The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-13


~ idolized the child-the blossom
which burst into life rs the parent rose
faded and fell | christencd her'-here
the baronet involuntarily paused and
cleared his throat In n strange nervous
fashion, continuing only by palpable
cffOrt-"Greta' lie did not notice how
Dick started (which was name of
endcarment had been wont to apply
TO her mother Well, in due course /
sent the girl abroad Co school; ulti-
mately To finish, as they call il, in one
Of the best Heminaries in Hanover.
whence, In no less than six months. she
size, the only child Of proud English
Wronet. mark You, In whose blue veins
ran the Norman blood which her ances-
tors had preserved throughout long cen
turtles undiluted, indebted by single
drop of plebian alloy-she eloped with
her music-mastor. some domino-thump-
ing, caterwaulng. moon-struck Pole,
who, no doubt, perceived the immense
advantage of contracting an indissolu-
bic tie with scion of the British aris-
tOcracy. Inter investigation proved
that before this miscresnt rose to the
dignity of an instructor of youth he
had been nm .ntinerant musician, wan
dering from one small town to another,
performing at concerts held in barns,
us is the fashion in those parts. Well,
he had married my Creta-my only
child, Marguerite's lrgacy-the sole
thing for which | carei IN earthl And
then they forthwith ".uplored forgive
ness as the stOry-hOO- say; entreated
pardon. and the paternal benedicton;
knelt at my feet, and all the rest Of It.
the foreigner. no doubt, concluding
life of luxurious idleness was ensured
To him in perpetuity from that day.
But IL spurned them both, Dickl
Babe him 90 to work for her; babe her
starve, II needs were, with the husband
of her choice, for she had nothing to
expect from the father she had deserted
and betrayed. Can you marvel. boyp-
was | over stern. think you, with-with
Marguerite's childIn
There was no respOnse-thG old man,
perhaps, expected none, for with eyes
rivCtCd upon the faSt-eXpiring cmbers
in the crate, hC seemed suddenly obliv-
iOus of time, circumstances. or place,
absorbed in Ead "reminiscences, en-
tranced Ito the exclusion of all else by
those mrlaucilDly spcctres-the phan-
toms OF hygOne SORROWS which the
breath Of his own lips had, as it were,
nbued anew with quick and vivid
life.
"And-and the sequel, sirYn qucs-
toned Dick in low voice after that
long pause.
Tie sequel was-the one inevitable
in all such cases!' the old man respond
ed slowly, his eyes still fixed upon the
dying embers in the crate. "1hey sank
lOwer--lower in the social scale. until
nj length | cannot doubt they lacked
the mere necesSaries of life. Still
remained obduritr, WAS far too deep
ly wounded to feel even any temptation
relent. And thon-soOn after their
child was born Though not until many
months subsequently did / learn thisl,
the Villainous foreigner deserted her
deserted the fair young English girl
who had resigned wealth, rank and sta
ton. in order to share his miserable lott
And she-in due course she diedn-the
barOnet's voice had sunk so low now as
to be almost inaudible even to Dick s
stralning ear-"dicd in u poverty
stricken clearinghouse, surrounded by
the mere refuse of society, lacking per-
chance, the wherewtlal to sustain lif'
| know not even where she lies, 10
continued hOarsely; Tin all probability
no stone records her name or age, no
l0wly cross even marks her resting
place. so well!' said in my heart,
and deemed the chapter closed for ever
and for aye. But, 1t is not given NOR
tails to control Destiny, nor thus to con-
clude mt will a debit and credit account
with Fate. | was hencefOrth spared,
tits true, the constantly recurring an
noyance of fresh overtures from my I'M
grateful child. but the remembrance of
her blighted life, her early death, her
misery, and, above all, of the infant she
had left behind to the mercy of cold
and callous world, refused to slumberl
i became prey to remembrances the
most narrowing, and after many years
(albeit my heat remained long hard
and insensible under the memory of
my wrOngs), victim to Temorse-that
most dread despoiler of the human
peace"
The old mans voice was harsh and
grating, he stirred uneasily in his cush-
Toned clbow-chair; whilst, glancing AT
him askance, Dick reelected on the in
| justice men do one another by Judging
OF facts from appearances. Who, al
this moment, casually regarding Sill
Jasper, would have deemed it possible
the heart beneath that rugged breas,
could ever have thrilled with pity
throbbed with anguish. iluttered 'twiXt
the throes of alternating hopes and
fearsl Still less have suspected that
during those long uneventful years
whilst he had lived the life of a reclusc
shut up in the dreary splendor of Bleak
House, he had in truth been prey tC
remorse. and the victim of a sorrow toe
deeply rooted to find alienation in the
ordinary cares and joys of sociability
or the sympathy of his kind
"Well. four years after news OF Gre
ta's death had reached me, so far re
! Tented as to institute enquiries respect
ing the fate of her hapless child-una
vailingly, however. / could only learr
that upon the mothers death she hat
passed into the keeping of the so-calleC
'landlady' beneath whose roof Margue
rite closed her eyes, with whom she hat
in due course migrated from Manches
ter to London, where all clue to Thu
fate of these insignificant units becam,
effectually merged in the universe
human whirlpool. Since then l hav'
made no further effort in this direction
and so ends my story, Dick. Have yol
any notion why have thus tardily tax
en- you into my confidence, boy?" h,
questioned abruptly, turning for tn,
first time and confronting the younl
man with something almost of menace
in his tone and glance. docs 1t no
appear -illogical-tha on
who has hitherto kept you at an unap
proachable distance should thus sud
denly enfold you, as it were, in his EN-
brace, and bid you look down into hi
heart and read the secrets buried be
meath the dust and weight of year
within his breastY Answer me withou
reservation, Dick"
mo, sir. That is, II am proud an
grateful for your confidence, howeve