San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-21
This story was commenced June IG.l
THE
Master of the Mine.
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.

way, took my cap and >irolcd out, to find
out if could what sort OF a country had
been landed in.
The kitchen door opened directly into the
back yard" as they called II, and here |
found the poultry lciSTriy picking up the
grain which my aunt had given them before
breakfast Here | found. too, mongIel
puppy, a sort Of cross between a collie and a
greyhound, it seemed 10 me, which, the mo-
ment made my appearance came wriggling
serpent fashion, about my feet
passed through the yard. round to the
front of the house, the puppy following close
at my heels. The front of the cottage was
very trim and neat; and there was a very
small garden here. which was tOlerably well
cultivated; ] afterward learned it belonged
to Annie, and owed its pretty appearance en-
tlreIy to her hlnds. II was a curious illus
tratiOn Of the mingling in her OF the useful
and ornamental. She was passonatcly fond
of flowers and two-thirdS of her little garden
was devoted 10 them, while in the other third
were beds Of mustard and crcsS. radishes,
and celery, with which she regularly supplied
''relisheS' for the table.
Having made Il rapid survey of the little
garden, turned my eyes on the prospect he
fore and beside me The cottage, which
stood alone on slight eminence, was faced
Immediately by the high road which swept
past and curved on to the village, which lay
some quarter Of mile to the left. Immedi-
atCly before me was what seemed to me
dark eXpanSe OF muraSS bleak and barren
enough, and dotted here and there with
ClumpS of StWntrd trees. Beyond was the
sea, calm, coId and glimmrrmg like steel.
strollrd cWrtc>,ly along the road, anus
ing myself from time to time by throwing a
stick and trying to drlch tine puppy tO re-
trirve. A couple of hundred yards from the
cottage | came 10 an iron guir, surrounded
by a plantation of iiT-trcco. and with long
avenue leading knew not whittier. Here
paused, and, without thinking, threw the
stick as far as could up the avenue. But
the puppy crOuchrd at my feet and declined
to stir. So opened the gate and went in.
had not gone many yards when sharp
voice arrested me.
"Here, say, or" it cried "Wnat are
you doing here"'
looked up, and saw a boy about my own
age, dressed like young gentleman. lie
had black hair, black eyebrows that came
close together, and a hanging lip. | saw at
once, by his dress and manner, that he was
no miners son.
Look here, you're trcspasSing, you know"
he continued; then, suddenly. "Why, you
don't belong to St GurIOtt's. What's your
name"
| told my name, and added that | was
stranger having come to the village only
last night to live with my uncle and aunt
PendragOn. In moment his face changed;
ha
said:
odd PcndragOn's boy, eh?' then, what
do you mean by wearing those clothes? /
thought you were gentleman"
His tone, more than his words, reused all
the latent pride of my nature. Flushing TO
the temples, turned on him.
81 am as much a gentleman as YOU" |
said.
"Whatr'
"Oh, I'm not afraid of you! Do you know
what they'd do with you whcr" come from?
They'd thrash You and send you To bed, to
learn better manners.
lie clmrhcd his fist. and advanced threat
enngIy toward me. Then, looking at me
from head to foot, and finding that at all
events | WAS his superior in point OF physical
strength, he changed his mind. | whistled
up the puppy, and walked away.
When reached the cottage again, | came
face 10 face with Annie.
where have you becn"' she asked.
told her had been rambling idly about
She nodded brightly.
I've got no work to do to-day" she said;
"lrasrways not much. If you like, I'll ask
mother 10 let me come out and 20 for a
walk"
DO" | said; and off she flew.
She was long time gOne-SO long | began
to fear the permission had been denied. She
came at length, however when | saw the
cause of her delay. Her print frOck had been
exchanged for a stout gown. She wore
pair of silk gloves, and hat which was evil
IDENTIFY intended for Sundays only. As my
eye wandered over these things she blushed
and tried to appear unconscious.
Which way shall we gO|' she said.
was so perfectly unacquainted with the
district that the question seemed to me alb
surd. left the choice to her.
(which way do you like beSt?' said.
She pointed with her hand.
81 like to go there" she said, "tO walk on
the shore
ION the shore"
YES, don't you see that gIittcring over
there? That's the sea, though it looks like
bit of the common now its 50 still like to
go there and walk on the shore, and see the
ships pass along, and listen to the washing
of the waves on the stones"
We accordingly started off across the moor
land toward the sea, and after a miles walk
reached the cliffs.
Wild and desOlate, they Overhung the
ocean, which was at high tide. A narrow
path through the rocks led down to the wa.
ter's edge. Descending it, with the sea-gulls
lowering over us, we reached the shore, and
found there sandy creek and a solitary
wooden house. We looked up; the cragS rose
above our heads right up into the blue heav-
en-. Then we turned our faces toward the
sea.
at isn't like the sea, is it?'' | asked, as we
stood side by side; lit looks like big broad
river"
"NolC," she assented; "but it isn't always
like this. The waves are sometimes as high
as houses, and they roar like wild beasts.
Then there's been ships, big ships that go to
India, broken up here on the rocks, and
drowned men and women have been cast
ashore"
"Have you seen themT'
mo; I've only heard tell of them. When
the winds are blowing like that and the
wrecks come, mother and me stop in the
house to pray for fatherp
"My unclep Why, he's miner"
Eyes; but he's one o. the life-boat men, too,
cause he's so strong. Look at that wooden
house; that's where they keep the life-bOat"
In following the direction indicated by her
pointing finger, my eye fell upon something
else besides the house which contained the
life-boat, rude cOble lay floating in the wa
ter a few yards from where we stood. 1t was