San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-15

room. He soon found what he wanted
a box of matches and rude. home
made candle. fashioned of a long coarse
reed dipped in Sleeps tall0w; hut, Ow-
ing to the fact that he was exceedingly
feeble and tremulous, lac was So long in
lighting up, that his gentle son grew
impatient.
Here, give 'un to me-" said William.
you're wasting them matches just as
if they cost nOwt. A precious father
you are. and no mistake"
The candle being lighted and burning
with feeble flame. he informed the old
man Of what lie had found. In mo-
ment the latter was down on his knees,
opening the box and greedily examin-
ing its contents. But William pushed
him impaticnlly away, and closed the
lid with a bang.
"Theer. enough a that, old uni You
hold the light while | carry the box in
and put it away
An right. William dear all right"
returned the old man. obryiny glrCful-
". Il knOw'd We should have luck. 10y
that beautiful dream"
The two men-Onr holding the light
and the other carrying the trnnk-paSs-
ed through door at the back of the
kitchen and entered an inner chamber.
This chamber. too. contained q win
dow. which was 80 blocked up. how
ever. by lumber of all Kind, that little
or 10 daylight entered. Piled up in
great confusion were old sacks. some
partly full. some empty. coils ul rope.
broken oars. broken tragu,H.rof ships
pianks, rotten AMI harmdc.rd. Il .lna.l
boats rudder. dirty sails. scvrraIuilskin
coats, bits of iron ballast. ana other
flOtSam and jetSdm: 81 that the chamber
had a salt and tlSh-like smell. suggest
ing the hold of some vessel. But in one
corner of the room was small wooden
bed, with mattress and coarse bed
clothing, and hanging on nail close to
il was certain feminine attire, which
the owner of the caravan would have
recognized as the garb worn by Matt ON
the morning of her first appearance.
Placing the box down. william Jones
carefully covered ii with a portion Of
an old sail.
It's slmmat. hut il . int muCh.' he
muttered. diScOnteuledl,. "IuckN them
Coast-guardS didn't see mrcomr ashore.
If they did. though, il wouldn't gnIfN;
for what's floating on the sea belongs
To him as finds it,.
\ sound startled him us hr spohe.
and. looking round suspiciOusly, hr saw
Matt entering the room. loaded with
broken wood. But she was not alone:
standing behind her in the shadow was
a man-nOne other. indeed. than Monk.
Of MOnkshurSt.
While Matt entered the room 10 throw
down her load of wood Monk stood in
the doorway. His quick eye had noted
the movements of father and son.
More plumber. William JonrS?' he
asked, grimly.
In a moment William Jones was
transformed. The keen expression of
his face changed to one of mingled stu
pdity and sadness: he began To whine.
More plumber. Mr.. Monk he said.
"No. no; the days for finding that is
gone. Matt and me has been on the
shore fOraging for bit o lirewOod-
that be all. Put it down. Matt: put ii
| down."
Matt did as She was told: opening her
arms. she threw her load into Il corner
of theroom:then William Jones hurried
the whole party back into the kitchen
The men seated themselves OubenCh-
es: but Matt moved about the room to
get light. The light, as well as every
thing else, was a living Illustration OF
| the meannesS of William Jones. 1t con-
sisted. not of a candle, but of a long
rush. which had been gathered from
the marshes by Matt. and afterWard
dried and dipped in grease by William
Jones. Matt lighted it and fixed ii in
a little iron niche which was evidently
made for the purpose, and which Wa:
attached to table near the hearth
When the work was finished, she threw
off her hat and jacket. retired to the
further end of the hearth. and sat dow
on the floor.
During the whole of this time Mr.
Monk had been watching her gloomily
and he had been watched in his turn b.
William Jones. At last the latter spoke
Mats growed." said he; She grow
ed wonderful. Lord bless us! she's
bit changed she is sin that night whel
YOU found her down on the shore. Why
her own friends wouldn't know her."
Mr.. Monk started and frOwmed.
"IIer friends?" he said--"wha
friendsy"
"Why, them rs OWNS her" continues
William Jones. IF they wasn't al
drownded in the ship what she cam
ashore from. they must he somewhere
Mayhap some day they II find her, an
reward me for bringin her up goo
gal-that's what allus tell her"
so that's what you always tell hel
do you?" returned Monk. grimly. The
you're a fool for your pains. The girl
got no friendS-haven't told You tina
befOre?"
Certainly YOU have. Mr.. Monk" Tt
turned William Jones, meekly: "bu
look We now. think"
you've no right 10 think, thundere
Monk; you're not paid for thinking
you're paid for keeping the girl, an
what more do you WANT Matt" h
continued, in II softer tone. come t
me-"
But Matt didn't hcar-or. al any "a
did not heed: for she made no m
ment. Then Monk. gaz NJ intently a
her, gave vent to the same remark a
William Jones had done few hour
before:
"Where have YOU been to-day" h
said, "tO have ON that frock?'