San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-26
By Booth Harrington

them chuldern and lettln' other refers
take the brunt of 'em. Yes, sir; there
isn't a soul raised the question bue
what their mother is the finest-Ioonn'
lady that ever lived here, or but what
she does every last thing any mortal
could do in the line O. disciplina; bue
much as everybody'd enjoy 10 sc
better acquainted with her and oex.u
TO see somep'n of her they all think
she's liable to lead kind of lonesome
life in our community unless Nor
timer paused with his hand upon the
door-knob-- "unless somep'n happens
to Maud and Bill"
He departed languidly, his farewell
coming back from the stairway so
long. LUZ
Mr.. Allen pushed aside his work
and went to locked recess beneau
his boo.fshelves. Therefrom. he took
the blue parasol, and small volunio
in everything dissimilar to the heavy
calf-bound legal works that coreealsd
all the walls of the room and returns
ing to his swivel-chair. placed toe
parasol gently upon the desk. Their.
allowing his left hand to remain lightly
upon the parasol. he held the little
book in his right and read musingiy.
Some portions of the book he read
over and over, and there was one pait
of it in which his interest seemed quite
turned back TO the same page; but ac
indispensable. Again and again -
last. as the room had grown darker.
lie let the book rest in his lap. took otr
his glasses and used them TO beat tine
to the rhythm of the cadences, as No
murmured, half-aloud:
THE lamplight seems to glimmcr witN
n flicker Of surprise.
As turn it low to rest me of the dag
zle in my eyes.
And light my pipe in silence. save .
sigh that seems TO yoke
Its fate with my tobacco and to vah'
ish with the smoke.
IT'S a fragrant retrospection-for the
loving thoughts that start
Into being are like perfume from the
blossoms OF the heart;
And TO dream the old dreams over 10
luxury divine
When my truant fancy wanders with
that old sweetheart of mine"
He fell silent; then his lips moved
again:
and I thrill beneath the glances Of .
pair Of azure eyes
As glowing as, the summer and az
tender as the skies.
I can Sec
Suddenly he broke off, and groaned
| aloud: "My soul" he said all IN
breath. "And thirty-five years Old
blame near thirty-six! J"
He needs Interpretation. this untor.
tunate Lueius. He had never been
afraid of anybody else's children. No'
| il had to be hers And he knew he
was afraid of them because they were
hers. He was a man who had aiwaNs
.got on, with children beautifully;
but he was afraid OF Maud and Bill
of what they would do to him and OF
what they would think OF him.
At last he bestirred himself. he
knew that Saruly. his darky cook must
be waiting for him with impatience.-
Having glanced down into the square
and found it virtually devoid OF LIE:
for this was the universal hour OF
supper, he set his brown straw has
upon his head, and took the parasoi
under his arm-merely for the pleas
ure Of its society.
Upon the bottom step Of the flighe
of stairs that led down to the stree.
he found seated small figure IN =
white "sailor suit" This figure rose
and spoke politely.
allow do you do?" it said. Are ysu
Uncle Lucius:"
WHO, What's. your name:'
"Bill. Bill ricketts,. = said Bill.
Iichns made Il hasty. motion 10 re-
ascend the stairs, but Bill .confidinclx
proffered small. clean hand that Mr..
Allen was constrained to accept. one
having accepted it. he found himseir
expected to retain il.
mamma lef' me sittin' here to walk
till you came down stairs" Bill ex-
planned. "That man that came ous
said he was pretty sure you were 10
there. She told me 10 wait till either
You came downstairs or she came oacs
for me. She wants her parasol. Como
ont
Come on where:'
"Up to your house." said Bill. She
lef' Maud waitin' up there for you.'
1t was the truth. And after 4 rather
hurried walk, during which the BOY
spoke not once unless spoken 10. nte
trotted contentedly at Lueius side,
confidingly hand-in-hand with hun,
when they came in sight Of the sniau
brick house in the big yard, where Luz
cius lived, tiny white figure was dis-
cernible through the dusk, rocking
patiently in a wicker ROCKINGHAM on
the verands.
a. sight of them she jumped up and
came running to the gate TO meet
them. But there she paused, graveiy.
She made curtesy, formal oat
charming.
aHow do do, Uncka Wucius:' she
said. Mamma would wike her par
aso'..
Saruly, looming dark and large b.
hind her. supplemented this lnforms-
ton: ~Miz Ricketts, done LET the httie
girl here to wait fer you, Mist Auen.
She tell me ask you please be so kits
as TO bring the chillun along home wrh
YOU, an her parasol with en-. Sne
tell me the chillun been little upset.
lest at first. count o. movin' 70 nr7r
place. but they all quieted down now'
am She think it'll be safe fer you 70
stay TO dinnuh. An as ey'ythins an
my Kitchens plum done to a crisp
count o. you bein' so late. Mist. Aiiens
If Won leave il to me l think you
bettuh.' -
e~Tll leave il to you. Ssruly. saia
Lucius, gently. Il think I'd better.
And then. with the parasol under
his arm. and the hand of child resi-.
ing quietly in each Of his, he turneJ
- man - Maui and under tbs