San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-29


in Matthias Morton's premises" the old
Quakeress said as Franklin entered.
"Laudable as it is to desire to help
women folk, thee will always remember
that he mads me endure more mortifca-
ton in regard to the sow and pigs which
he confiscated unrighteously than l eve.
felt In my life before, save when friends
read me oct of meeting for marrying
thy grandfather, who was one of the
worlds people, and for that 1 had
much compensation. In this later mat
ter none. am not angry. forgive all
my enemies freely, but l should not
wich to renew the old intimacy with the
family"
Matthias Morton is an old brute, but
Doris is not to blame," said Franklin, as
he walked to the mantelpiece ana took
up a letter that had been placed there
letter Of unusual size, sealed with
brown wax. He read it through twice.
When he had finished, his good old
grandmother was still talking in her
slow, measured, sing song way.
II do not deem it desirable that thee
should linger in Friend Mortop's garden
after thee has finished thy task, she was
saying, and he answered:
"Pm not likely to do SO, grandmother.
I've got my appointment. I'll be miles
away before the week is over. shall
not be at home again for three years"
Then silence fell upon the old keep
ing room" where they sat. The voice Of
| the tall clock in the corner made itself
audible-tick-tack-tock, tick-tack-to
Both listened to it. 1t seemed to be say
ing something cruel. ....
"Peradventure l may lie beside thy
grandfather before thee returns" said
the Widow Fairfax. 81 have passed the
allotted tbreescore and ten." ,as
at is the sort of thing civil engineer
expects" the young man said. II am
lucky to have so good an appointment so
early in life" But the tears were in his
eyes. For the first time he realized what
exile from home would be to him. How
dear this quaint old Quaker grandmoth-
er was to his hearth How sweet the
stolen meetings with Doris. He had
half mind to decline this position for
which he had worked with all his might
and ask for the vacant clerkship at tho
store, and stay at home with these two
beloved women. Only it was too absurd,
and he would reproach himself all his
life for missing that tide in his affairs
which might have led on to fortune.
"You would not be so lonely, grand
mother" he said, eff you would let Do
ris come to You now and then. She is
your nearest neighbor." But the old
lady's only answer was: ..r...H
81 do not deem it desirable that there
should be intimacy between Matthias
Morton's people and our own! Thee
knows that, Franklin" "
They conversed very little that even
ing. The old clock did most of the talk
ing and said many things to both OF
them, and its mind seemed to be full OF
Doris, poor Doris, who by the light of a
smoky kerosene lamp was reading aloud
the political article in last weeks paper
which old Matthias had appropriated at
the store, while the moonlight and the
flowers made out of doors so pleasant,
and only the rail fence and the fragrant
little box hedgerow lay between Frank
lin Fairfax and herself.
If Frank got his appointment she must
lead this life for three long years. And
she made up her mind to it. Who shall
say there are no martyrs in this century,
Doris did not know of the big letter
with the waxen seal that evening, but it
was no surprise to her, when before
breakfast Frank came to the fence and
whistled.
"For heavens sake go into the or.
chard," he said. 81 will come to you
there. The letter came last night. Ishall
have no other time to talk to you"
Her heart quailed and her very lips
grew pale as she heard the news, and
how she sobbed, down there under the
apple trees.
Three years! Three eternities!
81 don't see how can live through it,"
she said. 81 have nothing but you"
And then she felt, perhaps, he too IN
derstood how much there is for a man
besides his love, however true. How
little for women.
Letters, darling, letters" he said.
"And we will be together in heart, art
when it is over, we will almost forget
that we have ever been parted"
when it is overt All, meT was all
she answered. And neither OF them
spoke of her little dream Of going on tha