The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-14
A PHANTOM BRIDE.
by the Author of "rnE Ice CAR
NIvAL."

proceeded, though not without visible
effort:
ut is impossible TO analyze or define
the subtle force of instinct, which
sometimes. with one lightning flash,
Unexpectedly reveals far more than
long years Of logical arguments are. per-
haps, capable of conveying. Thus 1t
proved In my own case no later than to-
day. | listened attentively from the
first, for, alasl from the day knew my
own child destitute and wanderer
upon the face of the earth, e,e misera-
bic fat of the lowest outcast, the mer-
est vagrant. has had for me terrible
Significance, an all-absOrbing interest,
for still small voice seemed whisper
ing ever: Even to this complexion
may she - Marguerite's child - have
come at last' But from the moment,
Dick. that IIolingshead mentioned a
a child-a child bearing the surely I'M
common appellation of 'Greta. my
heart gave a wild tumultuous bound.
Instinct did its instantaneous work.
and il was with difficulty | rcfrained
from springing to my feet crying Wild
ly: Found. found My Marguerte's
child Dick'-and now indeed the
baronet rose up from his chair and with
n somewhat unsteady gait approached
the -stpad-"it is shel | cannot
doubt it. For moment thought that
in the first instance | might have been
misinformed respecting my daughters
death and that the-the miserable or
gan-grinder the doctor described might
have been in truth my own lost and de-
graded girl. But, happily. this lowest
depth of humiliation ! was not called
upon to gauge. Later, perceived my
fears were groundless. Yet, the child
the missing child-who played the tam
bourine Great Ileavenl Greta is
can be none otherthan my own flesh
and blood. Greta's babe my Margue-
rites grandchildl Oh, my boy, my boy,
thank God you cannot even family es-
innate The unspeakable anguish Of
like confession
The baronet bowed his head on his
folded arms upon the fOotboard of the
bed, and for some moments the silence
remained unbroken, save for the deep
stertorous breathing which all too elo-
quently betrayed the proud mans ago
ny OF spirit.
As for Dick. the mingled emotions
with which he listened to these words
may be more readily imagined than de-
scribed.
Whilst mentally revolving the course
Il now behOOved him TO pursue, the bar
ITO you, Dick, it will no doubt seem
strange, yet, let me admit at once that
no shadow of doubt remains in my own
mind as to the identity of that missing
child. The strength of this mysterious
conviction amounts to-absolute certain
ty. There can be but one vagrant Gre
Ia, and henceforth she must be my
care, for Norman blood runs in her
veins. She is Marguerite's grandchild.
Dick. she must forthwith be found, If L
spend the last coin in my Golfers, the
remnant of my declining years-aye,
every lingering breath in this worn-out
frame. Greta's child must be rescued
from restitution and the infamy of the
streets, But am old, boy-Old, weak,
and ailing, Moreover, | would fain,
ont of regard for the girls future, that
my direct agency might, for the pres
ent. remain unsupported in this matter.
| I5'.t. will you help me? Win you aid
IA: win you seek, find and rescue
| from the mire of the London streets this
hapless little one whose rightful place
| is-aye, and yet shall be!-here, by my
side, a. Bleak lIouseY place my
cheque book in your hands. Go to the
| bead of the detective police, take what
soever steps they may deem advisable,
| and, whether she may be alive or dead,
| l entfeat you, as you nope LOT eaItllly
happiness and eternal peace, find my
Greta's child"
Il will, at any rate, do my best" re-
turned the young man slowly, for in
| truth he was in his turn well-nigh over
powered by emotion, and only by dint
| of the utmost self-cOntrol had he sue
cecded in listening thus far apparently
unmoved. And in the first instance
tomorrow morning we must despatch 0
telegram to my hOusekeeper in Picca
dilly. bidding her come down at once by
the 1915 train, bringing with her YOU
lost treasure--the missing child Fol
Greta-Greta herself, none other-Fatt
led to my doorstep the night before last
and, Heaven he thanked! when founC
her asleep outside insisted on housing
the poor little mortal over night, in
stead of handing her over then ant
there to the police. You stare, sir
You are mystihed! But now listen t.
a succinct history of-factsl
Then Dick in his turn told his story
with what effect the reader will read
lily conceive.