The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-24

never Dcen trlcnulN, ana 10 tnlnk that
for weeks past, or perhaps months. |
have eaten his bread and spent his mon
ey. thinking 1t entirely my own. But
II is oycr--I shall not stay. In the
wide world there is surely room for me
to earn my brcadr'
She drew back the curtain and look
ed out. The stars were shining FROST
lily, but the wild March wind was max
ing havoc Of c,c cry stray leaf aud frag-
ment in its Path.
The streets were deserted. IL was
an unusually bitter night of that blu
ferrous month, night when humanity
keeps its head, snail-like, indoors,
when the crackle OF n bright fire was
the sweetest sound on earth.
Marion, with little SILVER. turns
away
II must go!" she muttercd, mot an
other night will stay here beggar on
his bounty. Old Mrs. Chaplin, though
she Is poor. will keep me for my moth
cr's sake until get something to do
and pay her back She paused q Sec
ond by Jerome's armchair, and leaned
her arm on the back Of it. IL wish-I
wish he did not dislike me so.n she
whispered. and the tears tempted the
lustre Of her eyes. at was my abom-
Unable temper ut first, and now he Is
tired Of me, and would gladly marry
me TO the first coxcomb that asks
This mood only lasted second, and
all the old iiercoHess returned.
"But what am | doingP" she said,
dashing away the tears and trying
to control her quivering lips. do l
InN. sl.t. IL
that treats me as a childp Am not
glad by accident | learned the truth Of
my positionP Certainly Am | not
delighted at the possibility of feeling
independent, away from his benevolent
smileP ! am; and the time will come
when jerome Vann willwonder that he
ever laughed at me or my vagarics. l."
All the warm Southern nature arous-
ed, she went to the desk and began to
write note to this detested guardian.
"Sir,'' it dashed of, "ten minutes
since l learned my position in your
house, and II is such an undesirable one
that | renounce it this night. You,
who have disapproved Of me so strong
| ly, will no doubt be glad to learn that l
have broken from your reins and fled.
Good night and good-by to you, sir.
MARION.
up. 81 distinctly and emphatically
r fuse to marry Mr.. Burlington.
An hour later she was on the street,
the wind blowing her cloak, and twist
ing her veil until ii looked like a signal
of distress.
There was nothing of the heroine
about her as she hurried along, keeping
on the darkest side of the street, her
head lowered, and her tears dropping
thick and fast, Poor Marionl The
first touch of the world in which she
stood alone, was cold and blustery.
The weeks passed on by leaden feet.
Advertisements and detectives were
both of no avail, and Jerome Vann's
face grew strangely old and sad, for
Marion's whereabouts still remained q
mystery.
lie loved her far more than he ever
realized. lie longed to see that spirit
ed, magnetic face again, and to heal
the pert, merry voice which had made
such drollery of his well-meant advice.
Day after day passed, each one an ex-
a repetition 6f--;Ea. -p,receaiSg, one;
and all very weary, sckening blanks to
the rich lawyer in his stately home.
1t was June. Sunny, soft weather
reigned in the city. Roses bloomed CIV.
erywhcrc, in florists windows, in mar.
kct carts, in wealthy gardens every.
where the fragrant lunches of different
hucd flowers waved in the breeze.
jerome was standing atie.'
window, looking out at the throng u
promcnadcrs and open carriages dash
| nlp
filled with suspense, they were fai
" orse-calm and hopeless.
He had left nothing untried to dis
co, er her whereabouts, and it had al
been worse than useless. He had beer
beating his heart out with pain, in al
ternate hope and failure, passionat,
longing, and now all was over. With
out any renewed vigor he was still KEEP
in professional duties, trying, ut vain
ly, to take up the thread of existence IL
though Marian had never been know
and dearly loved.
He took up his hat and cane ant
went out. His steps led him to Broad
way. The thorough are was crowde'
and he walked slowly along, Ii S mood.
face, with its quietly bitter expression
in marked contrast those around him
He paused to look at picture whic
attracted a number of people. 1t wa
a quaint design in water colors, in tn
shape of a small screen.
, The picture showed the yea on
stormy day, with the floating spars an
masts of wrecked ship appearin
above the angry waves in the distanc,
; All the coloring of the picture is Gel
, tered in two figures on the shore.
, One, the dead body of browne
! sailor, curls lying on his forehead, h
eyes closed, his blue jacket torn, show
ing the powerful chest in which u
heart would never beat again. III
5 other, young girl with face of eI
; treme lovel ness, though conyulse
5 with anguish.
Her dress denoted that she was
fisher lass, and as she bent over Il
body of her lover, one hand over h
r heart, the other holding on the lit
+ black hood she wore, the expression
her eyes were strangely real and toucl
@ ing The subject was an old one. y
this little water-color sketch held
: quaint original power of its own.
o jerome looked at it, puzzled and ia
cinated. There was strange reser
d blance in the man to some one he hi
known; nay, more. With wonderiI
l. eyes he realized that it was perfe
It likeness of himself.
V lis went into the store and bought
= at the same time obtaining the artist
@ address, and following the directi'
n with feverish haste.
in a fro