The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-29
Called To Account.

ten on that wunan's face. how she would
meet me face To face after her wickcdncss;
but my wonder was soon set at rest She
rose rs ! cnicr,d--nOt particle of shame or
embarrassment depicted itself In her man
ner. She actually SMILED ut me. displaying
her white pcarly teeth. We gpi-l never
felt So Inclined Ia hate her rs when | saw
/ that smile; 1t was TO my then nching heart.
/ A Judas Kiss.
"Oh, Gertrude" she .,il, with sweet slim
| plcity, II have been talling of yuu dear
/ longing for your return Nuur uugallunt lover
has not spoken q syllnhl" to M dl the morn
Ing"
! tclt my face turn pale, my heart swell;
but oudcnvorcd IN suppress the pain.
"Mi,- Merton" | 4aid calmly, III you will
stor this way, Will speak With you
opened the door, and led thu way 10 The
brcakfast-room ! shall never forget Bcr-
narl's face, ~ | lid lac. AZ least. hli not
become so hardened hu' ihi, hc know how
to blush; hc held down li~ head GENEROUSLY
as let Gncc Merton into the adjoining
room
"Wha' is The matter G'rirdrT' she said,
when we had entered and closed the duor;
''yuu look quito tragic. Have You been wit
Messing q mclodrtmu'
"Nu. Mis- Merton ! replied icily, Il hay
| been witnessing: a scene from rrll life Sh
colurcd quickly Mt these words. the hlst harsh
words had ever uttered To her.
Aud have prniiird 10y the lcsson," add-
ed. II have discovered that hayca false
friend Instead ot q sincere one In Grace Nor
ton"
She hung her hcad; She knew by my man.
nCr that II was no use telling lies. that 1
must have seen and heard all.
IL am not Jealous Of you continued: II
never felt before that WIS your superior"
She glanced UP quickly almost sayagcly.
superior she rchprd
eyes, | answered, superior. | do not
mean In position, nor do | consider myself
nearly your equal IN looks
81 should think nntv she exclaimed, with
| that same cruel curve again round her lips
which had never seen toward me before
She must have worn a mask "a me during
our friendship, and now II no longer suited
her purpose to wcu It, or rather she was
conscious that | saw the face through II.
"No,' added, 81 am not the beautiful
Ideal Of bride you just now called me 10
my lover; hut am u woman and | possess
a woman's heart. My love and respect for
Bernard McGrcgor are such that II Incyct
saw him in this world again, would step
between him and the altar, were he mad
enough TO take you In my place"
shall never forget the ticndish glance
with which Grace Merton regarded me.
jealous, ch?" she snccrcd.
jealous no, thank Heaven" answered,
~ am little above being iralou, Of u Girl
like you; have not fallen quite So low In
my seltcstcem. No! II | stood between you
and him, It would not De- ont of anything 50
mean rs jealousy; 1t would be from thcnrre
Christian desire Ia save a man loved and
rcycred from pitlill and degradation. II
Il. L.. 4 .. O. L.. 4 4 a.
he would be- happy with her, that she would
make him good wife, would resign my
position, even II II broke my heart, for his
sake and for his happiness; hut would save
him from the clutches Of a trGuchcrous Great
ure who lurcd him from the woman he was
engaged to. would save him from life Of
misery and disgrace, such as m unprncplcd
woman like yourself could bring on an hon
est name"
"IOur ilowrry sentiments are doubtless
very romantic and fine" my companion said
jccrngly; "but they wont hold water, for he
loves me Yes, me- she added, triumphant
~, "and he irSpiscs you; 1t is only y,riI
money which hes hihrrto attracted him, but
now he Ia, seen mc hr will rclinquish that;
he loves me for myself, for am pcnniloss."
/ stag, rcd against the sidcboaid Tor sup
port. Was | dreaming -drraming! Was
pictured rs a saint l--ths the woman whose
fair, placid brow hld never seen rullcd be-
forr.
Heavens! shall | ever believe IN my own
sex agaInl But this libclugalnst Bernard. 1
would hasten Ia him Mt once; would hear
from his own lips the truth, and nothing but
the truth.
''l;rmain where you are, woman" cried;
II will be with you again In a short space"
! entered the drawing-rOom.
My manner wils that uf one who wandcrs
in a drcam-cold, icy, almost litclcss Colo
mel McGrcgor evidently perceived u marked
change In manner and appearance. lie rose
| Extraordinarily.
Gertrude" he said, humhlcd and abasllcd,
show shall ever dare hope To obtain your
pardOn?'
My proud spirit was fully reused.
did not rclcnt.
"Sir," cried, II have come To release you
from your engagement with me. You have
this morning offered marriage to another wO-
man."
"Oh, Gcrtrudor he cried, looking white
| as death, forgive me- lmplorc 1t of you; l
was mad fool, AMI hardly accountable for
what said 1t was n trying hour for me, and
all men ART fallblo"
| snccred cOntcmptuOusly. III u man Is
20 weak that he cannot resist pretty face,
| Heaven knows what will become of hlml
You asked Grace Merton to be yours, strand
she desires To hold you 10 your word"
"Oh, Gortrudcl Gertrude !" he cried, wiring
ing his hands dcspairingly, II tell you, upon
my honor, | was speaking under the lnilu-
enco Of mere passion. Gertrude, must | APP
| peal to you In vain?' he continued, falling
on his knees at my feet. "COnfOund that wO-
| mani despse her far more than you dol
l should have awoke to a sense of shame at
my folly before II ever went any further. IL
| you leave me, Gertrude, you don't leave me
10 marry another. never loved rs love
| you, Gertrude. For Heavens sake hear me
forgive me-wi,hout you my life would in
| deed be a blank r.
His appeal was most earnest; doubtless no
bitterly ropentcd Of his folly. We had been
very happy together for years. Why should
we allow worthless woman TO separate usP
"Are you willing TO speak face Ia face with
GraccY asked.
"Willing?-Y he cried, impulslycly,
and throwing open the door, Nov, madam"
he cried, addressing himself To the occupant
OF the next room, kindly step this way"
| shall never forget the detected appear
ancc my friend presented as she came for.
ward and faced us.
Miss Merton | said looking ut her with
undlsgulscd contempt, you have been our
enemy and mischief maker; hear what Colo
mel McGregor has TO say To you"