San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-14


basins of which CLEAN snOw-white in
the uncertain light-On the glimpse of
the distant ocean seen through the
giant elms. A floating mist hangs in
the still warm air, making heaven and
earth mingle in one sweet confusion.
The ivy creeping up the ancient walls
of the castle is rustling and whispering
as the evening breeze sweeps over it.
High up the tendrils climb, past null
lioned windows and quaint devices,
until they reach even to the old tower,
and Irvine lovingly round it, and push
through the long apertIreS in the ma
sonry of the walls of the haunted cham
Der.
1t is here that the shadows cast their
heaviest gloom. All this corner of the
old tower is wrapped in darkness, as
though to obscure the scene of terrible
crimes of past centuries.
Ghosts of dead-and-gOne lords and
ladies seem to peer out mysteriOusly
from the openings of this quaint cham
Der, wherein no servant, male or fe-
male, of the castle has ever yet been
known to set foot. 1t is full of dire
horrors to them, and replete with le-
gends of by-gOne days and grew some
sights CHASTITY enough to make the
st0utest heart quail.
In the days of the Stuarts an old earl
had hanged himself in that room, rath-
er than face the world with dishonOr
attached to his name; and earlier Still
beauteous dame, fair but frail, had
been incarcerated there, and slowly
starved to death by her relentless lord.
There was even in the last century
barOnet-the earldOm has been lost to
the DynecOurts during the Common
wealth-whO having quarreled with his
friend over a reigning belle, had smit-
ten him across the cheek with his
glove, and then challenged him to NOR
tai combat. The duel had been fought
in the luckless chamber, and had only
ended with the death of both combat
ants; the blood stains upon the flooring
were large and deep, and to this day
the boards bear silent witness to the
sanguinary character Of that secret
fight.
Just now, standing outside the castle
in the warmth and SOftness of the dy-
ing daylight, one can hardly think of
by-gone horrors, or aught that is sad
and sinful.
There is an air of hustle and expect
ancy within-doors that betOkens COM
ing guests; the servants are moving to
and fro noiselessly but busily, and now
and then the stately hOusekeeper pass
es from room to room uttering COM
mands and injunctions to the maids as
she goes. No less occupied and anx-
ious is the butler, as he surveys the
work of the footmen. 1t is so long
since the old place has had resident
master, and so much longer still since
guests have been invited to it, that the
nra thpn m "
cited at the change now about to take
place.
Sir Adrian Dynecourt, after a pro-
longed tour on the Continent and lin
gering visits to the East, has at last
come home with the avowed intention
of becoming staid country gentleman,
and of settling down to the cultivation
of turnips, the breeding of prize oxen,
and the determination to be the NJ. +.
II. when old Lord Dartree shall have
fulfilled his declared intention of retir-
ing in his favor. He is tall young
man, 1.-THE and active. His skin, though
naturally fair, is brOnZed by foreign
travel. His hair is light brown, cut
very close to his head. His eyes are
large, clear, and honest, and of pecu-
liar dark violet; they are beautiful eyes,
winning and sweet, and steady in their
glance. His mouth, shaded by droop-
ing fair mustache, is large and firm,
yet very prone to laughter.
1t is quite the end of the London sea-
son, and Sir Adrian has hurried down
from town to give directions for the
reception of some people whom he had
invited to stay with him during the
slaughter of the cartridges.
Now all is complete, and the last
train from London being due half an
hour ago Sir Adrian is standing ON the
steps of his hall-dOOr anXiOuSly await
ing some of his guests.
There is even touch of genuine i'm
patience in his manner, which could
hardly be attributed to the ordinary
longing of young man to see few Of
his friends. Sir Adrian's anxiety is
open and undisguised, and there is a
little frown upon his brow. Presently
his face brightens as he hears the roll
of carriage-wheels. When the carriage
turns the corner of the drive, and the
horses are pulled up at the hall door,
Sir Adrian sees a fair face at the win
dow that puts to flight all the fears he
has been harboring for the last half
hour.
"You have Gomez" he says delighted
ly, running down the steps and opening
the carriage door himself. Il am so
gladl l began to think the train ran
away from you, or that the horses
had bolted."
Such a journey as it has beenl" ex-
claims a voice not belonging to the face
that had looked from the carriage at
the last degree. I really don't know
when / felt SO fatigued"
A little woman, small and fair, steps
languidly to the ground as she says this,
and glances pathetically at her host.
She is beautifully got up" both in
dress and complexion, and at first
glance appears almost girlish. Laying
her hand In Sir Adrian's she let it rest
there, as though glad to be at her jour-
ney's end, conveying at the same time
by a gentle pressure of her taper fin
gers the fact that she is even more glad
that the end of her journey has brought
her to him. She looks up at him with
her red lids dropping as if tired, and
with bewildered expression in her
pretty blue eyes that adds to the charm
of her face.
Its an awful distance from town."
says Sir Adrian, as if apologizing for
the spot on which his grand old castle
has been built. "And it was more than
good of you to come to me. L can. only
try to make up to you for the discom-
fort you have experienced to-day by
throwing all possible chances of amuse-
ment in your way whilst you stay
here"
By this time she had withdrawn her
hand, and so he is free to go up to his
other guest and bid her welcome. He
says nothing to her strange to say, but
it is his hand that seeks to retain hers
this time, and it is his eyes that look
longingly into the face before him.
You are tired, too?" he says at
length. Come into the house and rest