San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-12

the bosom of rose. paused an instant
on the window ledge to contemplate her
foolishness; the flowers in the borders
hung their heads. Berkeley passed the
open window, looking cool and fresh in
summer clothing, and Pocahontas,
catching sight of him, put her fingers to
her lips and whistled sharply to attract
his attention, which being done, she fol-
lowed up the advantage with panto-
mimic gestures indicative of despair and
need of swift assistance. Berkeley
turned good naturally, and came in to
the rescue, but when he discovered the
service required of him he regarded it
with aversion, and showed mean de-
sire to retreat, which unworthiness was
promptly detected by Pocahontas and as
promptly frustrated.
do help me, Berkeley" she entreated.
''They must all be put in place again be-
fore dinner, and it only wants quarter
to one now. can't do it all before half
past two. tosave my life, unless you help
me. You know mother dislikes q messy,
Uttered room, and I've got your favorite
pudding for dessert Oh. dear! I'm tired
to death already, and it's so warm" The
rising infection of her voice conveyed
an impression of heat intense enough to
drive an engine.
"What made you do it?' inquired
Berkeley in tone calculated to make
her sensible Of folly.
Mother asked me to dust the books
some time ago, but neglected it, and
this morning when the sun shone on
them | saw that their condition was dis
graceful. was so much Disguised with
my untidiness that / dragged them all
out ON the impulse of the moment, and
only realized how hot it was, and how
hated it, after the deed was done. Come,
Berke, do help me. I'm so tired"
Thus adiured, Berkeley laid aside his
coat, for lifting is warm work with the
sun at the meridian. The empty shirt
sleeve had a forlorn and piteous look as
it hung crumpled and slightly twisted
by his side. Berkeley caught it with
his other hand and thrust the cuff in the
waistband of his trousers. He was well
used to his loss, and apparently indiffer-
ent to it, but the dangling of the empty
sleeve worried him; the arm was gone
close up at the shoulder.
Then the pair fell to work briskly,
busting, arranging, rearranging and
chatting pleasantly. Pocahontas piled
the buster and her brother sorted the
books and reSlaced them on the shelves.
The sun shone in royalty, until Poca-
hontas served writ of ejectment on
his majesty by closing all the shutters,
and the sun promptly eluded it by peep
ing in between the bars. A little vagrant
breeze stole in, full of idleness and mis-
chief, and meddled with the books
fiuttering the leaves of 1.-THE Faery
Queen" which lay on its back wide
open, lifting up the pages and flirting
them over roguishly as though bent on
finding secrets. The little noise attract
ed the girls attention, and she raised the
book and wiped the covers with her dus-
ter. As she slapped it lightly with her
hand to get out all the dust, letter
slipped from among the leaves and fell
to the floor near Berkeley's feet.
"Where did this come FROM he in
quired, as he picked it up.
"Out of this book, " she answered, hold
ing up the volume in her hand. "It fell
out while was busting; some one must
have left it in to mark u place. 1t must
have been in the book for years; see how
soiled it is. Whose is it,"
There is something in the unexpected
finding of stray letter which stimu-
lates curiosity, and Berkeley turned it in
his hand to read the address. The en-
velope was soiled like the coat of trav-
eler, and the letter was crumpled as
though hand had closed over it roughly.
The writing was distinct and clerkly.
Berkeley Mason, ESQ.,, Wintergreen,
county. Virginia" Mr.. Mason
examined the blurred, indistinct post
mark. Point something, it seemed
to be, and on the other side. washing
ton," plain enough, and the date, "May,
1865" What letter had been forwarded
him from the seat of government in the
spring of eighteen hundred and sixty
FIVE? Then memory unfolded itself like
a map whose spring is loosened.
Seating himself in any easy chair, he
drew the letter from its envelope, I'M
folding it slowly against his knee. 1t
was half sheet of ordinary commercial
paper and the lires upon it numbered.
perhaps, dozen. Mason WINGED at
sight of the heading as though an old
wound had been pressed. His sister,
leaning over the back of his chair, read
with him; putting out hand across his
shoulder to help him straighten the
rnra Ii ran TINS: