The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-05

man had carte blanche to enjoy himself
and "scc life, his patron manifesting
neither appreciation nor disapproval Of
the course Dick had so far steered in
his short journey across lifes stormy
main.
There were moments, however,
neither few nor far between. when
every better impulse of Dicks nature
turned longingly in the direction of his
quiet home, and now, ~ he walked
alone beneath the frosty stars, his
thoughts reyerted-by force Of contrast
perhaps, with the scene lac had lust
quitted-tot the aspect life ut that hour,
without doubt. wore within and with
out the dear. old ivy-grown rectory,
where he had promised to spend his
Christmas Eve, despite of the manifold
attractions presented in town.
His sisters had been busy weaving
laurel-chap.cts. and cunning devices in
holly and berries, which the rector him
self had probably fixed standing
alott on the rickety steps" with tho
wcll.worn household hammer in one
hand. aud an alarming stock Of tenpen-
ny nails IN his mouth; whilst the gentle
mater had constituted an admiring au-
dience, whose approving smile or dis
sentient gesture had settled the fate
l'NAAlNll VI NtAill lllAllN llllNl NIIAN UT
garland In final court from which
there was no appeal.
All. well, he should embrace them all
tomorrow, and Dicks step acquired
elasticity mt the mere thought; mean
while-why what on earth was the mat
ter apparently, too, at his very
door,
Nothing Of very alarming nature
after all II seemed; only stout police
man, lantern in hand. bending over a
huddled heap, which nearer inspection
proved-a child
a shivering pale-faccd imp. who thus
unCercmOniuusly aroused from sleep.
gazed up half distraught into the po-
liceman's face, vainly struggling to re-
ply coherently to the string of questions
he put forth.
"llulloal what's il all aboutYn asked
Dick, coming To a full stop. The child
had staggered to its feet now. and,
leaning up against the area ratings,
with teeth chattering, and sinuous fin
gers twisting themselves in and out the
irOnwork, gazed, scared and terrified,
up into the mans face.
Nothing much. SIR returned that
worthy, touching his helmet with a
gOOd-humOred smile; "littlc un's out o.
order, asleep at gcn'leman's front
door, an, wuss than that, has letten
this drop just as | started her hup'-
this being a silver coin which Police
man 4 was twisting between his finger
and thumb as he spoke "wi'out fur
nlshin any satisfactory account.
Won't do. you know. sir. with iudic-
ial shake of the head, fur little gels to
prodOoce property. which seems sing
gurlally out o place In sich like hands
in al Ia
1T wur guy men whimpered the
child.
Guy yerl \ lot o that. who gives
little beggar CELLS silver bits-little beg
CARS all / ragsI'-with mkindly refer
cnce to the poor child's tatters. "A
penny now, Or
"lle guv' it me doom / Strand. as"
Then a broken cry escaped the poor
blue lips, as the child CHANGED to turn
her eyes toward Dick. "Wha' yOu's he.
an all! An thim's tn scllsame
"Ah, to be sure" cried Dick, ~ re-
member all about it, You must be the
vcrittbie little maid who picked up my
button-hole outside the Friyolity. and
oh, it's all right enough, bobby; [
chucked her the coin. How devilish
strange. and-But what's the matter
now
For the tears were rolling swiftly
down the poor child's frozen cheeks,
and, despite the chatter of her teeth,
her low choked sobs were distinctly au-
dible.
"Well, well, cheer up.n said the po-
liceman. not unkindly. ("lle wur Il
married man hisself," as later he in
formed Dick, land had matter o. three
hitler than her at 'omel'') ITS fortu-
nate the matter admits % heXplanation
--dooty. nevertheless is doOty, and doO-
ty must be done. llOwsomlver, all
well, apparently, an-'
lie laid his hand upon the child's
shoulder as he spoke, but as he touched
her she burst into a roar, and wrig-
Cling cat-like from his grasp, crouched
down upon the frozen snow. clinging
fast with both purple hands to the area
ratings.
Ma, nal" she howled incoherently;
N noa, prigged it; I'll noa go-lll-
Ill-n
But here sobs effectually checked her
utterance, and Dick was constrained to
interfere, endeavoring toeXplain to her,
after brief aside with the policeman,
that no one suspected her of any crime.
C'Not even lurkin wi felOniOus intent
interpolated the stalwart officer, with a
grim smile at his own humor.) But
that as it was necessary nights lodg-
ing should be found her, "she must go
with the bobby, like good little girl,
and be put to bed warm and snug, in
stead of being left to sleep on the snow
In the cruel street"
But the violence of the child's sobs
and tears was redOubled, she chung now
with the absolute frenzy of despair to
the ratings, her feet tucked under her
agony of beseeching in her eyes which
penetrated to the inmost recesses OF
Dicks heart.
This is terrible, bobby-terrible
What on earth is to be dOne2 Shell
scream herself into fits"
She'll stop short o. that, sir; an, Il
needs be, she'll ha' taste o. this!
holding up his staff. AN thin I'll jist
ha' to carry her off bodily"
lie stopped as he spoke, as though tC
lift her forcibly from the pavement, but
wild yell burst from her quivering
lips, and she relinquished her hold OF
the ratings only to throw both hel
arms round Dicks knees, to which sh,
chung as though no power on eartl
should root her thence.
The young man laughed in spite o.
himself, for an element of the ludicrou!
mixed with the tragedy of this painful
situation.
whats to be done nowYn he ques
toned vaguely, scarce seeking to re
lease himself.
'DoneY III show youl" began tn
not unnaturally aggrieyed guardian o
4. IL L 4