San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-21

said Her Grace. "A baby. A baby
that1l have a yellow head and a
twinkle in both his eyes. \ baby
thatll grow tall enough TO thrash
the wickednesS out of his black
brothers and have sense enough to
laugh instead of doing it
lie bowed his head over the linked
fingers.
"Biddy. what more will you give
me. you who have given me all the
world?r
It's a small thing" she wills
pcred. July. That will he a year
since you came 10 see me dancer
a year, my heart
"How many days are there in 4
year. did you say"
Three hundred and sixty-five."
a day-a day is a poor short
thing" said Her Grace. If 1 had
a wish, Id wish them longer. lis
cold in here. with the wind roaring
down the chimney. Hold me closer
hold me fast"
With spring her wish was granted
and the days were longer; not long
enough TO hold the JOY they poured
into them-but filled TO the brim
with pale sunlight and primroses and
hawthorn hedges. And il was June.
and they were longer still, flooded
with golden warmth and the~smeli of
yellow roses and life and magic. and
the taste of honey. And it was July,
and it was his birthday-and the
world stood still.
Her Grace gave him the yellow
headed baby for birthday present.
When they brought him his son he
looked at him with strange eyes and
turned his face away and asked
them in 4 voice that none would have
known.
How is she now?"
The great doctors who had come
hurrying from London shook their
heads.
Bad. Her heart was in a shock,
ing condition-she had not told
you?"
Mono. she had not told him.
We'll, We must hope; we must
hope"
But soon they could no longer hope.
For all their dignity, for all their
learning, they could only give her
drugs to make it easier 10 die; they
could only prop her I'M against the
pillows in the great Tudor bed. ana
smooth the dark coverlet, and tlptoe
from the room, leaving her to her
duke She sat there still and small,
her hands on his black head where
he knelt beside her. with so little
breath left TO tell him OF her love
that She sought the shortest words:
she who had been spendthrnt Oh
them.
"Darlin'." He did not stir, even
at that. Never grieve. I've known
it a great while; they told me IN
London before yOu came that tWouid
be no more than a year. And my
Aunt Dasheen. she was wise before
they. Wed at seventeen, dead at
eighteen-" IN,
"Biddy." he whispered, "Ive killed
you-I've killed you"
oh. what talk is this! You, WHO
gave me nv life? | never minded the
dying-twas only when | thought now
lonely it would be. with no one car
i'm, whether l came or went. I've
forgotten what loneliness IS Win you
by me. Look M at me.
lie raised his head-and her eyes
were dancing.
Has it yellow hair:
"NeS."
will you teach il TO laugh:'
Biddy-"
Twill be dull in Heaven without
YOU" She said. But twill be gay
when Won come" She leaned toward
him. her lips curved 10 mischief,
Wait till they tell my Aunt
DaSheen-Sainr Peter himself viii
have 10 laugh. Woman. there's some
Que lust come asking after you----a
little one even ON her toes. She
saws her name is Biddy, and she's
Duchess of Bolingham-
The faint voice trailed to airy mirth
and with that music echOing still
about her. Her Grace closed her
dancing eyes. and closed her laugh
ing lips. and turned her bright hea1
away and was gone, rs lightly and
swiftly rs she had come.
| Copyright. 1923, Metropolitan News
paper Service,l
\ Copyright, 1928. Doubleday, fsss a
4 Col