San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-17
CUAPTER VIII.

plCiOn was q truth. | knew that were
characters so complex that no human
being could understand them. Here
was beautiful surface, only
knew what lay underneath. There was
no outward brand of murder on the
white brow, or red stain on the soft,
white hand. But day by day the GER
tainty grew in my mind. Another
thing struck me very much. We were
sitting one day quite alone on the grass
near pretty little pool of water. called
button Pool, in some parts it was
very shallow, in some very deep. Lance
had gone somewhere on business, and
had left us to entertain each other. |
had often noticed that one of Mrs.
Jennings favOTite ornaments was a
golden lOCket with one fine diamond in
the centre; she wore it suspended by
small chain from her neck. As she sat
talking to me she was playing with the
chain, when it suddenly became unfaSt-
ened and the lOcket fell from it. In less
than a second it was hidden in the long
grass; she looked for it in silence for
some minutes, then she said gently:
II have dropped my locket, Mr.. Ford;
is it near you. | cannot find it,"
rs it one you prize very much?" |
asked.
81 should not like to lose it," she re-
piled, and her face paled as searching in
the long grass she saw nothing of it.
found it in a few minutes, but it
was lying open, the fall had lOOsened
the spring. | could not help seeing the
contents as gave it to her--a round
ring of pale golden hair.
"a baby's curl!'' said, as [ returned
it to her.
Her whole face went blood-red in one
minute.
The only thing have belonging to
my little sister," she said. "She died
when was child"
You must prize it," said; but |
could not keep the dryness of suspicion
from my voice.
Mrs. Fleming asked, suddenly,
"are you, like Lance and myself, with
out relatiOns?"
Almost" she replied, briefly.
t'Strange that three people should be
almost alone in the world but for each
other!'' | said.
Il was left an orphan when was
four years Old" she said. "Only IIeav-
en- knows how have cried out upon
my parents for leaving me. | never
had one happy hour. Can you imagine
a whole childhood passed without one
happy hour
"lIardlv." | said.
With white, nervous fingers she fast
ened the gold chain round her neck
again.
Not one happy hour" she said. Il
was left under the care of my grand
mother, a cold, proud, cruel woman,
who never said kinfw to me, and
who grudged me every slice of bread
and butter | ate"
She looked at me, still holding the
golden locket in her white fingers.
IF | had been like other girls she
said, IF | had parents to love me,
brothers and sisters, friends or rela-
tives, should have been different. Be-
lieve me, Mr.. Ford, there are white
slaves in England, whose slavery is
worse than that of an African child. |
was one of them. | think Of my youth
with a sick Shudder-I think of my
childhood with hOrrOr-and | almost
thank Heaven that the tyrant is dead
who blighted my life."
Now the real woman was breaking
through the mask; her face flushed, her
eyes ShOne.
IL often talk to Lance about it," she
said, this terrible childhood of mine.
/ was punished for the least offence. |
never heard a word Of'pity or affection.
| never saw a look of anything but hate
on my grandmOther'S face. No one was
ever pitiful to me: fierce words, fierce
blows, complaints of the burden was,
that was all my mothers mother ever
gave to me. need not say that hated
her, and learned to loathe the life / fain
would have laid down. Do L tire you,
Mr. Fordp"
"On the contrary, am deeply inter-
ested," replied.
She went on
my grandmother was not poor, she
was greedy. She had a good income
objected to spend it on me. She paid
for my education on the condition that
when l could get my own living by
teaching l should repay her. Thank
Heaven, l did sol"
Then you were governess?" said.
"Yes; began to get my living at fif
teen. / was tall for my age, and quite
capable" she said; "but fifteen is very
young, Mr.. Ford, for girl to be thrown
on to the world"
You must have been very beauti-
full girl" l said.
"Yes, so much the worse for me-"
She seemed to repent of the words as
soon as they were uttered.
II mean," she added, quickly, "that
my grandmother hated me the more for
it."
There was silence between us for
some minutes, then she added
"You may imagine, after such an I'M
loved life, how | love Lance"
HE is the best fellow in the world"
/ said, land the woman who could de-
ceive him ought to be shot"
"What woman would deceive him?n
she asked. Indeed, for that matter,
what woman could2 ] am his wife"
at happens very often,"I said, try
ing to speak carelessly, "that good and
loyal men like Lance are most easily
deceived"
at should not be So" she said. She
was startled again. could see it in her
face.
That same afternoon we drove into
Vale Royal. Mrs. Fleming had several
poor people whom she wished to see,
and some shopping to do.
You should take your locket to a
jewelers." said, "and have the spring
secured
"What locket is that?" asked Lance,
looking up eagerly from his paper.
"Mine," she replied : this" She
held it out for his inspection. II near
ly lost it this morning." she said; lit
fell from my neck"
''Is it the one that holds your sisters
III l. rnI