San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-26
PASSIVE CRIME.


res. uvuryr you. she Sdys GarnCS,.i.
and thru-yuv >wnetiy, struck by the cX-
urmc melancholy Of his cXpnNNion-she
comes a few steps nearer 10 him, and holds
ont her hand lie takes it, presses his lips
10 it, hastily but icrcutI, and without an
other word quits the room,
1T Is, | plainly see an unnecessary QUcS-
ton; but, lor all that, / will ask if you have
quite made UP your mind that this ridiculous
story is true demands PrmuddOck, angrily,
addressing his son, upon whose COmtenance
no disbelief can be- read.
"Quite-' says Dick, readily. who has for
gotten to think of anything beyond the fact
that the stigma attached 10 liiI,la'S birth has
been removed.
Then yoV acknowledge hcr?'
~ my cousin? Yes, certainly
"Thrn, rs certainly. yDu are a beggar~
SAYS ltnmddOck, with i harsh laugh.
The young mar starts as if shot, and puts
his hand to his forehead. For the first time
he realizes what all this may mean 10 him.
BY what right now shall he speak of love to
the woman who Is all In all to him, whose
image occupies his heart? Their positions
are reversed; she is the preseason Of land and
fortune: he is now the lonely Outcast.
He draws 4 deep breath, and then rOuscS
himself, Going up 10 Mrs. Neyillc, he bids
her gund-njgnt, in Il low tone that still does
not iltcr
"AII this has been too much for YOU, and
my cousin he says. Gently, though without
looking at liildu. "IO-murrOw, everything
can be discussed more thoroughly; but for
Tonight enough has been said"
I'VE shall see YOU tomorrow, | hOpe2'
says Mrs. Neville, anXiOuSly.
Il think not. IT will be better not says
Dick, with faint smile. Il shall have many
things to see Ia. and my Tathprwill, of course,
require me.
At this mention uf his name. PenruddOck
Ia Il stlI
tcrSlbly his face has Chatgcd within the last
few minutes
ASH all hope has died within him. he looks
crushed and broE"u. and very pitiahlr.
lh"'e Is, too, within his eyes somewhat
vacant expression that contrasts very power
fully with Lis mSolrnt dcmeanOr OF an hour
ara
Eh, Dick? eth. lad?'' he says, in con-
fused fashion, putting his hand to his head,
and signing drc0ly. "What are you saying
Of NE? | heard my name. Don't believe
them, Dick! 1t is all false; every ,wOrd!'
Them in ton" Of eager, almost abjcct en-
treaty, he adds, IN a whisper, Don't yCu
condemn me. Dickl You have not the right
Ia do that. 1t was all for your sake, Dick
all for you"
Come away. Come home with me, faith
cr, says DiCE, hgrriydly and auXiOusly.
\ touch Of deep pain. mingled with shame,
mars the beauty uf his features as he listens
of his guilt.
Home! Where is that nou?' asks Pen
rud'iOck, vaguely. diSrgarding his sons eff
fort 10 lead him from the room. From the
castle to the cutt}ge-that is fan, indeed!
And, SimkImg his voice. Il can't 90 to the
cottage, picE-NIr Hrrr is there LGItCdBs
the river! Wit,ua strong shuddcr And it
never ceases it flows on and forever! | can
hear it Away in ny dreams at nightw
'ltousc yourself. You are dreaming now,
think, says Dick, who is as pale as death.
40; not now says the old man. lie
looks Il very old man now indeed, 50 strange
ly altered are his features and mien. 1T is
too late now for dreams, If what she says
be- true, all is over. all is at an end!"
THE end Is not come YET" returns Dick,
brayeiy. throwing up his head with certain
proud gesture that brings tears into the eyes
of one who is watching him.
lie closes one hand firmly, as though to de-
fy misfortune. while into his face there comes
a mobility. sense 0f dignity, that perhaps it
lacked before,
"lou have still enough to satisfy every
want he says, addressing his father; land
as for me, the world is before me, and shall
conquer II in defiance of fate and evil fortune.
Al is for the best, and we should be thank
full that the little one was saved. IOu are
thankful, father, are you moi? Say that you
are thankful, he asks, with extreme earn
JeStneSS.
Ii is as though lie had completely and en-
tirely disSOriatcd the love Of his manhood
from tine delightful little companion of his
earlier days.
YES, yeS-decply thankful says Pen
rIddOck, in a strange tone, hardly recOgniza-
bic. ~ weight is lifted from my heart-a
load from my Sohl-that has lain upon them
fol many year. Now il is raised, my heart
feels lighter. But looking helplessly
around, my hrGd is bearing the burden
now. II feels like molten lead, And there
is a sound as Of many V0iceS-and-"
A deep grolu escaped him; he staggered,
and, but that D ok hastily caught him in his
arms, would have fallen heavily to the
ground