San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-20

looks precious fragile and he's half dement,
ed as It is! On, Enoch Arden Enoch Arden,
YOU poor old ghost, give me helping hand!
I'm half demeRted myself To think we
took the gOvcrIeSs for the mistress the gov
erness for the mistressl lila, ha! But must
open fire somewhere; it would be too cruel
TO let them waste another hour of this glOTi-
Gus dayP'
lie hurried back to the hotel, and at the
gate was confronted by Mrs Heyland, who
was leaving with her little daughter.
Fragile, decidedly fragile" he muttered,
but wearing uncommony well! To judge
by looks, | should put her good three years
on the right side of thirty; but she must be
more than that And now TO commence
business"
He followed the lady, who had passed on
few yards, and, introducing himself rather
nervously as a commissioner from MeSsrS.
Coleman of st. Mary's Lane, begged for the
favor of an immediate interview.
She bowed, without expressing surprise,
and led the way back to the house.
Il had a communication from Mr.. Coleman
lately. | infer my aunt Mrs. Collision wishes
for my address. Do you come from her,
Sin" she asked calmly.
At the word she lost her stately cOmpOsure.
Her fair face flushed, then paled.
'FrOm-from-Aust r. she stammered.
"You-yOu-bring me news, tidings- Of-of-
my dear husband, who died there many
years agOg'
lie bowed in assent, cycling her changing
color anXiOuSly.
"YOu-yOu have come Toto tell me the
nDTtipulaTS pt nnathO A #
Oh, | knew they would reach me some day
some day! YOu-yOu come to tell me that
he did not die as they would make me be-
lieve-die a death that would separate him
from me-ah, Heaven, farther in eternity
than we have been separated on earth! You
come to tell me-tO tell me"
That your husband did not commit sui
eide, certainly, my dear lady-Certainlyp he
replied promptly.
II knew it'll knew itr' sObbed the poor
woman. "Oh, Heaven bless you, sir, for
bringing me such news? And now, as you
are kind, be mercful-tell ne all you know
about him. Were you his friend? Yes, yes,
you were-I see it in your face-yOu knew
him well-were with him when he-dled-
received the last words-the last words he
sent to me-to me-his poor brOken-hearted
wIfe-acrOss the cruel sea! Oh, in pity"
my dear Mrs. Heyland, pray compose
yOurselfr' cried Irving uneasily, feeling that
he was fast losing his head under the NOV
ing appeal of her beautiful eyes. at is a
long story, and you are so agitated l really
think | had
oh, sir do not trlle with me! | have
lived but for this hour! | am not agitated,
assure you; can bear anything now but Sis
pcnSe-anythng | see by your looks, your
manner, that you have something of import
ance to reveal to me about his last moments.
Oh, can bear it-tell me-tell me-tcl mel"
She leaned forward, almost kneeIing at his
feet; Selling his hands, she clasped them
firmly in her own, holding them against her
heaving shoulder. He cOIOred, shifted, wrig-
gled, tried TO free himself in vain.
Three minutes later, Mrs. Flynn, passing
the window en- route to her fowl-pen, looked
in casually, and there and then beheld a
tableau which lust TUX every blessed breath"
out of her body, and sent her dish of meal all
over the place-a tableau representing Mrs.
Heyland, that most prim and prudish of wild
ows, encirced by the arms of "a beardIess
impudent brat of boy" who was not aware
of her identity twenty minutes before, her
golden head resting cOntcntedly on his Shout
der.
WELL" painted the worthy lady, "if that
doesn't bang Banagher, | don't know what
dOes Oh, you are a precious scamp, you are
"a regular wandern' Don Junel In all my
born days never What! You want me,
do ye%'-for Irving was waving his free arm
in urgent appeal to her. Il suppose had
betther see what's up? II suppose I'd bet
thprr
Mrs. Flynn, Mrs. Flynn" he cried, as she
hustled in, quick, quick! Look at this lady!
broke some news to her too hastily, and she
went off like this; tell me quickly-have l
killed her%
Not this time, young man." she replied,
after professional survey; Its only faint
See-her eyelaSh is quivering already! Just
leave her to me, and I'll bring her round in
five minutes. Good news was it-eh?'
"The best"
"Of wild ye thenw
well" soliloquised Irving, drawing a
long breath, 81 did make precious Aull of
it, and no mistakel Couldn't have made
bigger if had tried on purpose! Hanged if
90 in for circumlOcutiOn again! 1t didn't
kill her; the chances are plain speaking won't
kill him."
still sat in the attitude in which he had left
him, and opened fire in this wise
"Heyland, | want to ask you question
that's been botherng me-abOut old 'EnOch
INSTRUMENTATION, | mean. i sup
pose now, for arguments sake, before he
went off and died in easy pOctical fashion. he
made sure that-that his wife, whom he saw
sitting by the fire with the baby in her arms,
-
of the child, and nOt-nOt-a SiSter-in-law, a
"a nursery-maid, or poor relation paying
Christmas visit there-eh%'
What dye mean? What are you driving
at, Irving? How dare you ask me such a
question: he painted wildly.
81 mean that you've been an ass, an I'M
mitigated laundering ass, Heyland-rushing
at conclusions, taking things for granted"
'Irvingr'
Hands of, Heyland! / mean that the
lady we saw lastnight was not O'Callaghan's
wife, but his children's governess, and that
she still bears the name you gave her on your
wedding-day, and means to bear it to her
grave. Now digest that, old man, quietly
and thankfully here in this room for about
ten minutes, and then III come back for you,
and perhaps let you make the next move
yourself"
He went out hurriedly, closing the door
firmly after him, and descended below, where
Alice, completely recovered, with flushed
cheeks and radiant eyes, piniOned him again.
Dear boy, you see am not dead! Hap
piness cannot kill; tell me where and when
you saw him laSt-in-in Australian"
''N-O-nOt exactly in Australia"
'In-in-EnglandT'- exactly in
England"
"AhP A quick smothered cry