San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-28
CONTINUED. Commenced April 26
THE
GYPSY'S WARNING.

WIN george, that began 10 think was mis-
taken. Unhappy and anxious she still was
in secret; more than once heard her sob
bling and moaning in the night stiffness Of
her chamber; but il might be for some one
else, not for George.
One morning something happened. | was
going upstairs from the SchOOl-rOOm to fetch
my watch, which had forgotten, when in
passing Adelaide'S chamber saw Elizabeth,
the upper hOuSemaid, standing close to the
door, looking down at a small, blue paper
packet which she held in her hand
"Oh, Miss Lane" she exclaimed under her
breath, my sudden appearance prompting her
to speak on the spur of the moment, "see
what l have fOundv'
She held out the paper to me; it contained
white powder, but not more white than
was the young wOman's face.
What is itY' asked, as | stepped inside
the room. Sugar.
Sugar, ma'am! 1t is arsenic"
Nonsense, Elizabeth" | cried. what
should bring arsenic in the house? Where
did you find it?''
Here" she answered, "in this drawer"
pointing to a miniature table that contained
a drawer, and stood by Adelaide's bed.
sweeping the room just now, | saw
Sprinkling of white powder lying on the
carpet here; it seemed to have fallen from
the drawer, and opened the drawer to dust
it; and there l saw this little packet"
But why should you think it is arsenic"
I'm sure it is" she returned. Miss Lane,
know arsenic well; in place where lived
we used it for the rats in the attics. II
hope Miss Arson is nOt-taking itp'
flush, Elizabeth" | said, reprovingly.
"How can you possibly suggest such a
thingY'
well, ma'am, / have thought her odd
lately. And only last evening, when Susan
was upon this floor, turning down the beds
with me, we heard laugh in this rOOm-the
widest laugh. 1t was only just one sudden
burst but it chilled me, for it sounded hard
ly human. What's thaty cried to Susan.
Only Miss Adelaide she answered, quite
carelessly; it's a way of lauylhhg she has;
I've heard it before Miss Lane" added
the woman, dropping her voice, do you
think she can be quite sane?
why, yes, of course she is-dOn't be silly,
Elizabeth, ]" was my reply. What could do
but put good face upon the matter? Miss
Adelaide had violent headache last night
remember and when we went into the gar
den after dinner, she came up here to be
quiet. 1 have known" continued slowly,
the thought flashing into my mind, lat least
have heard that some young ladies take
tiny doses of arsenic to improve their COM
pleXiOn."
"Iow foolish they must bel Perhaps,
then, that is what Miss Adelaide has this
fOr?'
Elizabeth was looking down at the paper
as she spoke, which lay in the palm of her
hand. stood, thinklng-and did not much
like my thoughts.
What am | to do with it, ma am? Put 1t
back again?"
mo, change it first, Elizabeth. Throw
away this powder and put some other that's
harmless into the paper in its place; then re-
turn it to the drawer. Flour-Or arrowroot
or ground rice-anything that looks most
like arsenic"
Elizabeth laughed little BLESS my
heart, what good joker she cried. Its
safest, anyway, nIa'aml, for arsenic is danger
Gus at best. The young ladies might take
dose of it in sheer carelessness. I'll do ii at
once"
She was fastening away with the powder,
when detained her. You must not speak
of this, Elzabeth-to any one. We have no
right to do So"
mo, no, Miss Lane, shall not do so.
know my place better than that"
But the matter had made me feel very I'M
comfortable. As | went slowly back to
Nina, after getting my watch, another frag-
ment of the gypsy's prophecy to Mary lay in
mind:
THAT which will make you bright and
glad
viii make another wild and mad"
Had Adelaide Arson any faint Of madness
in her constitution? could not tell. | had
never heard so.
1t was rather singular that an opportunity
should at once occur Of my speaking private
ly to Mr.. Arson. All the Challoner family.
including little Nina and Miss Arson, went
to dine that evening with an aged relative
living few miles off, and when Mr. Arson
came in he found me at home alone, sitting
on the bench under the lime trees. 1t was a
lovely evening, the sun just setting in bank
Of rose-cOlored clouds. He took his seat by
me.
WAS Adelaide ever disappointed in loveY'
asked him, putting the question purposely
In testing tOne-after we had spoken lit
tie on Indifferent subjects.
Not TO my knowledge" he answered.
What put that into your head, Miss Lanep'
because she acts rather" and here /
stopped abruptly.
"HOw does she act? In what way?' he
said. turning to me.