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


bent softly to the woolng Of the water,
stood two ancient willows of unusual
size; they were gnarled with age, but
vigorous and long limbed. The story
ran that once Pocahontas Mason, the
lady OF the manor here, had lovers
twain-twin brothers who being also
Masons were her distant cousins. aOne
she loved and one she did not, but both
loved her, and being passionate men
both swore that they would have her,
come what might, and cause any man
that came between most bloodily to rue
it. Between the brothers there arose
quarrels and ill feeling, which afflicted
the lady, who was good woman and
averse to breaking the peace of families.
That brothers-twin brothers should
be scowling venomously at each other
because of her appeared a grievous thing,
and she set herself to mend it.
By marrying the man she loved she
could end the affair at once, but his
brother would never forgive him, and
before love had maddened them the
men had been friends as well as broth
GIG. ouO SduSCu bhClI
thoughtfully, and hit upon plan which,
at the expense of some self sacrifice,
would arrange the matter peacefully.
Bidding both lovers attend her one day,
she brought them to this spot, and cut
ting two willow wands of exactly the
same length and thickness she stuck
them deeply into the moist soil and an.
nounced her decision. They would wait
three years. she said, and at the end of
that time the man whose tree had grown
the strongest should come and claim his
answer She would attend to both will
lows herself, giving to each the same
care, and treating them with equal fair
ness. Then she made the men shake
hands in amity once more and swear to
abide by her decision.
The story further tells that both viii.
lows fourished finely, but that in the
last year the true lovers tree outstripped
its mate, as was right and proper. As
the lady had anticipated, when the term
of probation expired only one of the
twins appeared to claim an answer to his
suit. And in the pocket of the constant
man, when he kissed his own true love,
lay letter from across the seas, full of
brotherly affection and congratulation.
This little story was a favorite with
Pocahontas, and she was fond of relat-
ing how her reat-grandmother,
by little wit and generous self sacri-
fee, averted feud between brothers
and kept family peace unbroken.
The trees were always called 1.-The
Lovers" and under their sweeping
branches the young people were fond of
gathering on moonlit summer evenings.
Pocahontas seated herself under the
larger tree on the dry, warm grass, and
Jim leaned against the rugged trunk,
silently drinking in, with his eyes, the
still beauty Of the night-the silvery
sheen of the water, the pure bend of the
sky, the slope of the lawn and the gray
tranquility of the old house in the back
ground. And as he gazed there awoke
in his breast, adding to its pain, that
weary yearning which men call home
sickness.
With a shuddering sigh and move
ment of the strong shoulders as though
some burden were settling down upon
them. Jim dropped himself to the ground
beside his companion and SUI - ed her
gently to possess herself of his ,obacco
pouch and pipe. The girl felt that the
peacefulness of the scene Jared upon his
mood, and set herself to soothe him into
harmony with himself and nature. Jim
watched the white fingers deftly fill the
bowl and strike the match for him; then
he took it from her hand and breathed
softly through the curved stem until the
fire circled brightly round and the to-
bacco all was burning. He leaned back
ON his elbow and sent the smoke out in
long, quiet wreaths, and Pocahontas.
with her hands folded together in her
lap, watched it rise and vanish dreamily!
81 WONDER" she murmured presently,
eff the nights out therein Mexico, /
mean-can be more beautiful than this.
have read descriptions and dreamed
dreams, but | can't imagine anything
more perfect than that stretch of water
shimmering in the moonlight and the
dark outline of the trees yonder against
the sky"
"It's more than beautiful; it's home"
Jim's voice shook a little. "Do you
know, Princess, that whenever the men,
DRY of home comes to me out yonder in
the tropics it will be just this picture
l shall always see. The river, the lights
and shadows On the lawn, the old gray
house, and you, with the flowers on
your breast, and the moonlight on your
dear face. Don't be afraid, or move
away; I'm not going to make love to