San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-12


lamp burning brightly upon the table.
But the old man had not stirred hand or
foot in her absence. He lay as in a sweet
sleep, and the pink dawn coming in at
his window touched his cheek with the
fictitious bloom of health.
Hannah seemed just to have dropped
into q fathOmlesS abyss of rest when she
felt something clutch her shoulder. A
sharp shake followed. and then an ex-
cited. fearful voice said in her drowsy
ear:
You'll never speak a bad word of
cats again us long as you live" She
opened her eyes and saw Crumpet,
hunched up and winkless, sitting on the
foot Of her bed
For heavens sake, what is it, Ruby:
Is the old man worse:'
Il tell you not to speak i'll of cats"
said Ruby, quivering with suppressed
emotion. 1T was that blessed creature
that led me to the hole in the apple tree
where found it,"
Have you gone crazy, too" moaned
poor Hannah, sitting up in bed with her
nightcap much awry and staring straight
at Ruby. Il always heard it ran in the
family and came down from your great
aunt Naomi"
"He led me to the place. Ruby went
on, not having heard word of Han
nah's speech, and pointing at Crumpet,
where Jane had hid Anson's tin box.
hadn't slep' moro than forty winks when
| saw her in the kitchen, dancin' in her
nightgown, with her old fiirt of shawl
round her shoulders in the dead hours.
And she came near settin' the papers
afire over the lamp chimbly. thought
should scream bloody murder, but i
didn't on account of the old man. She
Few out of the door and | after her as
hard as | could put in my stocking feet.
She scampered home and hid the box
and then locked herself in and began to
blow the last trump. But that blessed
cat! Oh, am as weak as water. He
led me straight to the hole in the tree,
and if you'll believe it found my lace
scarf and my morocco slippers hid away
all a ruck of mildew and green mold.
But the Lord be thanked, that paper Joel
gave to Arson was all safe and sound
saved by a special Providence. She
must have stole the box, don't know
when, unheknOwnest to US all. And
where has she KEEP it all these years:
Nebbe in mothers old red chest in the
garret, where she hides most of her
dUds. But Oh, am that faint and limp
I Sl,Dl fall
PROSTATE in convenient rocking chair
in state of complete collapse.
Hannah had SIT with her mouth open
not understanding word that Ruby
poured forth III such a cop;ous stream,
bat when she saw the tin box in her lap
she mechanically opened it and took up
Il folded paper, the first that came to
hand. 1t was in Joel Fearino's Cramped
handwriting. and acknowledged the re-
ceipt of a considerable sum Of money
from his brother Arson, and bore his
signature. 1t Vas dated Ouly week be-
fore Anson'3 death. Then 1t was Han
rahs turn 10 become slightly hysteri-
cal, and she found herself hUgging
CcTmpet III way that seemed rather
ridiculous when she thought OF it after
ward. She never knew how she got
into her clothes, but in less than half an
ho"r the little house was seething with
suppressed excitement. Dick was called
up and sent in hot haste for the doctor,
who came running over Lalf dressed,
thinking the Old man was either dead or
dying. But when he came out of the
sick room he said che2rily:
"WAy, Hannah, The Old man is much
better. His eye looks bright again and
his speech lc $ thiu., AID confused. You