San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-09

OF curls on his shoulders, and regarded
his brother steadfastly, an expression of
dismay on his face that was comical.
Evidently the future held possibilities
for which he was unprepared
sis Aunt Neelie going to heaven?" he
demanded abruptly.
"Of course she is" responded Hector.
"There amt any other place for her to
go. She's old, and she's a woman.
You couldn't say woman was going to
hell, could you? I'd like to know what
sort OF manners you'd call that OF
course she's going to heaven"
With this triumphant settlement of
the difficulties of the future state on the
plain principles of life laid down for him
here below by his very old fashioned
mother, Hector returned to his whiting.
Ran pondered! "Hec," he said, 81
reckon she will go in good way ahead
of us, and she's sure not to like it down
by the gate, because she'll think some
body else has got a better place. tell
you what we'll do; We'll squat down
right by the middle walk, behind the
box bushes, and wait till we hear some
of the angels talking about her and say
ing where's she's gone, and then We'll
clip the other way and hunt for father"
THAT amt a good way" objected
Hector; you're sure to meet her walk
ing around, anyhow; so there isn't any
use of lodging. You can't stay in one
place fifty hundred millions of years
without seeing all the people"
| Cant IT' despondently; then, with
more hopefulness, 81 can everlastingly
toddle, Hec, and Aunt Neelie walks SO
slow. When | see her coming toward
me, you just watch out sharp, and you'll
see one little angel hustle"
Hector laughed, and the listener had
much ado to keep from joining. There
was another skeleton over in the old
gray house besides straitened means.
In his blunt, straightforward way he
was beginning to be sorry for Mary Bev-
erley, and to feel, as he would have ex-
pressed it, that life wasn't toting fair
with her."
With his habitual quick movements
and light, almost stealthy step, he passed
into the inner room and out at the back
of the house. After moment he came
around and seated himself on the steps
beside the boys and made overtures Of
friendship. They were friendly little
fellows, neither shy nor pushing, and
the trio got on well together. Indeed,
when they discovered that he knew all
about making bird traps, and had knife
with six blades in it, besides corkscrew
and pair of scissors, and could initiate
wild birds and creatures, and-oh, bliss!
had seen live bears, the acquaintance
showed signs Of deepening into init
macy.
After the talk had gone on some time
and Anthony felt that his popularity
justified it, he commenced plying them
with questions. How many children
were there in all? Who took care of
them and the like? Only them, the
children said; they had had little sis
ter, named Mary, but she had gone to
heaven. She had been older than Hec-
tor. Their mother took care of them.
Who else should9
"They had an aunt" Anthony sug-
gested.
They admitted that they had, but she
was old; she could not take care Of any
body. She needed people to take care
of her, to wait on her and fetch her
things.
81 don't mean the old lady," said their
new friend brusquely. you've got
young aunt-a girl named like your lit
tie sister," Anthony could never re-
member that Mary, if living, was only
a couple of years younger than himself.
s'The idea Of my wanting to know any
thing about Miss Neelie! She's an old
tartar, amt she?"
Now, the children, while ready to dis
cuss their relative between themselves
and to pass judgment upon her freely,
were quite well aware of what was
proper and becoming in the matter.
They would comment and criticize
themselves, but no stranger should take
the liberty. Hector drew himself away
little and remarked, in reserved tone,
that Aunt Neelie was an old lady, and
had been i'll and had trouble; she must
be treated with consideration.
Anthony did not know that the child
was rendering verbatim his mothers
daily precept to himself, nor did he at
all realize that he should not have put
the question. He was amused at the
boys change of manner, but he was
little annoyed too.
"You have another aunt?" he asserted,
rather than questioned, second time.
"No," said Hector; 1--WE haven't"
But Ran was child who liked exact
ness.
1--WE haven't now" he amended. "but