San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-02

SANDY, you ara a scOUnureI: you
have been bTibed 10 lie on on masters
account, but | will promise yO half my
fortune if you will free me fr m the
ruin that threatens me now. Take me
TO my aunt and | swear to reward you
as | have said. Will you help mey Oh.
do be merCiful: think how young, how
helpless, how lonely am. and let your
better nature speak for me. beg you
take me to my aunt
Sandy shook his head firmly. Your
aunt knows of the masters new mode
of tanning you, and approves of it. She
started for London to-day"
"Oh. my God. it is impossible; she
dared not desert me-She who is my
only refuge against her son. She prom
ised to protect me, and persuaded me
for her sake to keep peace. and wait pa
tiently for the freedom few months
must bring me-"
Il have told you the truth" said
Sandy, doggedly. Flora was moved by
Jessie's distress. and said not unkind-
", Il beg of you to submit yourself to
your husband like decorOus wife"
II am not his wife, | would rather lay
in my grave than in his arms"
Tell me your rightful name, lady"
God help me, it is Jessie Venni-
more, but he is my cousin, not my hus-
band, though his name is the same as
mine"
Flora shook her head and retreated
to the door, saying as she laid her hand
on the latch, Il cannot interfere be-
tween man and wife so long as he does
you no bodily injury"
Seeing that she was about to leave
them alone together, Jessie wrenched
han MI
clinging to her dress as she said, For
Heavens sake do not leave Inc alone
with that man. AS you are a woman |
implore you in common charity to our
sex to stay with me. Oh, do you not
know there can be worse injuries than
those which bruiSe the flesh. He would
strike at my honor. my happiness, my
more than life, my betrOthed husbands
faith in my purity. Oh, do not look so
hard, | will beg you on my knees to
help me and stand between me and
danger | dread more than DEATH Oh,
you will, you must relent. | never
knelt TO mortal before, and | kneel to
you, for you hold more than my life in
your hands, you hold my honor"
Flora had turned and rested her hand
kindly on the head bowed on her arm.
She was about to speak when she felt
Sandy's hand heavily laid upon her
shoulder, and heard him say ,ternly:
xviii you take this wOm..;l's word
against mine, Flora, and you have
known me all your life? It's but stage
play; come away, your wOman's heart
is too weak for the task of tanning re-
belliOuS spirit"
Rex strobe to the door and lifted Jes-
sic, who was now sObbing Historically.
of lao
sprang up saying, DO not touch me,
do not dare to; I will kill myself if you
offer me further insult"
She leant back against the wall pant
ing with excitement. Rex waved the
people away, and turning the rusty key
in the rickety lock, said, patiently for
him, for her fear of him touched while
it hurt him:
Jessie, you need not fear me, | love
you too dearly to give you cause TO ut
terly deSpiSe me. have practiced this
ruSe upon you because | know it was
my only chance of compelling you to
marry me. | want you for my wife,
dear. my own pure, SpOtlesS wife. and
so Will respect you till you are mine by
the laws of the land and the church.
intend to keep you here till your spirit
is broken, and you are glad to come to
me for shelter from the disgrace this
stay with me will put upon you in the
sight of the world. When we go out
into the world again together, you will
no longer diSOwn me as a husband, but
will beg me to make the contract bind
ing for ever to save your fair name. |
love you, and SwOre to win you by fair
means or foul: fair means failed, now
we shall see what will come of my last
desperate venture"
Defeat for you. and death for me.
perhaps, > said Jessie, despairingly. She
knew how vain it was to appeal to this
man further.
lie looked at her regretfully as she
leant YEARLY against the wall, her face
white and down-dropped like an early
snOwdrOp.
Rex felt remorseful and said:
"Oh, my darling, how | wish you
would give in to me, and let me teach
you to care for me as do for you. |
believe could make you happy if you
would let me-"
Jessie looked mp scOrnfully.
IF you cared for my happiness you
would not have set this trap for me,
and before it is too late you would re-
lease me, and right me with those peO-
pie"
what can their opinion matter to
your"
Much; the esteem of the most hum
BILE of Gods creatures is not to be light
ly lost. Are we to stand here all night
long? May not be permitted to go to
another roOm?"
"Of course you may. You see that
narrow door by the fireplace, that leads
into little bed-chamber; you can rest
securely there-I promise to respect
your privacy. / shall remain here just
to keepupthe appearance of being your
He lighted cigar as he spoke, and
looked intently at Jessie, who was lost
in thought trying to see a loop-hole of
escape.
She longed to be alone, free from her
cousins exultant look.
She moved slowly towards the door
which he opened, and she saw long,
low room, with rough boarded floor
to keep it above the cold stone: mar
row window, high up in the wall, look
ed out upon dreary scene of driving
clouds, and wind-tossed rain-drops.
A cosy white bed stood in the centre
of the room, and she saw at glance
that there was no second door.
She turned on the threshold, and
faced her cousin proudly.
Il will wait here, because / wish to
be away from your hated society; but
hope you do not imagine | am so fool
hardy as to trust to any pretended sense
re b0 Continued,
a CARD.
To all who are suffering from tho errors and