San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-16

Jay Gown, and the child jumped of its back,
lifted of the mask, tore of her outer clothes,
and stood confessed perfect fairy prince
in scaly suit of silver mail.
After the performance, which ELECTED a
storm Of applause, the child stood alone,
bowling prettily and kissing the tips Of her
fingers.
The music ceased, and the child was about
TO bound away, when man rose up with q
heart-yearning cry of:
Little AIlyv'
Papa, papa, papaW cried the mite, flying
to the spot whence the sound proceeded,
and was clasped to her fathers heart, his
tears running down on her little pale face,
while the audience rose TO a man, looking
on in silent amaZement.
There may be a scene, sir; make for the
main entrance, FL go before, my friend be-
hind you. Now rush, or we shall be mob
bed"
How Pierce got through the crowd he
never knew. Outside they were stopped by
a policeman, who, after talking to the de-
tectiyes, allowed them to jump into carri-
age which was waiting with Dorothy inside.
She took the tiny, quaintly-dressed child
to her heart, and cried over IL quietly, while,
for the first and last time in his life, Pierce
PenfOld tainted away.
Inside the circus all was confusion; the
people would have the scene explained so
old Lee, fine-lOOking old man, came to the
front and gave his own version of the affair,
which was that 1t was all part Of the per-
Torrance, dramatic situation to interes.
the public in the clever little actress, etc.
But the old man looked anxious when he
left the ring and found his daughter raving
like madwoman at the loss of her child.
After this Alison fretted herself into a
fever and her old father grieved over her
as over the most dutiful and virtuOus daugh-
ter the world contained.
ThankstO his nursing, she came back to
life, different woman though, broken in
health and spirit, with but a ghost Of her
old superb beauty
Pierce lost no time in returning to En-
gland and taking possession of the Cover
estates; but poor faithful Jcm did not re-
turn with them.
At the last moment he wrote to say he
had gone with his relatives, the Lees, TO
tend the horses.
Pierce sighed, and said:
Poor Jem he may as well sell his soul to
the devil as to follow that FREELY of a wo-
man in hope of any reward. Well I'll send
him handsome cheque, he deserves it for
faithful service to me-"
For once Pierce reasoned wrongly. After
years of deep loving devotion old Lee died,
leaving Alison to Jem's care, and she, feel
ing lonely, took pity on the faithful fellow
and married him.
She made him better wife than many a
more yirtuOus woman; and, when sturdy
children were born to her, loved her hus-
band, and helped to make the circus a great
er success than ever.
Years have passed, and it is Christmas
again, and the world is white about Castle
Cover, beautiful place on the summit of a
wooded hill
Inside the grand old house all is mirth
and reyelry; stately lady stands, the cen
ter of rosy group of beautiful children, her
handsome husband leaning over her, and by
her side slight dark-eyed maiden who calls
her mother with as true affection as her
brothers and sisters.
Pierce PenfOld kissed his wife under a
bough Of mistletOe, and tells his guests,
among whom DIR. and Mrs. Steel are the
most hOuOred, that Dorothy is a priceless
treasure that he once FOUND IN A SNOW
DRIFT.