San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-10

that no tho1ght, no VIII, no pride could
stand against it. 1t tore free and
flung its song of challenge in her ears,
Nothing then could check the flood
of memories nor the torturins sweet.
ness of his lips against her face.
She set her mind with pathetic
usefulness on the future. She began
to long for the bleakness of the winter
wind and rain.
One day there were no letters at all.
Half way up the hill Margaret sat on
a tree stump, staring absently across
the purple canyons.
BECAUSE ! LOVE YOU"
Nora Lee waited. She plucked a
fistfull of wild pansics and dropped
them in her mothers lap. Are you
sad marmec, because we're forgotten
But there'l be letters next week, don't
you think so?"
Margaret smiled. after next week
we'll be leaving here, SO it won't mat.
ter" ~.
well, I've been thinking, marmee-
and you know what we ought to do?
We ought to 20 right straight back
to Fairdale, Why don't We? oh, j
wish and wish We wouldi'
Were going north, where the snow
is. You'll like that-snow and cold"
Won't / ever see the children ]
know again."
You'll see other children"
Nora Lee felt a warm gulp in her
throat. She said, hotly: Il don't
want TO see other children! | don't
see why you make us do this"
Margaret's face turned very white,
but she smiled and drew the angry
little girl to her arms. She laughed
in Nora Lees face, saying. in soft,
queer voice: Perhaps because love
you so.
Nora Lee shut her eyes fast and
her lips tight. They walked in a sad,
heavy silence up the hill.
THERE WAS ANDREW.
There was a shadow under their
redwood trce-a tall, dark shadow
that suddenly began to move. And
suddenly it spoke-low. eager tones.
Margaret's hands flew TO her face,
passing in a dazed, still way across
her eyes.
For there stood Andrew. troubled,
uncertain, yet glad. He came in a
pleading way and caught both
Of Margarct's hands. looking with
such beSeeching cagerness into her
eyes that a great shine filled them.
Her lips parted and were red. She
seemed all az once TO grow bright ;
to be trembling.
Like the young girl who was dead
till Christ came and touched her
hands, she sat up smiling and was
alive again. 1t made Nora lie think
Of that.
Andrew whispered: Margaret
only for little while. ] had TO see
you once-just this once. Don't blame
me-
Margaret turned her face away.
Tears were sparkling in her eyes.
Nora Lee cried out: Andrew
how did you know to come? We
thought We were forgotten-we were
so afflicted by IT."
They all laughed. Margaret gave
that happy, happy laugh. The whole
house came TO life as though colors
NNIaN| lEOUl Ill Lut Wdilh.
Andrew opened the old piano and
sang for them. Then Nora Lee said :
-Oh. you're not so old, are you? Why.
Andrew, | thought you we're"
ONION BLAMED.
He had a package in his pocket
for her. Ii was a small silver watch.
She wanted one like anything = ;
wondered how he guessed.
He got silly and said We'll, when
was six BY seven with a curl that
hung right down my forehead J want.
ed a silver watch. That's how
knew you wanted me.'
Nora Lee ran into the kitchen and
threw her arms about Margarct's neck
She said: "Oh, Isn't Andrew love
ly. Isn't il good he camel"
Margaret wiped her eyes. She
said it was the onion. Once during
dinner she took out some dishes, stay
Ing in the kitchen a long time. She
came back pale and uuict. Her hands
shook terribly when she tried TO serve
the pie.
Andrew took the knife gently. His
eyes were never off her face. Mar
garet. can go" ....
Then she laughed. Can you? Can
you?"
Yet it was all very happy.
That night Nora Lee couldn't
sleep. She had the watch under her
pillow. A dozen times she drew il
out rapturously and held it 20 her
ear. Such n dainty tick-tick. She
laughed. hearing il.
II must have been very late when
she woke up, hearing sound. II
seemed like some one crying. Then
she heard the yoicc-mamma's voice.
She lay very still, listening, with
all her breath held tight.
Mamma only said, Andrew, An.
drew"
my DEAR ONE"
Nora Lee crcpt softly, her heart
pounding in a wild hurry. ana peeked
through the porticres at the foot Of
the bed.
The golden. lamp was dimmed, all
thc glow am color gone-OnIy a
darkness, that waycred.
In the middle Of a great shadow
on the twisted steps Margaret was
standing. Oh. there was such a
strange, beautiful look on her face.
But she stood and murmured, with
a sound All filled with tears.
Then Nora Lee saw that Andrew
knelt at Margarct's feet. He bad his
head bowed down against her mothers
hands. His face was hidden in their
palms.
They neither moved nor spoke un.