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

ooh, dear, no! Why should II He's
nice enough, as old gentlemen go, and
you all know don't care"-she stopped
suddenly, bending her head to gather
the fallen flowers-"I think don't care
for any one else. And then Tab always
reminds me that he's so rich. and that
married folks must have money"
"Absurdity!" broke in Miss Tabitha.
"You do not comprehend the awful So
lemnity of this sacrament! You do not
| know what marriage means!"
"Do you?" Bennie's head went pertly
| to one side, but her eyes twinkled with
anything but the merriment responsive
| to her words. "But / do know, you
dear old Tab. Marriage means new
card plates, loves of bonnets, opera boxes,
| rounds of visits and unlimited credit at
Stewards! There Don't l know"
Miss Fay's thin lips closed ominously,
but only emitted the words:
| "Poor motherless niece!"
"Poor, husbandless aunt" Bennie
initiated tone and expression with much
humor and some bitterness. Miss Fay
raised hands and eyebrows in fierce re-
proach, but before she could speak the
| girl whirled around and seized her in an
embrace from which her thin limbs nor
fast rising ire could release her.
| '.Now confess, you dear old Tab, that
those are your sentiments! EhY'
'Oh! that horrid Parish gasped the
somewhat Modified but still struggling
spinster.
Don't preach, that's dear" respond
ed her niece, loosing the clasp of the
rounded arms. Don't preach, for my
respected husband will probably do that
for the rest of my natural life!"
| Miss Tabitha still shifted wrathfully.
"Oh! that Paris!" she repeated. Fin
ish girl, indeedi 1t finishes all the
propriety and all the heart out of herl"
| Bonnie stood still, her arms dropped
at her side: the blue eyes dancing no
longer, but fixed vaguely on the distant
foot hills. She seemed to answer some
inward thoughts rather than the spin
ster's words; but her own were borne on
deep sigh. .-.
maybe you are right, auntie. Some
times l believe l have no heart; and l
know myself less than ever today. What
1 am you have made me. am only a
result; something manufactured be-
tween tutors and dressmakers. What
an may be sad fact, even a serious er-
ror. But the fact cannot be changed
| now, and the error is not mine, but that
of our false society system!'
Miss Tabitha found no words to an
swer, for the girls voice trembled, spite
of the bitter words it bore, and tears
that did not fall brimmed full the soft
ened eyes. Reaching up she suddenly
pressed her lips to the spinster's fore
head as she added:
Don't think blame you, dear old
Tab. You meant all for my good; and
now it has all come for the best to your
thinking. And if ever find have q
heart you shall have place in it-next
to his!" And, throwing her arms around
her fathers neck, Bonnie hid her face
on his shoulder moment. Then she
ran to the table again and bent busily
over the flowers; but the young face was
bright no longer with sunshine of the
heart. A quick cloud rose over the
brow; but no human eye saw the tear
| that trembled an instant on the long
lash ere it gfistened like diamond on
| the fresh rose leaf.
Did that crystal drop blot out the
girls implied falsehood as did tie Re-
cording Angel my Uncle Toby's oatha
Miss Fay's amazement did not permit
her even to smooth the silvery bands the
girls cares had rumpled.
'Good graciousr she exclaimed. 'The
child actually thinks~
There was a suspicion Of huskiness, but
unwonted asperity, in Mr.. Standish's
underoned response:
'Sister Tabitha, you never did under
stand Bennier
Nonsense, Brother Standishr
Miss Tabitha was herself again Her
foot was on it's native heath of argument;
| and her voice was for war, if not still.
But suddenly its key changed, as the
| frou-frou of skirts was heard on the
gravel walk outside; and a splendid type
Of the New York girl confronted MIR.
Standish at the window.
"Why, Edith dear, you are alonel" it
concluded, with as near approach to
COO as Miss Fay's dignity and conforma-
ton could permit.
"Quite; since my cavalier, the tele-
graph boy from the village, handed me
this and fled for dear life" the girl an
swered, in a rich, mellow contralto, with
| caress in its tone, as she extended the
dingy brown envelope.
ga telegram? Bless me!-um-um!
Nothing wrong, l hopep" Mr.. Standish
| muttered, not taking the message, but