The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-20
E-lSAGE-
Count Won Lindenheim.


ment before she spoke.
Perhaps il would he better not to
think of IT, she answered. 1T has been
mistake. There will he difficulties and
pain anyway. II will. dare say, come
right for yuu-" And then. breaking
off. and her tones growing quick and
passionate, IL cannot say it, | cannot"
coming step nearer 70 him. and laying
her hand on his shoulder. "Oh, Esmc
| cannot live without YOU DO not
leave me. love you, | love you"
At the sound of the passionate words
he half turned. holding out his arms,
but, recovering herself, sydney stepped
back.
Forgive me-" she began, 81 am nm
happy. did not mean to speak like
that. ] want tn ask YOU other things.
Tell me-" her voice falling. "who is shcy
Have you-have you known her longp"
The greater part of my life. She is
a ward of my fathers
Tell me more" rs ho paused, edo not
fear to talk to me. You see for your
self am quite calm again, and should
like to know everything. Oh, it will
come right again, never fcarl-for You,
| mean, when you 90 home. If you have
known her and loved her so long. This
will then seem an intcrlude."
He turned his eyes, full of pain, to-
ward her, where she stood above him.
81 can say nothing" ne said. rs he had
said once before; and, vs. the words had
touched her then, 50 they touched her
now.
"Do not mind me- she cried. quickly
do not heed my words. | am Jealous,
you see. that She should have been So
much 10 you, and for 80 long, and that
| should only have known You for a
fortnight. II is jealousy, miserable jeal-
Ousy. But. Esmc, she would forgive
me. | think, even if She learns all this
in the future-if she knew. also, how
much have suffered Tonight"
"And too. You know that. do YOU
noty And it is all my fault. My suffer
ing, and yours, and--all the previous
mistalr-there is no one TO he blamed
| but myself
at was a mistake she repeated,
drearily. "Ah. why do men make such
mistakesy Tell me" speaking low and
| breathlcssly YOU love hery What
| am sayingy OF course You did. You
have told her 50 hundreds of times
| and-ouly a month ago.
She was standing in the cmhrasure of
| the window, and She wrung her hands
| together with "a certain despairing gest-
| urc. born of her pain and her despair
| Hearing her, Count lindcnheim stood
W. hi. ''l'lllH l'..' l''N 81 iNNl W NI'uN
| her. lie was So tall that when he held
| her thus in his firm hold she was power
| less To move.
Listen he said, i'm clear, determin-
| ate tones, ana WIN one burning hand
| over her ClJsprd ONES. You AdH hear
| me once. and You dldN believe me. Do
| NOV HiUAl ne W." l'' IdHl' IL WIS !!
mistake. | shall - h.rn to her, shall
tell her so. She is good woman; she
will give me back my freedom, If she
does"-his arm was now clasped more
tightly about her-"I will come back,
and will remind YOU of tu-night-of
your tender words, your tender looks"
And if she will nuty" 1t was sgd
news voice that asked the question
Svdney's voice. 50 low that he had to
bend His head to hear what she said.
She felt the clasp of his hand tighten,
but his voice was steady as he answer
ed. "Then in some happy future you
must forget me-" But Ills voice faltered
as he SPOKE.
81 cannot. | cannot" she cried, and
he felt the guickcned heartbeats. the
passionate vibration of her voice. "Oh,
come back to mel"
when come back he answered. Il
will say all to YOU that | am forbidden
to say tonight. When | come back,
| HIS voice lONltlH It's ttltllnllldllbU anu
growing tender and loving. 81 will ash,
for the kiss that / willnot take tonight
Now, will only" putting her at lit.
tie distance from him will only look
at YOU once more, and ask you to trust
me. II will not be for very long, but
trust me until you see me again. vii
YOU promisey"
II promise." she answered. "Do mo-
believe me except when | say that
trust YOU. and will trust YOU until set
YOU again"
lie shiyered a little after her words
and il served To remind her of what sh,
had wellnirh forgotten.
"You ought not to be here" she said
tenderly. "You know you promise,
that, if | would listen to what YOU hal
to saw, YOU would take care of yourself
afterward. And it is not taking car
staying in this cold, dark roOm-is it,
81 am happy here" he answered-h
was walking restlessly up and down tn
long rOom-"and who knows" Blu
his words were cut short by a cough
"Don't scOld me" he said breathlessly
al told YOU had caught cold | will G,
to bed, and begin to take care, or sha
not be fit for my Journey tomorrow.
81 do not think you will be fit any
how" she answered, looking anxiousl
at him, but it is as well to try. ;
goodnight; am going back to father
lie took her hand in his. $1,000
night" he said: then of sudden, knee
, ing before her, he lifted il to his lips.
"YOu are good" she said, gently,
am sure YOU are good. Forgive me if
am so very, very unhappy" And. wit
these words, she stopped and light