San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-06

that's Jest what ! wanted everybody
else TO do when Is s-sparking your ais
ter Sue-go 10 bed and leave us to sci
II out till daylight
$50 along! you are incorrigiblel" re-
Joined Miss Nellie, a. she gave him q
playful box on the ear and turned away
TO hide her confusion.
Up 10 near ten o'clock, the proper
hour for retiring in the country, ! had
never spent q more delightful evening;
and, 10 far as was concerned, would
gladly have prolonged il in the man
ner suggested by the farmer-but Just
at this moment the door opened, and
small, quiet looking little man, with q
short rife, or carhine, in his hand, en-
tered noiselessly and without cere'
mony.
There was certainly nothing frightful
nor formidable in the appearance OF
this newcomer, with the exception that
he was armed and that any armed man
can be>dangerous IL he chooses; he was
rather below medium height, slenderly
built, light. haired, blue.eyed, and had a
smooth, almost boyish face, though
really rising OF thirty. This, ! say, was
the general appearance Of the stranger,
and the way he first impressed himself
upon me but when I glanced around,
and saw the late cheerful group sud
denly change from the light, laughing
air Of domestic happiness to one Of
heavy embarrassing gloom--saw the
late animated, blushing face of Nellie
Sinclair turn CHASTITY white, and even
her ruby lips lose their color, while her
whole frame perceptibly trembled,
though she strOve to conceal i'll
to say the least, that it was
very strange and very wonderful; and l
turned again to the party who had just
entered, to see if I could discover any
thing new and startling to enable me to
comprehend it. -,
he nodded quietly and familiarly to
the farmer, with How are you. AmosP"
then to his wife, Sand You, Susie ?" and
then advancing to her sister and ex-
tending his hand. "And not forgetting
you, my pretty Nell?"
He then glanced little curiously at
me, as one who expected to be intro
duced; and Miss Sinclair, taking the
hint, and in some degree recovering
from Ter embarrassment, by strong,
determined effort of her will, advanced
. step and said:
ALLOW me, Mr.. Waters, to introduce
nv cousin, Mr." q did not catch
The rame) who has just returned from
> long journey"
II am very glad to meet you, Mr.. Wa
ters," said the little man, quite cordial.
", with peculiar smile, and fixing his
,teel-blue eyes ve-y steadily, might
almost say piercingly upon me.
Let those deny the power OF animal
who may, and say there is
no subtle and controlling communica-
ion between soul and soul, but l can
wow that within that moment of time
something passed from that man to me
hat made me shudder, and filed me
With strange, nameless dread.
Late as it was, and as unwelcome as l
inferred his presence was to the family
The ladies proceeded to prepare supper
Tor him, and while they were thus busy,
ne entered into conversation with the
farmer and myself, soon managing,
With tho turn he gave the conversation,
md o few adroit questions, to learn
something of my past history and pres
mt business in this country.
"Ah! SO you want to buy a farm ?" he
aid, speaking in manner that showed
,e was we'll educated. II know exactly
he one that will suit you; it is not
wenty miles from here; and in
he morning I will take pleasure in
'iding over with you to look at it."
What could do but thank him for
he obliging offer, and declare that !
,ould not think of putting him to all
hat trouble.
"Oh, bless you, Mr.. Waters" he ex-
claimed, in light, off-hand way, lit is
10 trouble Whatever. I am always in
he saddle, going this way and that-it
makes but little difference which way
md I shall be happy to become your
,scort."
Under the circumstances could not
lecline this peculiar proffer without alb
olute rudeness; and glance I now
md then caught of the white, scared,
roubled face of Miss Sinclair, and
,ertain glance and sign whenever she
could give it without being perceived
" her cousin, warned me that l had
better do nothing to offend him.
Not to give detail of what was fur
her said and done, let it suffice that,
.fter the unexpected arrival of that lit
le parsonage, there seemed to be a
leavy gloom and dread thrown verthe
amily, and the remainder of the night
vas passed in very disagreeable man
Ter, at least by me and though having
bedroom all to myself, and remaining
lndisturbed by any one, slept but
title, if any.
At the first flush of daylight, l quiet
Y arose, dressed hastily, and stealthily
ct out to reach the open air, debating