San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-11-27
CRANBERRY SYMPHONIES.
A Thanksgiving Story.

young officer in undress uniform. Ht
sat by the west window with a boob
in his hand which he was not read
ing.
The party OF the second part was 8
young lady, who sat by the cas-
window with a piece of sewing in hel
hand, upon which she was not sew.
ing.
The party of the third part, was q
small boy, who sat upon the floor
surrounded by play things, with
which he was not playing.
The locality was an army post in
Arizona, and the time of the year
was November. A certain restraint
pervaded the trio. which had extend
ed itself to the chIld-a young person
quick to receive impressions, and en-
barr assingly ready to impart them
10 the world in general. lie felt that
the silence was becoming unbearable
and struck up with the first remark
that came into his inquisitive brain.
mfr Helmer where did you go to
SCHOOL,"
"Mr. Helmer looked up from his
book and answered with a single
noun substantive
West Point"
Charley ruminated on this mo-
ment. He seemed to find the name
familiar, but for the sake of prolong-
ing the conversation and possibly
adding TO his information he address
ed the young lady.
Aunt Bertha, where is West
Point??"
How should I know, Charley, some
little point down in the west | sup
pose"
The officer WINGED at this premedl-
taUed shaft, and thought of his last
ball at the locality named, when he
waltzed half the night with the nom
ehalent damsel across the sitting
room. He distinctly remembered her
white dress and the blue forget-me-
nots she wore-her little hand upon
his arm, and the short blonde curls
near his shoulder-Charley realized
that Interrogation was at discount.
He fell to making whole elephant
cut of the disiointed anatomy of that
euadruped, as it lay in scattered
block installments about the carpet.
Charley's father was the cOmman-
vi pbcI, anu
Mr.. Helmer, his first lieutenant
shared his quarters. As to the young
lady, she was the captains sister,
and she had come to spend the win
ter with him, at the bidding of a
caprice no one exactly understood.
Charley's mother, known TO the
census as Mrs. Cynington, but to her
self and contemporary history, chief.
ly in her maternal capacity-com-
pleted the household. She was
handsome woman, large and tall,
with classic features and an air OF
command In reality she wore the
diminutive yoke of her son and sis.
ter-in.law very meekly, admiriug
even while she Gisapproved. Mrs.
Cyning ton had never been a flirt.
Bertha was cOquette from her
cradle. Her soft blue eyes, the rings
OF sunny hair which covered her
small head, the gentle almost plead
ing expression other "little rose bud"
mouth had been dangerous accesso.
rles to many. Perhaps success in her
favorite game had spoiled her, she
had been used to hold the whip hand
with her tiny fingers so long, that
she resented masculine perOgatives
no matter how just.
Mr.. Helmer had admired her one
whole winter before her fascinating
personality betook itself to Arizona.
She made short work of his complete
suhjugation when the war, SO to
speak was carried into Africa. New.
ertheless there was a misunderstand-
ing of terms as expressed by the
tHyorI ~ l.,
ing it as unconditional surrender,
the gentleman as an occasion for
mutual concessions. Bertha had in
sisted that the engagement should
be month old before their respective
families should be enlightened, and
it was perhaps wise precaution
Mr.. Helmer telegraphed at once, for
ring and could see no cloud on the
horizon of his joy.
Before the arrival of the trinket
however, storm clouds had gathered,
and the solitaire was dead weight
on his hands. A lovers quarrel,
which Miss Bertha had meant to
end in scene of graceful and dra-
matte reconciliation, had terminated
in final catastrophe. Mr., Helmer
was too unaccustOmed to the light
artillery of Irritation to glide proper
ly through its mazes.
The young lady was surprised to
find her caprices resented, her faint
approaches to making up regarded
with lofty scOrn and began to con.
template return to New York where
more facile lovers awaited her. Char.
ley felt that the burden of converse.
ton still rested upon him. He had
an instructive idea that pauses were
lmpolite. He ventured therefore a
remark addressed to the house in
general.
"Tomorrow's going to be Thanks
giving" Neither of his auditor
daionad to ranlY He fnllnmnd q