The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-29

He tried to smile. but hi. bead fell back. He
had fain ted.
CHAPTER TX.
For the first time in her life Teresa lost her
presence Of mind In an emergency. She could
only sit staring at tho helpless man. scarcely
conscious OF his condition. her mind filed with
sudden prophetic intuition OF the significance
OF his last words In the light of that new row.
citation she looked into his pale haggard face
for some resemblance to Low. but In vaiA. Yet
her swift feminine instinct met the objection.
It's the mothers blood that would show."
she murmured. mot this mans"
Recovering herself, she began to chafe his
hands and temples and molsten his lips with
the spirit. When his respiration returned with
a faint color to his cheeks. she pressed his
hand eagerly and leaned over him.
Arc you surep" she asked.
"Oi what?" he whispered family.
That Low is really your son 2"
Who said 80 =" no asked. opening his round
eyes upon her.
you did yourse,fa moment ago." she said
quickly, Don't you remember
"DldI3"
You did. Is It not soa ~.
He smiled fatntiy. II reckon"
She held her breath in expectation. but only
tho righteousness Of tho discovery seemed par
amountto his weakened faculties. Isn't it
just about the ridiculousest thing all round ?"
he said with a feeble chuckle. :" First vou
nearly kill me before you know nm Lows
father Then I'm just spoiln' to kill him
before l know he's my SOP; then that God
forsaken fool. Jack Brace. mistakes you for
Nellie. and Nellie for you. Ain't 1t lust the big.
gest thing for the boys to get hold Off But we
must keep 1t dark until after marry Nellie.
don't You see. Then we'll have good time all
round. and I'll stand the drinks. Think OF IL.
Teresha! You don no me. do no you nobody
knowsh anybody elsh. / try kill Lo'. Lo' wants
kill Nellie. No thnsh no ri'." but the potent
liquor. Svertaking his exhausted senses. thick.
ened. impeded. and at last stopped his speech
His head slipped to her shoulder. and he be-
came once more unconscious.
Teresa breathed again. In that brief mo-
mont she had abandoned herself to wild in.
SEPARATION OF hope which she could scarcely
define. Not that 1t was entirely wild inspira-
tian; she tried to reason calmly. What II she
revealed the truth to him What II she to Id the
wretched man before her that she h ad deceived
him-that she had overheard his conversation
with Brace-that she had stolen Braces horse
to bring Low warning-that. failing to
find Low in his accustomed haunts. or at the
camp fire. abe had left note for lin pinned
to the herbnrium. imnloring him to fiv with his
companion from the danger that was coming
and that remaining on watch she had seen
them both-Brace ana Dunn-approaching
and had prepared to meet them at the cabin7
Would this miserable and maddened man un-
derstand her self-abnegation? would he for
give Low and Nellie ?-she did not ask for her.
self. Or would the revelation turn his brain.
II 1t did not kill him outright. She looked ut
tho sunken orbits OF his eyes and the hectic
flush on his check and shuddored.
Why WAS this added to the agony she
already suffered? She had boon willing
to stand between them with her life.
her liberty. and evon-the hot blood dyed
hor cheek at tho thought-wth the added
shame OF bong thought tho cast-off mis-
tress OF that mans son. Yet all this she had
taken upon herself In expiration OF some-
thng-she knew not clearly what: no. for moth.
ing-only for him. And yet this very situation
offered her that gloam OF hope which had
thrilled her; hope so wild in it's improbable.
ity. so degrading in Its possibility. that at first
she knew not whether despair was not prefor-
able to Its shame. And yet was 1t unreason-
able? She WAS no longer passionate; she would
be calm and think 1t out fairly.
She would so to Low at once. She would find
him somewhere: and even II with that girl. what
mnttered and she would tell him all. When
he knew that tho life and death OF his father
lay In the scale. would he let his foolish pas
sion for Nellie stand in the way2 Even II he
we're not influenced by flial affection or mere
compassion. would his pride let him stoop to
rivalry with the man who had deserted his
youth? Could he take Dunn's promised bride,
who must have conIuetted with him to have
brought him TO this miserable plight? Was
this like the calm. proud young god sho knew?
YOt she had an uneasy instinct that calm,
proud young gods and Goddesses did things
like this. and icit the weakness OF hor reason
ing flush her own conscious cheek.
" Teresa"
She started. Dunn Was awake and was gag-
Ing at her curiously.
Il was reckoning 1t was only the square
thing for Low to stop this promiscuous pic
nicking here and marry you out and out"
Marry mel" said Teresa in a voice that with
all her efforts she could no. make cynical.
Yes" he rapontcd after Two married
Nellie; toto You down to San Angeles and
there tako my name like man. md give it to
you. Nobody'll ask after Teresa. sure you bat
your life. And II they do. and he can't stop
their jaw. just you call on the old man. It's
mighty queer. Amt It, Teresa. to think OF your
being my dnughter-in- law?"
1t seemed here ms II he was about to lapse
again into Inconsistencies over the purely
ludicrous aspect Of tho subject but no haply
recovered his seriousness. He'll have as
much money from me vs. he wants to 90 into
business with. What's his line OF business,
Teresa?" asked this prospective fsther-in-lsw
In large liberal way.
He 10 botanist!" said Teresa. with sud