The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-23

MS DtllE uDlt 10 90 Nll@t llAl ne tOufh utIs
As he stands irrcsolutc, one NJ the footmcn
passes through the hall Then and there
sudden resolution comes 10 Sir Bawdon. lie
will 60 10 her, tell her all lay bare his heart
o. her, and II II must he hear from her own
lips the "No" that will blast his lie forever
Inmhing will be better than this crushing
suspense.
Where Il Miss MoutcihP" he asks the
man as he goes by.
"ln the library, sir. Saw her go in there
just now
Opening the library door he enters the
room, and finds himself alone with her.
She is standing ut the far window, and,
with q little start, acknowledged his en-
trance. lie would have gone 10 her, hut
with n certain impulsive cagpfncss she too
moves and meets him half way. That her
late anger Is siill warm within her eyes is,
known 10 him Mt the hrst glance.
"So-now YOU know me-" she says def.
anty "arc you satisiicd2 Is your curiosity
satintcdp"
II knew you from the inst moment Was
l likely Ia fOrgetY'
That is the bitterness OF IT," she says
"Arc those three sad years Of my life never
20 hc ohlicratedP'
From nip mind, ncyctl The few weeks
lclaim out OF them were the happic,t Of my
life"
"What brings you 10 me now?" demands
she suddenly. rs there more YOU will still
Learn rs To the why and the wherefore Of my
going into hospitals rs nurse | warn you
shall give no explanation
81 do not desire one" says Dare humhly;
81 know all about H. Your fathers tyranny;
your escape from marriage with that vile
old mani your life in hospital everything
DO you hate me all the more because know
all thsY'
Hate you-now There Is studied con-
tempt IN the curl Of her lip Hatred is
strong sentiment; what | feel for you Is only
/ Indifference"
She goes back To her former position In the
window, us though 10 terminate the inter
view. But he, having "ca,t hi, all upon the
| die makes one more effort for dear life. lie
/ follows her thcic
Even IN" worst criminals pct a fair hear
| Ing" hr says "Lc me- plead my cause"
"No. II would be- waste of time
AT least tell me Ut what -tnnt acctsrd.i
! "List,1i, thru' cXcluims She turning 10
! him with flashing eyes. "Whru unl,inu Fate
sent you to that hospital year and half
ago and you saw me there day after day,
mere nurse, aud aH you believed unknown
| aud obscure ynu dciguod la fancy yourself
| In love with me. Your momputlIy mfatua-
ton went even su tar that 10, the hour ap-
! preached that was tn put an end forever 10
our intercourse with each other driven by
some pucrilc impulse you deemed it even
! possible 10 declare yuir love. and offer me
| yout uauc But when II came Ia the point,
you qlddod; you drew back your halt-uttcr-
eel words you shrnuk from allyiug yourself
! with one beneath yuu. M feelings were as
nothing Ia YOU Knowing myself scorncd,
! rejected, without being afforded su much as
the luor qualification uf being able Ia refuse
you, ! left the roum hoping, pIdUiug
might never sre your face ugau. Do you
think" with "a painful sob, II shall ever for
give all tlIat?'
"llc0rmo,
81 will not II your lilc, and heart, and
title were MI At my feet now, i"
"Thcy are at your feet
"Thon reject thom,' returns she with
ychemcuCe.
AS you will But nj least you shall listen
IN what have tu say In my Defense says
Dare with dignity. "Ihitmnuing Of which
you spcak-my last IN the hospital truly
meant, as you say, To tell you of my love-"
"Mcantr And then YOU hcsiiatcd."
~ did" says Duc simply. My name and
the honor of my house is dear Ia me. Is II a
crime beyond forgiveness that should havc
paused before Offering that uamc and honor
10 a woman who, though the most beautiful
and lOyablc In the world, was still-un'
| known"
"Why should you seek ocxcusc yoursclip'
Interrupts Miss M0nte,h haughuly;'l know
all that"
"Thcre IS, however, one thing that you Ito
not know. You saw that | did battle with
myself that morning, but you did not wait
the termination Of II. Love and duty fought
hard night, but when II was over, youthful
is Love-had won the victory; | raised my
head again to tell you all to bcscCcl you Il
be my wife, but you were gone. Later ON
searched for you everywhere; advertised
all to no purpose For eighteen months
sought for youth vain"
Her face is turned away from him now
but faint sound that l. either a Sigh or
protest, escapes her
about all this you must believe me o
not, as you will, says Dare quietly, ~ hav
only my simple word 10 give YOU, but 1t Is u
least a word that has never yet been dishon
Ored. VIII you not say something to ineP
IAN have to say has been said long ago
| cannot forgive YOU" says Miss MOntcitll
I .
II will not accept such words from you
lips" exclaims Dare, with deep agitation
And then all In moment his arms are rOun
) her and his cheek pressed to hers
Beloved" he says, "haye pity on me
Just think of II! You who have name a
mine, can you not understand the struggle
enduredY
~ oan," murmured she sadly; land yes,
honor you for It. But" Here her vote
: fails "Oh, II you could only know what
suffered she says sobbng bitterly
, 81 do know II. II was Just hdQ what
: suffered, returns he graycly 80 darlini
: put an end to my misery nOl0-hCrel or IN
two am the more to be piticd, because
you still prove unkind my unhapplncss wi
| last forever. Eva, speak 10 me-"
Evelyn" cOuects she, softly.
I "Ah, Of course. But you must rememb,
how long you have been Eva TO me, Whi
an eternity lies In that year and q half! TIL
| very length Of my wrctcheducss should bu
t my pardon"
1 "You are a special pleader, whispers She
r and then she makes him present of a lit
/ arch smile, and a tender glance from und,
her drenched lashcs.
t "Tell me you love me-" persists he.
3 ~ cannot-yet There is first som
a thing"
Nothing that shall separate U.s." declar,
T ne stOutly.
| "rhere may be. Who-who wa. that Ally
n you were always raying about during TN
/ dreadful time when you were llp'
l "Alysl My sister, of courseW says
: triumphantly. "lIad a letter from her on
..NIs Ia