The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-30

hands were not white but brown. there
was no denying hat she was very
beautiful woman. felt it-saw it
knew itl
After minutes pause went to her
side; size jumped up and kissed me. as
she WAS rather fond Of doing. | half
shuuk back kisses were very pain
ful To me just then. / came rs quickly
a5 possible Ia my errand, and gave her
The letter 90 read.
As She glanced through II her checks
flushed ami hrr lips began to curl. She
threw tho letter on my lap. and said lb-
rupliy, "W'il, and what Ut thaty"
began % few necessary explanations.
Il.lah stopped mo
"Oh. hOarl something Of the sort
from Mn French last might. did not
believe him. nor do now. lie is only
making jest Ol me-
answered that this was impossible.
In my own mind | was surprised ut I'll
lah' IS having known the matter before.
and having kept IL 50 quietly. Mr..
Frunchs statement about his honorable
rcl.ceuce toward the lly at his dcvo-
tious must have been untrue. Still this
WAS not SD remarkable as Zillah's own
secrecy about hcr having a lover
Why did you not tell me, my dear"
slid !: You know ynur happiness is Of
liIN IIlNt IIlINI .'i'IiF lN mo NH Nfll as lU
Your CudulIir.' And rather hpsltut-
iug. reppltcI. word by word. ~ near
Us could. Mr.. $ lth.rlinl S Message
While ! spoke Iilah hid her face
among the cushions, aud then drew IL
out burning red.
"llr thinks am going tu accept the
creature then, lie would have me
marry q. cnucrltui. chnttpriug. mean
looking, foolish bow Now Mr..
French WIS certainly twrnty-GyeJ
zone, too. tiH. Only wants me Tor my
fortune and untnn. elise. It Is very
wrong. cruel, and helrtloss OF him, and
you may go Hui tp.l him so.
TEL Wuog said !. bcWlldcred by this
outburst ui iuG..uI'iun, ana great con-
fusion of r"rsHv'i uruuuuus
Nj. SJtur. .ui. ut cuurse' Who
else would tr,, Whose opinion else
du caro- iur, Go AMI say tn him
No size W ,rd. abrupt y; emo. You
needn't trouble him with anything
about me. Ju,t say | shau not marry
Mr.. French. and NO w. $500 Kind as to
give him his answer lul hI him let me
alone"
Here. quito exhausted with her
wrath. Zilluh sank ul"k. and took her
book, turning her bead from me. But
| saw that she d.i not rrud one line,
that her mntiuu'rss ryo- were fixed and
full Of strange deep expression. be-
gan To cease wondering what the future
would bring.
Very soon aftDrvad | went back to
Mr. Sutherland aud told him all that
had passed; just the pain facts, with
ont any comments of my own,
He apparently rcQuircdnouc. found
him sitting compuspdly with some pa
pers before him-hr had for the last
few days been immersed in business
which seemed rather tn trouble him: hr
started a little as | entered. hat immp-
diately came forward and listened with
q quiet aspect To the message had TO
bring, could not tell whether IT made
him happy Qr the coutrrg his counte-
nance could he Ht times so totally inn
passive that no friend. dearest or near
est. could ever find ont from it ANYTHING
hc did not wish To bctrHy.
Tile matter is settled then said he
gravcly; II will write to Mr.. French to-
day, and perhaps il would be as well if
we never alluded to what has passed
!, at least, shall not do il; tell Xillah So
But in the future. say that | cutreat
she keeps no secret back from you. Re-
member this, my dear Cassia; watch
over her rs you love her-and you do
love hery' continued lie, gIasping my
hand.
| answered that did, and God knows
even then told no lie She was very
dear child to me always
Mr. Sutherland seemed quite satisfied
and Mt rest lie babe me n cheerful
goodbye, which knew meant that
should go away, so accordingly went.
Passing the drawing-rOom door. | saw
Iillah lying in her Old position on the
sofa; so | would not disturb her. hut
went and walked up and down under
c.unp of llr-trccs in the garden. They
made a shadow dark and grave, and
still: il was more natural than being
on the lawn among the flowers, the sun
shine aud the bees. / did not come In
for hours.
At dinner there were. fortunately.
only ourselves, Just a family PARTY.
Mr.. Sutherland did not Join us until we
reached the dinng-TOgm door. | no.
ticed that /illah's color changed as he
approached, and that all dinner-timc
she hardly spoke tohim; bat lao behaved
TO her as usual. lie was rather thought
ful, for, MS hu told me privately, he hal
some trlillng business apXlctics burden
ing INN just then; otherwise he seemed
the same. Nevertheless, whether it
was his fault or I. .lah's, in few days
the fact grew apparent to me that they
We're not quito such good friends as
heretofore. 4 restraint, a discomfort.
shadow scarcely tangible, yet still
real, was felt between them. Such a
cloud often r'seS-a mist that comes
just before the day-daWu; or, as hap
pens sometimes, before night.
Tor many days-Luw many do not
lccOlluct, since about this time all in the
house tUd in the world without seemed
| To 90 1n so stran 'ely-for many DAYS
aiterward nothing happened OF any con-
| sequence, except that on Sunday after
! noon ! made a faint struggle of polite
| ness in some remark about "goiuI
| home and "encruachiug on their hos
| pitallty,' which was met with such eyi-
! dent pain ana alarm 10y all parties, that
! ! was silent; 50 we stayed yet longer
One morning-it was high summer
| now-wc were sitting no breakfast. we
| three only, rs Mrs. Sutherland never
! rose early. | WAS making tea. Xilh
! nl'r me, and Mr.. sutherland "a the foot
! of iho table lie looked anxious and
| did moi talk much, though I remember
! he rose p once to throw Il handful of
/ crumbs 90 a. uaii.taue thrush that had
| h"it ~ u iWToi-bu5h ON the laNu-uu
"a- always SO Kind to every LIVING
/ thar,
iurre, my ilnc bird, take some food
| hum' tu your vile and Weaus,' said me,
! pie .slJty; but at tho words, became
! grave, even sad, once more. He bad
| hlN letters beside him. and opened
them succeS,lyely until he Cme to one
ii mumentuus one, knew, for though
lac never moved, but read quietly on,
every ray ID, color faded out Oi MS lace.
lie dropped his head urOn his hand, and
s''I SO long. "a that attitude tlut We