Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-03
THg BAlLY RECORD-UNION.
MRS. sTAMER.
[Continned from Lag Week ]

considerable hour, probing him unmercl-
fully about The Holmes and its inmates,
until the poor young mans lids fell down
over his eyes. Then the General, seeing
no more was TO be gained from him, gener-
ously sent him to bed. But bed for the
General that night meant nothing less than
torment.
Something had happened to wake within
bin memories of a past, now three years
old. He had not been General Steyne
then, bus q Colonel, and life at that time
had shoEn him its sweetest and bitteress
sides. he had been wrong then, he knows
that movie had been wrong, indeed, all
through, bat only discovered his error
when too late. And last might few
hours ago, little baby face, tiny rosy
tinged thing, framed in glory of hair,
yellow as uncut corn, had raised within
him demon of renorse and longing that
will not be laid.
This morning, breakfast is mockery TO
him, so unnerved is he by his long vigil.
He fidgets secretly, while the others eat
their kidneys and toast, aud laugh over
last nights proceedings; and when decency
allows ne rises, and, finding a hat, walks
quickly down the steps of Cl2remont. and
turns eagerly in the direction that leads TO
The Holmes. Yes. Now, at once and
forever, he will get rid of the gnawing anx-
iety, the consuming hope that has baen
destroying him for hours, and when he has
walked two miles and his heart has begun
to beat feverishly, he comes face to face
with Mrs. Stamer az her entrance gate.
For a long minute they gaze at each
other ia silence that may be felt. The
General breaks it. 81 was not mistaken
then" he says, in low tone.
ono and what then ?" says Mrs. Stamer
in cold, clear voice, full of defiance. She
raises her eyes proudly to his, though in
very truth her soul is fainting within her.
latter three long years of incessant
search, to find you hereof all places-un.
awares p he says, gazing earnestly at her.
He seems lost in establishment he cannot,
though the doing SO would be relief to
him, avert his eyes from the fair but
wrathful face that returns his glance so
steadily.
"WeH, You have found me-" she says,
still defiant and now what have you
gained by the discovery ?"
Not much, perhaps. in your eyes but
to me this accidental meeting has brought
comfort that is almost overpowering. l
have seen you-you are alive and well. IL
is great deal. You cannot, Of course, un-
derstand how much-and besides all this, 1
have held the child in my arms. She slept
here" laying his hand upon his heart with
q rather simple gesture). "She had her
little arms around my neck she was hap
Ply with me.
my daughter told me you had been
kind to her, " says Mrs. S.amer coldly. She
speaks as one might who is acknowledging
a small kindness done to her by an ac-
quaintance of day. Tho settled distance
OF her manner cuts him to the heart.
at was nothing" he said, his color ris-
ing, his voice growing tremulous moth
ing to you, at least but il filled me with
a Joy have not known for years-for three
long years car still feel the pressure of
her little head.
"Dulce was grateful TO you, says Dalce's
mother. Jelly. II regret she cannot Thank
you in person.
q Dulce.' She was Audrey once" ex.
claimed he, quickly.
81 changed all that when 1 changed
many other things. Dulce suits her best
my sweet p As the last words fall from
her lips they soften them, and her whole
face grows alight with the rapturous glow
born of the most eternal love of all.
"May not ace her % asks the General
very humbly. "Surely l have some claim
to"
"She belongs to me, says Mrs. Stamer,
interruptiug him with some passion. Ia
there not fear mingled with it? She turns
aside from him as though his presence is no
longer tOlerable.
q You are in mourning, he says quickly,
bent on OBTAINING her for even one more
precious minute.
"Somber colors become those who are
widowed" replies she, with her eyes on
the ground.
But the child !" exclaims he, in deep
agitation. 1" Last night noticed it-she,
too, is in mourning?"
at is only right she should be so /; she
has lost her father" says Mrs. Ssamer.
She moves away from him to where the
giant elms are throwing dark shadows on
the grass, and soon is lost to sight amid
their gloom.
Looking older, grayer, the General goes
down the dusty road, lost in saddest
thought coming to stile, he steps over it
and enters field green as emerald, at the
side OF which little stream runs gurgling
with tremulous glee, as it rushes to meet
the great ocean that lies in a white mist far
below. a mighty fir uprears itself in tho
corner of this field, aud, leaning against it,
the General gives himself up to the most
miserable reflections, when a sound comes
to him. a fresh, sweet sound, that thrills
him to his hearts core, and uplifts it to
know thas even for him there is Joy upon
the blessed earth.
It is child's voice singing and the child
herself is coming to him across the sunlit
sward, with her dark eyes all agiow, and
her lips parted, and her hsir flying behind
her like golden glory. She has crimson
peoples in her hands, and is holding them
close 10 her little bosom, as though filed with
love for them, as she speeds along. Size
has escaped from her nurse, and in the de-
licious sense OF freedom is chanting aloud
merry Ills.
But even as the General gszss upon her
change passes over the little face. As if
to prove that ever pain must mingle with
our dearest gladness here, the child pauses
in her happy run, her song ceases. The
small face Fuckers ominously, and, sink
ing On JIG SICuuuJ SuS puIsts lhtO q htOu VI
tesrs.
In a moment the General is at her side,
has lifted her in his strong arms, and ia
asking her what has happened. He presses
her tangled yellow head against his breast
and betrays such genuine grief at her mis-
hap that the child is half consoled. He
may he unlearned in childhood's ways,
yet it is with touch that woman might
have envied. because of its gentleness, that
he sets about discovering the damage done.
Dulce iE not shy. She has ceased cry
ing and now, lifting her angelic eyes to
his, she points sorrowfulIy TO her little
rounded bare leg, as though demanding
sympathy. Is is a small affair after all
the sting of venomous nettle, that has
raised a pink flush upon her tender skin.
The General ssoops and kisses the soft in
jured limb with the greatest tenderness.
He even removes the shoe and sock from
her foot, with view to aseertaining wheth-
er or not the wicked nsttie has penetrated
through the strong kid. Then with an
unrivaled he draws on the
sock again, and after fierce and protracted
~ L : ~