San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-21
CHATTER VI

huttOmcd back-kid glove are on the desk
close beside him; how procured, he alone
knows.
Certainly, they were never given to him
by their riEhttul owner
The lamps are lowered, until a half-glUOm,
that is almost darkness, enVclOpS the aplIt-
ment.
Ghastly shadow, creep here and there I'M
checked, umnUtiCed by the man who sits 81
silently in the armchair beneath the center
lamp.
lie is lost in thought, in vain regrets, that
belong to the present and the near past but
have no connection with the morrow, that
may bring death in its train.
But not to him.
No fear of being ''dOne to death" in open
fight, need haTaSS him.
lie is too expert a shot, has too often earn
ed his reputation as skilled dueliSt, to feel
nervous at the prospect of an encounter with
an amateur-a raw SchOOlbOy in the art Of
dueing, as he rightly terms PenruddOck.
lie has killed his man before this; and
having made up his mind to shoot this pres
Cmt rival as he would dog, has dismissed
the subject from his thoughts.
Other considerations crowd upon hin-Otll-
or rrmrmbranceS. sweet and bitter: and 80
absorbed is he in his inward musings that
NE does not hear the door open, nor the
sound of the light feet that advance across
the floor. until the owner of them is almost
at his side.
lie IaiseS his head then, and looking up,
starts to his feet with an exclamation that Is
caused by a surprise which for the moment
completely OverpOwerS him.
II is Maud Neville who stands before him,
pale as the snowy lily pressed with heavy
rain
Her eyes are large, half frightened. and
full of grief. Beneath them dark circles
show themselves. No tainteSt ting OF color
adOrnS her checks. Her hair, under her
SwanS'-dOwn hood. has lnOsemed, and Straye
across her low, smooth forehead at its own
good will.
She is pale, nervous, thoroughly mhlm-rd
yet never perhaps has she looked 80 lovely.
TO Gilbert SaumarrZ. gazing at her, some
old lines occur that seem Ia apply 10 her IS
| t. none other
To see her is to love her,
And love but her forever,
For nature made her what SlI" is,
And meier made sic anith,r.
you here and aIonr!' he ntamnrrS, mov-
| Ing from her rather than toward her.
YES, here, returns She. IN low tone
trpmuuus with emotion. Esther waits tOI
me outside. | have 50 far forgotten my own
dignity and Sct-reSpect rs to come here to
YOU at midnight. compelled by sudden
necessity. The more reason. sir, with an
upward glance of mingled entreaty and
| pride, that you should respect BOTH
speak y returns he. COldly.
She throws back her hood ami cloak as
| though half Stifed, and stands before him in
all Ilt bravery vi llNi Ndblll bttll'lltNN- bll
| which pearls geam with soft Subdued
light
Il have come to ask you to fUregO this duel
| to give it up she says, family, dlScOur'
| aged by this manner, yet not wholly diSmay-
cd. Il cmtrcat YOU 10 hear me, to listen to
what have to say, not to turn deaf ear to
my PRAYER
were deaf rctOrtS he, quietly.
| She is silent
You would ask me to spare your lover
that boy, PenrIddOck," says Inc. with mock
| ing smile, and 81 proclaim myself coward,
as he called me? Impossible. Why. he
| struck me across the face with his open hand
| -hcTe!'
lie raises his hand to the cheek that still
bears the mark of the blow, but was paled as
the remembrance of the deadly insult returns
| to him.
His eyes blaze with wrath. Involuntary
he clnches his hand. 70 the girl watching
him there seems indeed but small hope of
| mercy.
She draws nearer, and bya sudden impulse
| lays her hand upon his.
AT least, do not kill him." she says, de
| Spair in her tone, an awful look in her great
| cleaning eyes. do not murder him! lie
| is young, and youth is precious. You will
have mercy on him, will you nOt?'
| Overcome by fear and utterly unncrved,
she sinks at his feet and gaZeS up at him,
| wv sum Ni'ii WIN '''''
| gesture
There is a childish grief and anxiety in her
lovely face that touches the wOrldwOrn and
almost utterly callOus heart 0i the nun be-
| fore her.
''IIOw YOU must love him." he SAYS, bitter
| IL, almost ScOmfully. ito bring yourself to
do what you have done tonight! That you
| YOU proud child-shOuld come here where
no woman could be seen without injury to
herself, cOnvinceS me of But, no. He
denly tender. Il will take care that no evil
shall be spoken of you; you need not be afraid
of that"
He stOOps and raises her gently from the
ground.
You will promise me" she entreats. in a
whisper, ito spare him? | know how skill
full you are-what an easy matter it would be
to you to place bullet in his heart. But
YOU will spare him? And who can say but
this one deed of mercy may save your soul
at lastY'
MY soulr says he, with a haunting laugh.
And surprising that at your earnest inStiga-
ton do consent to spare your loyer-what
then, pray%
81 have no lover" says the girl, simply.
~ never shall have one. You should know
that-yOu, who told me in plain language not
an hour since of my low birth and breeding"
Pardon me-" says he, lowering his eyes,
shame covering his brow with crimson. III
| could recall that last hour | would. lied
when | spoke of disgrace"
You do not deceive me nOw-yOu tell me
TRUTH" asks she. with agitation. Yet you
said that you knew of my birth-that | was
baSe-bOm."
This is no time for such discussion" says
he evaSively; but if ever you want a witness
to prove your birth, send for me. And now,
am | forgiven my OffenSer'
Il have forgotten everything" says she,
eagerly, "Only this-that | want your prom
Use. Swear TO me Dick PenruddOck's death
will not lie at your door,
And If give this prOmiSe-if tell you |
shall fire over his head instead of straight
into the center of his heart, what shall be
my reward?,
Name it," says she thOughtIeSsly.
1T is a simple request. | ask but one kiss,
and my oath shall he given"
She starts, and Shrinks from him pc!crpti-
bly,.
You are no man to ask me that" she
says, white 10 the lips again, and with hCI
small hands tightly Clinched
yet that is my bargain--the only one
will maker returns he, dOggedly.
Within her breast fierce battle rcignS
All wOman's mOdesty fights with loves
selt-SacTihce.
The struggle is severe but lasts not very
long. Love cOnquers.
For his Sake!n she muTmuTs, brOkenly.
And then she goes up TO SaumareZ, and
stands before him. her face like marble.