San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-11-13
WTNSOME'S LOVE STORY
By MARY KYLE DALLAS.

| copyright, 1893, by American Press Associa-
toni
peace of mind while they wander Unere.
Her Imagination fills the perfumed soil
tude with tramps, evil minded negroes
and even bears. So to please her they
creep through a rift in the fence of the
Randolph grounds, where she feels that
they are safe, and wander about for
hours.
Fruit still grows on the trees; nuts are
scattered on the ground in autumn.
There are birds and squirrels and long
cared rabbits with pink eyes. Flowers still
bloom, for nature is kind to them in Vir-
ginia even when man is neglectful, and
Winsome and her boy surely have love-
ly play place. 1t has come to seem theirs
after so many years of undisturbed occu-
patton, when suddenly it is taken from
them. The heir of the Randolph estate
has returned to his native land and has
arrived at his mansion. Workmen are
busy about the house, gardeners and
their assistants in the grounds. A big
black cook with a white paper cap ON
his head struts Importantly around the
kitchen door and a kerchiefed mulatto
woman superintends the housekeeping
Philip is rebellious when he is told
that he cannot play in what he calls his
garden. He declares that he will, but
when he peeps in at the now open gate
the big figure in white jacket and cap
looks so much like that of the afrite in
the illustrations of his volume of "Alad-
din or the Wonderful Lamp" that he
takes to his heels and runs away.
The pine woods do not comfort Phil,
nor the ride 20 the store with Aunt Pencil
ope, though she buys him large oranges
and peppermint stick galore. At the
store shefhears the talk-they are de-
lighted with the new arrival, a real Ran
dOlph to look at There will be COM
pany now in the house; you won't be so
mighty lonely now, ma'am," the store
keeper says. I'VE all feel anxious about
you two ladies sometimes"
They have been very kind in their
feelings to these lonely "north ladies'"
and offense has been warded off by
Winsomes deep mourning, and her man
ner, and her devotion to her boy.
We've always felt we'd like you to be
more sociable," the man adds; maybe
you will with near neighbors."
"Wll your asks little Phil suddenly,
with his mouth full of candy, as they
drive home.
Twill l WHAT" asks Miss Penn.
BE sociable," says Phil. eff you are,
can play there just the same, can't II"
Miss Penelope only says, 1--WE will
see," and hopes only that the Randolphs
will be too high and mighty to take no.
tice of two plain little women from the
north. Southerners are so fond of auto
| biographical knowing just whom their
neighbors are and what they have been
doing.
There are to be no ladies yet" she
has heard. The occupant is bachelor,
and that he will choose a wife from the
first families of the neighborhood has
been one of the specially maintained ex-
pectations.
There are the Misses Peyton, mighty
handsome ladies. and Miss Dora Wall
not handsome, but talented" the store
keeper had said, I'VE all expect a we'd
ding in no time, num-"
"Ah," thought Miss Pen as she drove
| on in silence. IF my Winsome had
nothing to regret in the past, he couldn't
| find a lovelier wife, whoever he is"
Ambition for Winsomehad died a hard
death in Miss Penelope's bosom. Once
she had even hoped to see her "a domi-
MES wife'-highest aspiration of her SIM
pie New England heart.
She lifted her head as they passed the
| gate of the mansion.
A large, handsome gentleman stood
upon the veranda talking to an older
one, who looked like a student in his
spectacles, and with book under his
arm. That handsome one was the Ran
dolph, Miss Penelope felt sure. Achange
came over the spirit Of the good spin
! sters dream.
What fine pair they would make"
she said to herself Her face flushed
pink under her close little bonnet. Pat
ispast. Sleeping dogs needn't be reused.
| Why should that poor, innocent girl suf-
fer for others misconduct? If he should
see her and like her, why, heaven knows,
| sue > ~ NluOW IL GNGI IllCIC Vas OIiC'
Miss Penelope felt as though there were
whispers of romance in the air, but for
many days nothing came of the arrival
of the Randolph at the home of his an
cestors but the Punishment of Phil and
his mother from Randolph place. The
childs worshipers did all that they could
to comfort him, but his heart yearned
for his old playground, and one day,
when no one was looking, he slipped in
at the gate and wandered about the
-l,o,.