San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-23

and her rejection of it; just the bare
facts, without comment or elaboration.
But Mrs. Mason had a mothers insight
and could read between the lines; she
did not harass her daughter with many
words, even of approval, or with ques-
tons; she simply drew the sweet, young
face down to her bosom moment and
held it there with tender kisses. Nor
did Berkeley, to whom his mother COM
municated the fact, volunteer any COM
ment to his sister. After what had
passed, Thorne's proposal was not sur
prise, and to them the girls answer was
foregone conclusion. Poor child! the
brother thought impatiently, the mother
wistfully, how much bitterness would
have been spared her could she only have
loved Jim Byrd.
During the weeks that followed
Thorne's second return north the two
families were thrown together more and
more intimately. Blanche's engage
ment and Warmers increased illness
served to break down all restraints. All
through the winter the boy had steadily
lost ground, and as the spring progressed,
instead of rallying as they hoped, his de-
cline became more rapid. The best ad-
vice was had, but science could only
bear the announcement of bereavement;
there was nothing to be done, the doc
tors said, save to alleviate pain and let
the end come peacefully; twas needless
to worry the boy with change or boot
less experiments. Even to the mothers
willfully blinded eyes and falsely fed
hopes conviction came at last that her
sons days were numbered.
Berkeley, Royal and other of the
neighboring gentlemen took turns in aid
ing with the nursing and the night
watches, as is the custom in southern
country neighborhoods where profess
sional nurses are unknown.
OF all the kindly friends that watched
and tended him through long weeks Of
illness the one that Warner learned to
love the best was Berkeley Mason. There
was thoughtful strength in the nature
of the man who had suffered, the soldier
who had endured, which the weaker
nature recognized and rested on. To the
General during this time of trouble the
young man became, in very truth, a son;
the old debt of kindness was Cancelled
and new account opened with change
in the balance.
As is usual in cases of lingering con-
sumption, the end was very sudden-so
sudden, in fact, that Norma, still away
with her northern friends, received the
telegram too late for word or look or
farewell kiss. She was travelling with
Mrs. Vincent and the message followed
her from place to place.
On still, beautiful May morning,
Warner was laid to rest in the Lanarth
graveyard beside poor Temple Mason.
1t was the boys own request, and his
mother felt constrained to comply with
it, although she would have preferred
interring the remains of her child beside
those of her own people at Greenwood.
The story of the young life beating itself
out against prison bars had taken strong
hold of the lads imagination, and the
fancy grew that he, too, would sleep
more sweetly under the shadow of the
old cedars in the land the young soldier
had loved so we'll
Norma and Pocahontas stood near each
other beside the new made grave, and as
they Quilted the Enclosure their hands
met for an instant coldly. Pocahontas
tried not to harbor resentment, but she
could not forget whose hand it had been
that had struck her the first bitter blow.
After Warmers death Mrs. Smith APP
peared to collapse, mentally as well as
bodily. She remained day after day
shut in his chamber, brooding silently
and rejecting with dumb apathy ali
sympathy and consolation. Her strength
and appetite declined, and her interest
in life deserted her, leaving a hopeless
quiescence that was inexpressibly pitt
full. Her husband, in alarm for her life
and reason, hurriedly decided to break
up the establishment at Shirley and re-
move her for time from surroundings
that constantly reminded her q her loss.
In the beginning of June the move
was made, the house closed, the servants
dismissed and the care of the estate
turned over to Berkeley. With the
dawning of summer the birds of passage
winged their flight northward.
CHAPTER XIX.