extremely well made,
was the retort-so quick as to prove that
il had been of hers. "Mr. Mason is not
much over so; he has family"-and Miss
Tabitha smoothed down caressingly her
immaculate morning dress at each emu
merated excellence-''reputation, large
fortune, and will inherit more"
And Bonnie is just 49," Standish
said absently, as if to the Hudson be-
low; ''she has beauty, high spirit, not a
dollar, and will inherit-debtsP
Nonsense, Brother Standish" began
lie minated voice in the apprehension
key; but it gradually changed the pitch,
as curiosity overcame even combat1ve-
ness. ''But, good graciousl where can
she be? Romping about the woods, l
presume; and this her wedding day"
As if in answer fresh, girlish voice
floated through the windows, in the
'~.-;s,,t sn4as nf COMM T9,.-a' the P''>