San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-08
A MAID FORL0RN.
BY THE DUCHESS.

-BranKsmere! Ime Wnitleys' old
place-and this is OaklandS. My cprtie,
but YOU have had a walk" eXclaimS the
hOuSekeeper, lifting her hands in dis
NAV. why. it is four miles from here
by the common. and eight by the rOadI
And what an evening Tor such jour
neyl See-how dark the night has
grown"-drawing aside the curtains to
peer out. 81 fear no human beingcould
find his way to Branksmere this hour,
in such weather. unless he knew the
road well. and even then it would be
dangerous to make the attempt. Hear
how the storm RACES, and the WIND
bowls: and the snow comes thick and
fast! 1t is wild time. I'm thinking,
we shall have before the morning. But
rest easy. miss; if. as you say, you told
your mamma you were going to the VII
lage, she will believe you are safe there
with Mrs. StlltOn of the inn"
Il hope So" says CiSsy, with sigh.
At this moment there is a knock at
the door. and somebody, without wait
ing for permission. opens il and walks
boldly in. The newcomer is a young
man of about twenty-nine, tall, and
finely formed, with a wellshaped head.
So much can be d.scerned in the sh2d-
Ow; and then he comes quickly up TO
the table, right within the ray OF the
lamp, SO that CiSSy eau see him distinct
ly.
He is evidently "the master, the hero
of the hour, the one ingredient indis-
pensable If she would throw touch Of
romance into the adventure; and there
fore 1t is sadly diSpritlng that at first
sight Cissy must acknowledge him dis
appointing. In spite OF his tine figure
and commanding height. he Is Ike any
thing III the world but Greek god. In
fact he is decidedly PLAIN. His mouth
is large. his nose Is long. his eyeS-hlS
only redeemng teatllre--are dark
gray. kin ~ and honest. II hair does
not admit Uf dcScrpI. ON, being crop
ped so closely 10 his head, III the pre-
yailing fash on OF the present day. as 10
be almost invisible. His forehead Is
somewhat too square. vet lnrre IS d
gentleness, Il brightness. and vital an
amount OF strength about his lace that
redeemS its want O1 beauty.
MAY | come III, Mrs. II chardS?" says
the young man, with smile that lights
his whole taCe-perhaps ne is smiling
at the absurdity OF h : question, de-
liyered from the middle of the room.
Mrs. II Guards Courtes.es and bids
him welcome. Then lie comes a little
nearer, even 10 the hearth rug, and adj
dresses himS, Ii TO his unexpected guest.
Peters has Just told me % your I'M
lucky walk he says. politely. Il am
so sorry about II. but glad more than |
can say that you found your way here"
He is gazing with suppressed, but
evident curiosity at the pretty girl, who
appears half lost in the embrace of the
"
self and is gazing back at him shyly,
with heightened color, but clear carr
est eyes.
Il hope you are quite comfortable
he goes on, with increased cordially,
now he has seen her. Il know Mrs.
Richards has done all she can for you:
ut"-hospitably-" dinner is ready, and
you must be hungry. you know, and
thought / would come in myself and
ask YOU to dine with me. There is no
body but myself"
This wind-up to his speech is SO naive
that Miss X verS has much ado to sup
press the smile hat turks in the corners
of her mouth. threatening every mo-
ment to betray her. This is an advent
ure with vengeance. She begins to
feel like heroine in Il novel. all but III
one point. lie is right; she is hungry
diSgracefully, most automatically
hungry, and thinks with a pleasure not
to be subdued of the dinner beyond.
An hour ago when first she arrived
she had felt too exhausted to partake oil
anything Mrs. Richards had laid before
her: but, now that recovery had set in
and warmth and rest have done thell
work. she can not help remembering
she has eaten nothing since two o'clock
and that il is now almost seven. Yet
will il not be rather a strange thing tC
dine tete-d-te with her unknown host
And vet again, will it not seem prUdlsi
to refuse. us evidently he sees nothing
in it? In her perpieXity she glances ap
pealingly at the only other woman IL
the room.
Mrs. Richards is equal to the Occa
sion.
Il think, Miss Rivers. some dinner
will do Won good" he says. respectful
". You have eaten nothing since yOl
came. And, if you will permit me,
shall have cup of tea Tor you here dl
rectly dinner is at an end"
Now this last is a master-strOke OF
the part of Mrs. X chardS! 1t give
Cissy feel ing of protection, a sort o
conviction that she belongs to Mrs
Richards, and that-thOugh partel
from her for little whlle-she viii
ultimately be expected to return AM
deliver herself uptO her rIghtiul owner
She SIN les at Mr.. Crayen-Cissy'
smile is Il thing of beautyand JOY for
overland, rising, accepts the arm IN
offers her. and walks away with HIM de