San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-18
A MAIDEFI FAIR.
BY CHARLES GIBBoN.

that he deserved the reproach expressed so
quietly.
Il am ma TO part wi either o you. l was
Just putting a question to you, and there
was nae harm in that
"Oh ma"
"Weel, the lang and the short o it is this;
there's man to me the-day-Pm ma gaun
to tell you wha." (Shc smiled; as if she did
not know who! Poor Old fatherD And
he says that if you will take him and | will
gle my consent he'll gle you a your ain way
and make over to you at once fortune. l
said to him, You maun speir at herself, my
man. He said he would, and he's gaun to
do il, and first wanted to ken afOrehand
what you would be likely to say. But you
are free to do as you like"
you mean Mr.. Cargill, father"
h!-hOO did you ken that%' exclaimed
the old captain, forgetting in his amazement
even to smoke.
Easily enough; he was the only man
here to-day except"
"WeelP' There was curious glimmer
Of a smile on the old mans face as he put
the question required by her pause.)
Except Mr.. Ross, and he cannot do what
you say the other offers to do. But l am
afraid that Mr.. Cargill is not the man for
me, with all his wealth and your consent"
"Oh, then you mean that you'll haze some
body else without my consent"
She got up, took the empty pipe from his
hand and proceeded to fill it with an ex-
perienced hand. AS she gave it back to him
with light
We'll ma talk any more havers tonight,
father. You ken well enough that l will
never take a man that you say ma to; and l
will never take one that / say ma to, though
you should say yes. Now that's all settled"
SAY, ay, and it's that way, is't," mutter-
ed the captain to himself, but quite loud
enough for her to hear. ITS that way, is't?
We maun see ABBOTT that. We maun see
ABBOTT that. An empty purse against weel-
filled one-we maun see ABBOTT that"
Annie was little fdgety as his loudly-ex-
pressed reflections proceeded, and was glad
when they were interrupted by loud ring
at the bell of the entrance-door.
"Wha can that be at this hour? Hope
there's naething wrang VII the Mermaid"
''Kirsty will soon tell u.s." said Annie, ar
ranging her papers for the night.
'Maister Cargill," said Kirsty, the stout
serying-woman, opening the door for the
big Emphatic form to enter.
II hope you will excuse me for dropping
in upon you so late" he said, in what he
thought was grand manner; II intended
to be here four hours ago, but was uneXpect-
eddy detained in the town. Sorry now did
not come straight along from the old place;
but was obliged to make call first, and the
business occupied me much longer than /
expected"
''Never heed that, sit doOn-and get a
glass, Annie. Oh, but you like wine and
seegaars. Very weel; though never med
die wi thae things myself hae some wine
that was gi'en me in present that folk wha
ken say there's nae better in Edinbro'. Ay,
and hae seegaars TO match. Get them out,
Annie"
Annie obeyed quickly, and then excusing
herself as she was required elsewhere left
the room.
The wine was good and the ''seegaars"
were good, as the captain had said, and Car
gill evinced his appreciation of both.
And nOO," said the captain when they
were settled down, show did you come out
on sic a night?''
''Oh, the night is not so bad in a close cab
with good horse and a careful driver"
And is this man waiting for your cried
the captain, his eyes starting, land you new
er thought of seeking q dram for himp'
81 do not like to encourage tipping in
people of his class" cOolly answered the
lOutish sybarite as he slipped his wine and
smoked his cigar
There was a movement on the captains
lips as if he repressed some words which
were no doubt of a very emphatic character.
He rang the bell fiercely and called loudly
for Kirsty whilst he filled glass with
whisky.
Hey, take this to the cabman to keep
him warm while he's waiting"
"He has jist cam for light tae his lamp
and's at the door, replied the woman; "puir
man, he's sair droOkit."
Then the captain walked about to regain
his temper. CargilI had not moved during
the whole of these proceedings. He smOk-
ed and drank placidly as if they had moth
ing to do with him, and If these good people
chose to concern themselves with mere
cabman who would receive his full fare and
something over, that was their business.
The driver stood shivering at the door, the
fierce gusts Of wind threatening to tear the
coat from his back, whilst the horse stood
shivering at the gate.
THANK ye, mem; / wish the puir beast
could hae dram tae on sic night Here's
your very good health" said the man as he
gratefully accepted the captains hospitali-
ty.
The captain sat down again and resumed
the conversation.