San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-19

! blankly, Isis there no one else living m
the huuse?''
oh, bedad, an never said there wasn't
SURF laughed the man. There's MTs. O'Cal-
laghan-I wouldn't be OverlOOkin' her-and
there's family comm as fast as ever 1t can.
| Look at the bundle OF letthers | have for
them. | think they must be goin' to give a
| ChristmaS-party. The compliments of the
sasOn to ye, sur, and thank ye kndlyr'
| Heyland laughed bitterly as the man
| vanished.
Don't be dOwncast Heyland, urged his
| friend, though rather ruefully. There may
| be a mistake in the name of the house. Ar
butus Lodge, Laurel Villa, Cedar Cottage
they're all so much alike. Let's go back and
consult our landlady-she'll put us on the
right track warmntr'
Heyland made no reply, but moved towards
the half-Open gate and looked in wistfully.
| The house presented a handsome well-kept
appearance, and was approached by circu-
lar carriage-drive neatly gravelled.
After few minutes hesitation, he enter
ed and walked up softly, followed by Irving.
On one side of the hall door was large
bay-windOw, the blinds of which were not
drawn, and the ruddy light of a clear wood
fire bathed the room inside i'm a coy glow,
quenched by the entrance of a servant bear
ing powerful parafiin-lamp.
Irish Observation-Disclosures Eve nineteenth
century, muttered Irving apprOvingly "A
very rich and effective bit of cOloring in
deedr'
He was right; the scene which met their
eyes was as pretty and as pleasant picture
of domestic peace and comfort as one would
IN IA In
ing-rOOm, for in the center stood table
draped in snowy damask, laden with silver,
sparkling crystal, dishes of ruddy fruit and
vases of flowers and dropping ferns. The
walls Were a dull crimson. which threw out
artiStically the hcavily-framcd pictures hung
with Christmas cvcrgrrrnS. A SOft-tOncd
square of Persian tapestry was stretched be-
fore the fireplace, on which two fair-hared
children were playing with a kitten, while
seated in an easy-chair with her back to the
window was lady OH the coils of whose soft
golden hair the light fell graciOusly-alSo
touching tenderly the dOwny pate of an in
FAINT nesting against her shoulder Irving
flung away his cigar and turned to his friend,
who was standing in the shelter of shrub
few yards from him.
I'VE had better be moving, hadn't we?
The sight of that comedy spread has made
me feel uncOmmOnly peckish, let me tell you.
Stop, though! Enter the O'Calaghan him
self! | must see OF what stuff the doughty
agent is made A massive SQuireen, by the
powers! He looks as if he'd enjoy his din
ner. i wish he'd ask me in to share itr'
Mr.. OCalaghan was stout midde-aged
man of gOOd-lOOking but rather vulgar APP
pearance. As he approached the group at
the fire, the children crept towards him and
cuddled his firm legs with demOnstratiye al
lection; then the lady rose, ShOwinga youth
full and shapely figure as she held up the
baby for paternal dalliance. lie raised one
fat fOrefinger and tapped the chubby cheek
whereupon the little cherub waved his mot
tied arms so jubilantly that the father sud
denly seized him and danced him halfway
up to the ceiling.
His late nurse looked on Smilingly for a
few seconds, then turned and fully faced the
window.
by Jove," quOth Irving, Cornelius is a
man of taste! Madam is decidedly the finest
bit of furniture in the room. Delicate ware
and no mistake! | wonder if"
A heavy hand fell on his shoulder clutch
ing him with painful grip; a voice he scarce
ly recognized so chOked was it with hOarse
passion, SlllOte MS ear.
Come away, come away; IL can't stand
it any longer! Come away, tell your
"HallO, IIeyland, what's the matter? What
has happened? Are you ill?" cried Irving:
then, after pause, as a glimmering of the
truth broke upon him-"Cheat Heaven, man,
don't tell me its your wife!'
"My wife-ha, ha-my wife! | have no
wifel Oh, curse her, curse her-and himr'
He staggered forward with appraised hands
and white working face. Irving passed his
arm swiftly through his and hurried him
from the fatal spot
Not another word did either speak until
the hotel was reached when Irving poured
out glass of brandy and forced it to the
bloOdless lips; at the same moment Mrs.
Flynn entered, bearing the dinner.
Here l am, gentlemen, up to time, ye see!
A good appetite and a happy Christmas to
We bOthr'
With lurid eyes Heyland sprang to his feet.
"A happy Christmas, did you say, ma am?
Thank yOu-thank you kindly! This-this
is the-the-happiest Christmas of my life!
l say, Mrs. What's-yOur-name, let's have
some OF your champagne, or, better still,
quart of your fragrant whiSky--that's the
i
prosperity to every Christian tireside in this
blessed land tonight"
Glass after glass he drained, without touch
ing the smoking meats laid before him. His
friend had not the heart to interfere; besides,
he felt it would be useless. Consequently
long before the midnight bells rang in Christ
mas morning the poor wretch was tossing on
his bed, unconscious of his bitter sorrow and
cruelly-blighted hopes.
Irving did not sleep much that night, but
paced up and down the room next to his
friends, fearing he knew not what disaster,
listening anXiously to the low meanings and
feverish EXPLANATIONS which came through
the thinly plastered partition.
When he went in to him the next morning
however, he found him already dressed, sit
ting In listless attitude by the window, all
the fire of anger gone from his face and
sunken eyes, leaving him haggard picture
of worn despair,
"TIow are you now? How do you feel this
morning, Heyland?' he asked.
Pm sober now" he answered duly; land
! want to get out of this hole as fast as can,
Irving" he continued, in quickened accents,
sits of no use, my ladi can't enact the part
of EnOch Arden, as II thought could It's
not in me; IL must be of different blood
from him; II can't lie down and die, and
can't forgive her or forget her, The picture
of her, as saw her last night, standing in
that rosy light, with the child in her arms,
smiling up at-at-that sleek hound, will
will haunt me murderOusly-ay, murderOus-
ly!-until the day die, $3.50 get me out
of this hole as fast as you can, or you may
a -