San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-03
This story was commenced June 49,
THE
Master of the Mine.
By ROBERT BUCHANAN.

''The visions Of the earth wero gune and fled
| He saw the gtaui sea above his head"
Keats Endymion.
! arms, anu said, You poor rcpentant child,
come hOme;" but when she stood before me
in her fine raimcnt my heart hardened; for
l thought of the heart-brOken old people
whom she had left.
My appearance must have been strange,
| for | began TO attract some attention, when
| Annie took me by the arm and led me down
the side street had intended to take We
passed on. never utterng a word, until we
came to the Embankment Then she let 20
my arm and spoke.
"Hughr' she said, did you come to Lon
don TO look for me?'
mo. / came on other business, but |
promised to seek you and take you back"
She was still white as death and trembling
violently. As | uttered these words, she
shook her head, and her eyes filled with
tears.
II cannot go home, Hugh; not yet" she
said. sadly.
Not yet?' repeated. viii it ever be
better for you than it is nOw?''
Yes, Hugh; and soon. | hope, shall be
able to go and cause them no trouble"
shrugged my shoulders and half turned
away, when she laid her hanI upon my arm
again and said:
Hugh, dear Hugh you have never once
taken my hand; you have not looked at me
as you would have done some months ago.
You think | have lroug al shame upon you
all; but, indeed, it is not 50 bad as tn tt am
lawful wife"
"A lawful wife? Whose wife?'
'Ah! do not ask me that | cannot tell
you. But am wife; and some day, very
soon, | shall be acknowledged. Hugh. will
you not take my hand, and say that you for
give me?'
II haze nothing to forgive" 1 replied.
You did me no wrong; but you ruined the
happiness Of you. home, and you have brOk-
en- your fathers heart"
Hugh"
at is as well for you to hear it, Annie" |
continued. "When your flight was discOv-
cred, your father bore it bravcly, we thought:
but it seems he hid the worst of his trouble
from us, and pinned in secret. 1t has been
like a canker worm gnawing at his heart
and now he'is weak and feeble, like weary,
worn old man!''
ceased. for Annie had turned away and
was crying piteously. | went to her and
took her hand.
annie" | said, tell me the name of the
man who has been the author of all this
trouble, and will ask no more"
She shook her head.
81 cannot tell you, Hugh. Why should
you wish To know? | tell you am his wife"
"If you are his wife, where is the need of
all this Secrecy?'
"There are reasons why he cannot acknOwI-
edge me Just now therefore, | have made
solemn vow never to tell his name until he
gives me permission. Is ii not enough for
you TO know tliat have not di,graced you,
and that am happy
She certainly did not loOk happy. Her
pale, panied face, which was turned to mine,
seemed to give the iie.to every word she
spoke.
will you tell them at home" she said,
that you found me well. ard that they must
not gTieve: because some day soon | shall
come back to them?'
'Where are you living nOw?' | asked.
"ClOse by here" she replied, quickly. 81
was on my way home when met you. Will
you come with me, Hugh? | will show you
the rooms"
asscnted: and she led the way back to-
ward the Strand She walked quickly, and
paused before house in Craven Street. En-
trring with a latch-key winch she carried,
she passed up flight of stairs, and entered
a room.
This is where live, Hugh. she said.
1t was Il change indeed from the Cornish
kitchen in which she had lived all her life.
The room was one which ! could imagine
Madeline occupying, but which was singu-
larry out Of place when coupled with Annie!
Having looked about me, | prepared to
leave.
where are you going, Hugh?' she asked.
"HOme?'
Il don't know" | answered
''Shall | see you again?'
THAT don't know. Since you say you
are well cared for and happy, where is the
use IN troubling you? Some day, perhaps,
when your sun begins to set you'll find your
way back TO those who loved you long be-
fore this villain crossed your path"
1 opened the door, stepped across the
threshold, and-faced two strange men.
A hand was laid upon my shoulder, and a
voice said:
stop, young man! We want you for
murlerP'