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


knees wrapped il thick blanket, he
could look out on the sunny garden. His
dear old books were close at hand, so
that he coul touch them if he pleased
with his feeble fingers.
Hannah had aired the room and made
his bed with clean sheets and pillow
slips. Her motion was quick and nerv-
Gus as she went about, saying Il cheer
full word now and then to which he re-
sponded with faint smile.
I'm an oil hulk, Hannah" he said at
last, no lon ;er seawortAy and con-
demned as not worth saving"
Don't talk that kind of stuff" said
Hannah energetically. Don't you see
the grass thick with lanielions and the
cherry blows coming out on the old
trees, a sight older than YOU be, Mr..
Rand? What does the Bible say about
the day spring from on high? Now that
see You gettin' better and sinilin' again
haven't nOthin' to complain of, and
just feel like singin' with that robin out
in the apple tree"
Sybil sat at the sewing machine work
ing feverishly, with her head bent and
the light playing on the warm tints of
her hair. She had grown more silent
and self contained than ever, and she
was little paler than usual, but she
complained of nothing. Hannah had
kept thus far her secret from Sybil, but
the words she had spoken to Ned Dins-
more, You shall marry her when |
come into my fortune" were always
sounding in Ter ears Dut as yet she
dared not let her hope shine out of her
eyes on the sad child who had taken up
her life's burden determined to bear it
silently.
1t was late when the doctor came, and
then his businesslike air and quick step
told of deeds done. well" said he,
putting down some papers on the table,
you must sign these, Hannah. have
seen Dinsmore and the thing is practical
ly settled. You will get the entire wood
lot near town and it will make you a
rich woman, for all the building has
gone out that way and spectators will
give you almost anything you choose to
ask for the land. Dinsmore sent for
Joel, who happened to be in town with
his milk cart, and when he saw that
acknowledgment of his, come up as it
were out of the grave to point to his ras-
cality and untruthfulness, you ought to
have seen him squirm. When asked if
that was his signature he was obliged to
say it was, and then he began to beg for
mercy and promised to give up your quit
claim to the estate and to get right out
of town. for it seems he has already sold
the old farm Littlefield will henceforth
be bad climate for him.
But this isn't all, Hannah. Dinsmore
has sent you u message. You see he has
had a devil of time with his boy Ned,
who has quarreled with his father and
left home in high dudgeon. Now Ned is
necessary to the old man there in the Of
fee. He waits to leave him his business.
He Acknowledges he has been hasty and
passionate, but this blow has struck him
hard"
Does he expect me to pity him?' Han
nah asked s&rcastic2ily.
well, | guess that's about it, Han
nah. The old man has been BUNDLED.
Ned has sworn he will never come back
until his father consents to Lis marriage
with the girl OF his choice"
mo, it's little money that makes
all the difference, doctor. We're just
what we were when he drove my girl
outof his Office with his harsh treatment.
No better and no worse, and not a whit
prouder!"
well, now, Hannah, l know you're as
proud as Lucifer, Lut you must think of
Sybil She isn't strong, and if her heart
is set on this young fellow a Gisappoint-
mcnt might blight her life"
Ten days had passed and now Han
nah's Little garden was in the perfection
of spring bloom. Apple trees made Il
pink and white border and were showing
down their petals on the little drying
lawn starred with dandeliOns. The Ii
laos were Judded full, and snowDalls
and spirea were bleaching hour by hour.
Good earthly smells from the freshly
turned clods made delicious perfume
mingled with the scents Of blossoms and
freshly cut grass. NJ. Rand had been
brought out well wrapped in his chair
and placed under the apple trees, where
the sun fell on his white hair and fiecked
it with slender shadows from the leafy
limbs. He was in his old patched dress
ing gown, but the exquisite neatness of
his person was as marked as ever. The
doctor and Dick had brought him out,
and the former was experimenting all
the arrangements with his usual direct
ness and tone Of authority.
Miss Ruby was there, too, wrapped in
her three shawl5 in spite of the balmi-
ness Of the day, and with a lace scarf