San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-26
CHATTER XL

After time grew uneasy. knew tina,
Sir Adrian was the soul Of honor, and that
had the key of the buhl cabinet; but what
If by any accident those papers should be
seen? It would be easy for me TO give up
the comfort and luxury of the grand old
mansion; but could not bear the Thought of
his doing so. Yet, If he had the faintest no.
ton of what the papers contained, | knew
he would see justice done.
The more dwelt on the idea of my sacri-
fee the better II pleased me. Now indeed |
could give proof of my love, although II
was known only to Heaven. Now ID was
not merely phantom love that could see
in my own mind; here was tangible proof
of how dearly loved him. What greater
sacrifice could a woman make?
MY love should never leave IIeTnn's Nest
for me. He should live here with his beau
tiful young wife and children, while | went
out alone into the cold world. For him
should DE the pleasure, for me the pain; for
him the bright happiness of life, for me its
unutterable woe; for him the wine for me
the lees-and he would never know what he
owed to me. Perhaps when was on my
death-bed, | might tell him. But no; that
would spoil all. My sacrifice must be COM
plete. On my graycStOnC | would have only
the one word 'Gncla,, even as my mother
had simply the word "lSOla." My heart was
Oh lire with the desire of selG-Sacrifce; and
even loved the pain felt, because it was for
his good.
But must have the papers, whether ii was
dishOnOrable or not. He trusted me; but
must break his trust, and let him think what
he would. i must get those documents and
destroy them, come what might. How was
it to be done? Lady Caryl spent great deal
of her time in her own room but, when dark
ness set in, and while She was in the draw
ing-rUUm listening to Lady Aditha's singing,
L might steal into the bOudOiT and take them
away. Then, when had made away with
them, | would go to Sir Adrian, tell him that
l had betrayed his trust, that the packet was
gone, and give him back the key.
But the night would not grow dark; the
haryestmOon shone brightly, and lovely
subdued light fingered in the sky. My every
pulse thrilled with impotence. What II
Lady Caryl should be seized with a sudden
caprice to see for herself what the papers
contained? My plan of self-sacrifice would
be vain then. All, no, my lOve-I would
rather be buried alive with the packet in my
arms!
listened, with my heart throbbing pain
fully, on the grand staircase, where stood a
marble statue of the goddess Flora with
basket of roses at her feet. There. was no
sound, except of music from the drawing
room, where Lady Aditha was singing. The
servants seemed to be all in their own part
of the house; there was no one to see or to
hear. The moonlight streamed through the
windows of the hall, and lay in great white
at the goddess feet and by its light crept
slowly, quietly downstairs, thinking as
went of the night when | had followed the
light of the Christmas star.
I reached Lady CaTyPs bOudOiT There
was no light, except that Of the moon, which
fell silver-white across the buhl cabinet.
With quickly-beating heart unlocked the
door. There the papers lay, untouched. In
silence | took them away.
What should | do with the precious packet?
1t must be destroyed; but it was not an easy
thing TO do. Even If tore the letters into
shreds, there would still be the remnants.
There was no fire in any Of the rooms TO
which had access; | could not go TO the
kitchen. A sudden idea came to me. would
take the package just as it was, faSten a
heavy stone to 1t, and fling 1t into the depths
of the river Dale.
The idea delighted me. wrapped a shawl
round my head and shoulders, and, holding
the packet tightly in my hand, went out. AS
passed the door of the large conservatory,
/ saw by the light of the moon the shadow of
mans figure; but he did not appear to see
me as / fastened along.
How fair the landscape was, the moon
shining upon the turf and upon the leaves of
the trees, which Tustled gently in the wind
The calm brOoding silence of night lay around
me as | walked on leisurely. There was no
need to hurry now. had the packet in my
hand, and the river Dale was shining In the
distance. At length | reached the bank, and
stood for some moments looking down at the
water that would be the grave Of my hopes,
that would roll over the proofs of my birth
and my fortune, sacrificed for the sake OF my
Iowa
TIE b Confb.t..dl
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