San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-20
A WRONG RIGHTED.


bridged over by the commonplace moth
ings Of society conversation.
The housekeeper met them at the door
with . white. shocked face, saying that
shortly after Mr.. Fane's departure the
poor woman he had left in her care to be
refreshed by rest and nourishment, had
fallen into swoon which seemed so like
death that she thought it would surely
end that way.
Tell Joseph to go for DIR. CASTOR" was
Mr.. Fane's brief answer. Then he led
Claire into the library where he had left
Millicent.
She was lying upon a sofa, upon which
pillow had been placed to support her
head. In the wasted, sharply outlined
features little remained Of the beauty
which had made her remarkable.
Whatever harm had been done to her
by this poor, dying creature, she forgave
her fully. Her only feeling was one Of
intense pity. As though her touch had
aroused the waning embers of life within
the wasted frame, Milicent opened her
eyes, and fixed them upon the tender,
sympathetic face bending over her.
$50 you have come" she said faintly.-
at is good, for now l can die in peace"
Then she turned her eyes upon Robert.
at was who wrote that letter, and il
was who met James Grant. He was my
lover, and he hated you and wished to
wreck your happiness. borrowed some
Of Claire's clothes under pretence Of
taking a pattern Of them, and in the
moonlight you could not tell the differ
ence, as I was of an equal height with
her. I do not expect to be forgiven, but
/ must do even this tardy justice before I
20 to meet my offended Maker"
Her words were a complete enigma to
Claire, as Robert had made no eIplana-
ton of his conduct, thinking, in his hot
anger, that Claire had been making fool
Of him, and. Of course, being guilty, would
know that he had discovered the truth.
"what does she meant" she asked
wonderingly. turning to Robert, who
stood pale and stern beside her. "What
letter does she speak Of, and what has
James Grant to do with my lifef I do
not understand"
ut means that you and I have been
the victims Of a designing villain, and
that yonder poor creature was made the
instrument Of carrying out his plans and
Of wrecking our happiness. believed
the letter she wrote me saying that you
cared only for my money, and that your
love was given to another, and went to
the spot designated by the writer, where
she said you were to meet the one whom
you really loved. Blind fool that proved
myself to fall into trap like thatr
Claire's lips quivered, and her eyes
filed with tears. She said gently:
IL should have thought you would have
understood my character better than to
have thought that Of me-"
"when jealousy has taken possession
Of man. reason vacates her throne. Twas
mad with anger and Disappointment
For, Claire, loved you with consuming
passion, and-though l am hopeless of
winning even kind thought from you
! love you still, and have worshipped you
al these long years, Notwithstanding that
I had las thought) ocular proof that
you had been false to me-"
Millicent's large black eyes, brilliant
with feverish excitement, had wandered
alternately from once face to the other,
and with q woman's unerring intuition,
she saw that Claire still loved Robert
Fame. With cor vulsive effort she rose
and went to the side Of the woman she
had wronged.
Love forgets all-forgives all" she
said. els II not soT
Claire's sweet face was crimson with
bushes, but her great eyes were lumi-
nous with happy light.
She turned TO Robert, who was watch
ing her with an eager, hopeful expression
which had long been absent from his face.
She put out her hands with timid ges-
ture. The next instant she was gathered
to her lovers heart.
"Nothing but death can come between
us now" he murmured.
Again the CHASTITY pallor crept over
Mi-.snt's face. She sank down again
ID llhe sofa.
v re disengaged herself from her Low.
o's embrace and went to her.
"May God forgive you as freely as /
dol" she whispered. And in proof Of her
forgiveness, she touched her lips to the
pale forehead. An upward look, grateful
and earnest, rewarded her. n was the
last flicker of life's expiring taper.
Millicent had gone to meet her Judge
But new life had opened out before
the two she had so deeply wrOnged.
When June's sweet roses unfolded their
FRAGRANT nat ala n uav vreddin0 nartv an.