San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-21

on sec, exclaimed the poor man.
"when a cloak like that is damaged. it
has TO bc sent back to the manufacture
ers to be done, and they've SO many
things on their hands. | couldn't
promise that you'll have that cloak
well, not this side of Christmas, at
least"
you must have been very rough with
it, then, Leandcr." she remarked.
al was. he said; IL don't know how
came to be so rough. You see l was
trying to tear it Off But here he
stopped.
"Trying to tear it off what?"
"Trying to tear it off nothing, but
trying to tear the wrapper off it; it was
so involved" he added. with string
and paper and that. and I'm clumsy,
unluclly sort of chap, sweet one; and
I'm uncommon sorry about it, that l
ami"
"Well, we won't say any more about
it," said Matilda, softened by his con-
triton; and I'm keeping you out in the
passage all this time. Come in and be
introduced to mamma: she's in the front
parlor, waiting to make your acquaint-
ance.S
Mrs. Collum was stout lady. with
thin voice. She struck a nameless fear
into LeanGe.s soul as he was led up to
where she sat. He thought that she
c-tSS:-ccI. al the promise of very ter
rible mOther-in-law.
"This is Lcander. mamma. dear" said
Matilda, shyly and yet proudly.
Her mother inspected him for a mo-
ment and then half closed her eyes.
My daughter tells me that you carry
on the occupation of a hair-dreSser,"
she said.
"Quite correct, madam" said Lean
der; II do.
"Ah! well, )" she said, with an uncon-
cealed sigh, Il could have wished to
look higher than hair-dressing for my
Matilda; but there are opportunities OF
doing good even as hair-dresser. l
trust you are sensible of that"
II try to do as little arm as 1 can,
he said feebly.
aft you do not do good, you must do
HARM" she said, uncompromisingly
"You have it in your means to be an
awakening influence. No one knows
the power that single serious hair
dresser might effect with worldly Gus
toners. Have You never thought of
that?"
well, l can't say have exactly" he
said: land | don't see how"
"There are cheap and appropriate il
Illuminated texts" she said, to be had
at so much dozen; you could hang
them on your walls. There are tracts
you procure by the hundred; yon could
put them in the lining of hats as you
hang them up: you could wrap them
round your-yOur bottles and pomatum-
pots. You could drop a word in sea-
son in your customers ear as YOU bent
over him. And you tell me you don't
see how; you will not see, fear, Mr..
Tweddle."
"rm afraid, num-" he replied, "my
customers would consider l was taking
liberties"
"And what of that, so long as you
save them?"
"Well, you see, shouldn't should
lose 'em! And it's not done in our pro-
fession; and, to tell you the honest
truth, I'm not given that way myself
not to the extent of tracts and such
like, that is"
Matilda's mother groaned; it was hard
to find son-in-law with whom she had
nothing in common and who was hair
dresser into the bargain.
'CAls "Clls odlu we huSb tA-
pect crosses in this life though for my
own daughter to lay this one upon me
is-is-but, will not repine."
"I'm sorry You regard me in the light
of a cross, said Leander, "but, whether
I'm a cross or a ,naught, I'm a respect
able man and I love your daughter,
mum, and I'm in position to maintain
her."
Leander hated to have to appear I'M
der false pretenses, of which he had had
more than enough of late. He was
glad now to speak out plainly, particu'
larly as he had no reason to fear this
old woman.
"Hush, Leander! Mamma didn't mean
to be unkind; did you, mammal" said
Matilda.
81 say what felt" she said; 1--WE will
not discuss it further. If in time l see
reason for bestowing my blessing upon
choice, which as present-but,no mat
ter. If / see reason in time, will not
withhold it. / can hardly be expected
to approve at present"
"You shall take your own time, mum,
won't hurt you" said Leander. "Tillit
is blessing enough for me-not but
what | shall be glad to be on a pleasant
footing with you, I'm sure, if you car
bring yourself to it."
Before Mrs. Collum could reply Mis-:
Louisa Tweddle made an opportune ap
pearance, to the relief of Matilda, in
whom her mothers attitude was caus
ing some uneasiness.
Miss Tweddle was a well reserved
little woman, with short curly iron-gray
hair and sharp features. In manner
she was brisk, not to say chirpy, but
she secreted sentiment in large guam
titles. She was very far from the ira
ditional landlady, and where she los
dodgers occasionally she retained
friends. She regarded Mrs. Collum with
something like reverence, as an &C
9uaintance of her youth who had al