The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-16

with difficulty; his voice is shaken. his
words disjonted, rs he glances down,
for the first time. into the averted face;
then. Height Greta,' escapes him al
most like a yell. as for one brief mo-
ment his senses refuse TO credit the ev-
idence Of his eyes. "Greta-welll mar
wells will never ceasel How In the
name of all that's wonderful, child,
came you hercY'
But there was no immediate response,
and Dick. perhaps, neither expected nor
desired one. At any rate, he simply
turned his prisoner riglit-about face.
and. without rclinquisliing his hold of
her slender arm. marched her quickly,
silently, back along the terrace they had
but just travcrsed In far different or
der. Then he lifted her bodily in
through the library window, jumped
after. closed the sash, led the prisoner
across the room, flung himself heavily
into the elbow-chair, and then, after a
moments necessary interlude to recov-
er breath. steadily regarding the child
he questioned;
Nov, Greta, tell me truthfully-how
came YOU hcreY'
But Greta fell suddenly prone on her
knees on the great bear skin rug, and
covering her small white face with both
numbcd hands. began suhbing bitterly,
though in subducd monotone us
though her very heart must break.
Under this new phase of circum-
stances. which materially altered the
complexion of affairs, Dick was vaguely
conscious of n sensation akin to abso-
Lutte despair; he allowed the child to
sob unrcstranedly for some minutes,
and then said gently:
"Greta, am not angry with you, but
cease crying. and tell me truthfully
what has brought you herep'
The culprit vouchsafed no reply,
whereupon counsel for the prosecution
saw lit TO vary the form Of interroga-
ton.
Tell me. Grctn. when did you leave
London? Why did you run away from
PicradillyP'
Then. after momentary hesitation,
Grcta drew her ragged sleeve across her
face, gulped down nm obstinate lump in
her thrOjt, and looking up with fearless
eyes. answered steadily:
Zoos Ii 'ad nua mind tot 90 long
o. tn peelerl 1t wur all long o. that as
IL guy Margot tn slip. whin she wur
doom. tell't yer so, m'-an' | niver
meant T. 'bido / yer 'ouse, waitin' on
i'm; an so IL jist skedaddled
sharp"
but you offered no protCst-madc
no manner of dissent to my pro-
posnl?"
The child shook her head doggedly,
having recourse in this emergency to
the masticatinn of the knuckle of her
right forc-lingcr.
MAJ she opined after long
pause; "'cos else yer'd ha' madden me
watch'd!n
Dick with difficulty restrained rs-
ing inclination to laugh; he found the
cuteness of the prisoner at the bar in
tinitely amusing.
But how came you to Burnham Of
all good places? | thought you spoke
of making your way back down the
Strand to Ivy-lane to the lodging house
and the Italian white-mice man.
Whence this sudden change of pro-
grammey"
"lla! that wur afoor, yeer seel"
"AfoOr WHAT"
"Afoor I'd knowed you-afoor yer'd
been good t. meln
"But what difference did that make?r
enquired Dick, considerably mysti-
fed.
"Weel, yer said as 'ow 700 was COM
in L Durham, an so-an' So" She
hesitated, looking up shyly into the
young man lace.
"Ye-es!" lie assented vaguely; "and
So"
$50 | thought as I'd jist COON along
an all. I'D ma mind to loosen sight
on yer;n and as this confession passed
her childish lips, Greta hung her head
with coy and shamefaced air which
might have done credit to Belgrayian
belle.
"Greta, you can't mean that.' eX.
claimed Dick, infinitely touched; was
il really, therefore, you set out fol
Durham? And how on earth did you
arrive therepn
Yer tell't t. other gents" began
Greta eagerly, treasured by Dicks
kindly tone. "as 'ow yer'd mind t
drive across t common, an Margot an
me, we know'd tn Burnham road wull
So II start'd off at once, afore yer-s
good four hours; an l know'd a deal o
short cuts, as tn cabbies an thcer oss
es can't go; so I'd gotten over til com
mon, an on t tn crossroads, long afool
700 coom'd along, an settend INT
down t. rest"
eatYn questioned Dick, aghast. 81
wonder you did not perish of cold"
I'D sight o. siller tn gents guy me
| chang'd some as | COON along. No
tn thrippenny-bit," she added eagerly
"Igotten i'm safe enow!n
well, and then you rested at tn,
cross-roads-but after thatln
"Afther that, seem that as yer WI
over long / cOomin', whin tn storm
COON on, | was frighted like, an shell
tered a bit; an thin-an' thin"
"Ye-es," prompted Dick, land theI
-"
"Thin | setten'd off t meetin' tn cab
by, an foound yer over-toorn 'dl'
The child's eyes grew wide and roun,
at the mere recollection of that night
disaster, as she spoke.
"Well!'-Dick's voice was almost i'm
patient now with keen anxiety to al
rive at the truth, which he scarce kneS
now to conceal-'why did you no
speak to me? What did you doYn
"Sp'ak t yer, that yer might Ina
handed me over L tn peelerY Ma, no
Greta, III promise yer. jist setten'
off and ruined II knaw lurnham well
meanin' L send soomone Z helpen yei
but | Glanced T. meeten tn carrier
follered, too" she added, nOdding he
small head sagely, ST see as 'ow the
coOm'd."
And later, Grcta, what made 20
peer in between the vicarage shutters
and why did you make off when | IA
out at the door"
q" Again the child hung he
head shyly, faint color even seen
ing to steal mOmentarily into her wa
cheek I'D jist a mind { see as ye
wur coomfur'6le, an so / spied thTo
winder. But I'd no fancy q be cotch'
nu' 'nnIpI oVpr ~ thi hnhlV am 90