San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-09
plea for the child.

vi WAL hOCp Ou OuG RIOOV6
until the crack of doom, unless we are
jerked out of it by the nape of the neck.
Your heart ought to yearn over the
child-mine does. It's wicked sin 10
call pretty baby by such monstrous
name"
Grace trampled on the protest: "Not
name her Pocahontas? Why. of course
shallr If the name were twice as long
and three times as ugly my baby should
bear it. wonder You should object
when you know that every Pocahontas
in the family has invariably turned out
an exceptionally fine woman. All have
been noble, truthful, honorable; quick
to see the right and answering in pur-
suit Of it. shall call my baby by that
name and no other"
Pocahontas opened her eyes. "Why,
Grace" she said, lyon talk as if the
name were a talisman; as il virtues were
transmitted with it. Isn't that silly2"
shot at all" responded Grace prompt
ly; ''unless we cease to be ourselves after
we must still take interest in the things
Of this world, in our families and de-
scendants. We may not be able actually
to transmit our virtues to them, but
surely by guardian influence we can help
them initiate ancestral good qualities
Guardian angels of our own blood are a
great deal nearer than outside angels,
and l believe the dear Lord appoints
them whenever he can: and if so, why
shouldn't the good women who are in
heaven take interest in my baby who
will bear their name? 1t is their name
still, and it must hurt them to see it
soiled; of course they must take interest.
| Were an angel the child on earth who
bore my name should be my special
| charge"
"Then, according to your showing.
Grace. six good women, now holy angels,
have baby and me in constant keeping
for love of our ugly name. The idea is
fanciful, and don't consider it orthodox:
but it's pretty and like it. Miss Poca-
hontas the ninth, you and / must walk
with circumspection, not to grieve the
good ladies up above who are kind
enough to take such interest in u.s."
Pocahontas Knocked at Grace's idea.
but it pleased her all the same, and un-
consciously it influenced her more than
she knew. She loved the legends of her
house, delighted in the fact of descent
from brave men and true women. The
past held her more than is common with
the young people of the present day, and
she sought out and treasured all the rec
ords of the six women who had borne
her name, from the swarthy Indian
princess down to the gentle, gray haired
lady who held the place of honor at the
Lanarth breakfast table.
Princess" said Mrs. Mason, as she
distributed the sugar and cream, 81
wish you'd ring the bell Rachel must
have breakfast ready by this time, and
hear Berkeley's step outside"
Princess rang the bell quite meekly.
The pet sobriquet was in as familiar use
among them as her real name, but her
touch on the bell did not suggest the
imperiousness of royalty. Aunt Rachel
was an old family servant, faithful, fat
and important, and Aunt Rachel hated
to be hurried. She said lit pestered
her, an made her Spite the vittles." She
answered promptly this time, however,
entering with the great waiter of hot
and tasty dishes before the bell had
ceased its faint naturalization. Berke-
ley, tall fair man, whose right sleeve
was fastened against his breast, entered
also.
81 saw Jim Byrd this morning." he
remarked as he seated himself after the
customary greeting to his mother and
sister. "He called here on his way over
to Roy Garnett's, where he was going to
bid goodby. asked him in to breakfast,
but he couldn't stop; said he had prom
ised Grace to take breakfast with them.
He has to make farewell tour, for old
friends feelings will be hurt. It's rather
awful and hard ON Jim, but he couldn't
bear the thought of the neighbors feel
! ing slighted. suggested a barbecue and
a stump speech and bow, but the idea
didn't seem to appeal to Jim. Poor old
fellowp "
Couldn't he contrive to hold Shirley,
Berke?" questioned Mrs. Mason as she
passed his cup. HE had retained pos
session so long there must have been
some way to hold it altogether"
mo; the thing was impossible" re-
piled Berkeley; "the plantation was
mortgaged to the hub before Jim was
born. The Byrds have been extravaganza
for generations and a crash was inevita-
BILE. Old Mr. Byrd could barely meet
the interest even before the loss of Cousin
Mary's money. During the last years of
his life some of it was added to the prin-
cipal, which made it harder work for
jim. But for Jim's management, and
the fact that the creditors all stood like a