San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-20
Che Qailu Eight.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1892.

that, and she glanced at the Turkish
rug. u didn't see what beset Cousin
Sarah to bI that for me a Christmas
present at first, but it's growed on me
every day, and my! how it does lastr
She gathered up her rugs and went
into the house, and having placed them
and washed her hands began to get
breakfast, Socrates watching the process
with deep interest, especially when some
fish were put upon the frying pan, for
like all cats he adored fish.
(Which is it?" Aunt Pam said again.
81 do feel beset to know, and do hope
its Edwina-"
She was not sure whether she had not
said this aloud and felt startled when
she saw a pretty, slender, but rather
pale young girl standing on the farther
side of the stove.
"Up already she said. in some con-
fusion. Aunt Pam wouldn't have
called you She felt you'd hike to sleep
little after the party"
"Oh, somehow / was restless, Aunt
PAM" the girl answered. Il don't
think I've slept at all-only little maps
that seemed worse than nothing-start
ing out of them thinking was falling
from some high place. Jacintha is
sound asleep though, and smiling as
though she was having pleasant
Dreams" she turned her head away as
she spoke.
II never knew any one like Jacintha
before" she said. i.she's always pretty,
awake or asleep, hot or cold, tired or
angry, always beautiful, even when any
one else would look plain-ike a girl in
novel. did not believe in such girls,
but she is proof that they exist"
Though Aunt Pam could not see her
nieces face she felt sure that she was
crying.
"Tll carry in the fish; you bring the
coffee" she said, leaving the room with
hot dish in her hands.
1t was quite little time before Ed
wilma appeared in the dining room, and
even then her eyes were wet and her
features swollen.
"She's been crying dreadfully," said
Aunt Pam to herself, and her feelings
would be restrained no longer.
There's girl know that amt bit
like Jacintha," she said, land that's
Edwina Palmer. Whatever she feels
she shows it so plain that her Aunt Pam
don't need to be told whether she's happy
or in trouble. Tell me what has hap
pened to make you cry, EdwinaT'
Edwina looked at her for a moment,
and then turned and ran into the corner
of the room and hid her face there,
crowding herself into the wall as though
trying to force herself through it. Hel
shoulders were shaking with suppressed
sobs. Against her will her grief had
gotten the best of her.
"Oh, Aunt Pamr' she gasped, "Aunt
Pam, can't help it. | felt as if ! should
die, and want to-yes, / want to-"
AUNT Pam knows all about it, dar.
ling" the spinster said. Life is real
short, come to look back upon it. Don't
seem no time since jefferson Fosdick
came counting me. I've never given
nobody the particulars of how we broke
off, and guess ] never shall. But felt
like you do now. Tell me what has
been happening. Is it about Norman
Driscoll|
The girl left her corner and came to
Aunt Pam's side and knelt down, en-.
circling the spinster's ample waist with
her arms and hiding her face in her
bosom.
"Oh, what should do if you were not
so good to me-if had not you to tell?''
she sobbed. 1T is about Norman Dris.
coll. | am ashamed, but cannot help
it. liked him so much and he liked
me, auntie. He loved me dearly.
knew it by every sign, not so much by
what he said as by what he looked. And
then she came and took him from me.
He did not go of his own free will-she
did it. With all the power she has to
charm men she worked to get him from
me. He is hers now, hers-Oh, Aunt
Pamr'
why didn't you tell me, dear?" Aunt
Pam asked, laying her cheek against
the girls satin soft hair. ''Fd have
stopped it."
'Oh, what could you have done,
aunty?" Edwina asked.
"Well, think I'd have sent her home
Anyhow, l could have gone into the
parlor and sot," said Miss Pam so
quantity, that in spite of her grief Ed
wilma gave little hysterical laugh.
There, it is over" she said, rising.
1--WE told you and I've had my cry out.
He gave her ring last night saw him
put it on her finger. He kissed her
goodby, not caring if l saw them. 1t is
all settled. They are engaged; it is al
most the same as being married. Imust
not like him any longer. should never
dare to go to church again if l liked an
other woman's husband. Don't worry
"a. .