San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-26

Il went hTst To look for my box, since your
ladyship has decided TO send me from the
only home | have in the world. could not
find it; but have been looking over the con-
tents of the rooms"
IAN exceedingly impertinent thing; You
had no right to do anything Of the kind" she
said angTily.
what would she saw" thought ''if she
knew what had found there-it she knew
what had wrapped i'm apparently careless
fashion i'm my apron? What fall her pride
would haYeV And | could not prevent the
eXultation | felt from showing itself in my
eyes. She saw it and grew even more GU
riOuS.
What have you there?' she demanded.
81 decline 10 tell you, Lady Caryl," | an
swered firmly. ut is something that belongs
not to you, but to myself"
you have taken il from those rooms p she
cried.
II have; but it is my own" returned
Nothing here is your own" she said hotly,
her face growing pale with anger; every
thing belongs to me. You have no right TO
carry from this house a single thing without
my permission"
1nvOluntarily my hands closed round my
white apron and its contents. knew tha
was going to destroy the papers; but for
those few minutes | felt proud of the knOwl-
edge that was mistress of the house and all
il contained.
No" she exclaimed; you shall not pass
until know what you have there wrapped
up in your apron"
Then shall have TO stay here for ever,
for shall show what have to no one"
You will show it to me, =" she said, biting
her lip.
paused for few moments to consider
the position. 1t would indeed serve her right
to let her see the papers; and for moment
the temptation TO show them TO her was
strong; but had resolved to make the sacri-
tice for my lovers sake.
II have no wish to threaten or to use yio-
lence," her ladyslip went on more calmly;
but | will see what you have there. II you
refuse to show me- shall send for the butler
and one OF the tOotmen, and they shall take
it from you"
OF course she could do that and i'm the
hands of two strong men l should be power
less. They would take the documents from
me in an instant, and then All, my love
with the bonnie blue eyes, that should never
be! | claspCd the little parcel more tightly.
Lady Caryl," implOred, "be just to me.
/ swear TO you that what have here belongs
TO me, and To no one else. Please let Inc pass
and go free. Twill leave the house, and new
er return"
But she would not listen to my appeal. !
saw that she was debating in her mind
whether she should take my parcel from me
by force or not but evidently her sense of
prOpriety conquered.
II must and will see what you are secret
ing there" she said, knitting her brOws.
CHOOSE at once. shall either call the men
or you must give to me of your own free will
what you have hidden there"
THAT will never do" | returned resO-
lutely.
Come down to my rOOm," said Lady Caryl
peremptOrily. II do not see why should
stand In this draught. TO before me to my
bOudOir."
And obeyed her. All, what would she
have said had she known what carried in
my apron?
closed the door.
Put what you have in your hands upon
the table," she commanded.
declined TO do so.
II intend to see what it is" said Lady
Caryl firmly.
And as firmly declared she should not.
Was it a good or an evil spirit that led Sir
Adrian to the door just at that momentP
Can speak to you, mOtherr' he asked.
81 will not detain you long"
Come in, she, answered. Il am glad to
see you, Adrian"
He looked with wonder from her to me,
and then at the white bundle in my arms.
'What is itP' he asked hurriedly. What
Is the matter with you and Gtlcia, motherP"
Adrian" said Lady Caryl, II shall be
glad If you will support my authority. l
have made arrangements for Gracia TO go to
Miss KenyOn's at HerOnsdale. For many
reasons | do not think it advisable that she
should remain here Lady Aditha has been
speaking to me about it, and she is of the
same opinion"
70 my great surprise he muttered some
thing about Lady Aditha that was not at all
complimentary.
II told GraCia to-day" her ladyship went
on, that wished her to pack up and go.
Under the preteXt of seeking for box, she
has spent the whole of this afternoon in the
lumber-rOOmS, and ii seems to me that she
has taken what she liked from them"
All, thank Heaven, his face flushed with
anger at the cruel words! Then his eyes
were turned with infinite tenderness on me.
Mother, you cannot possibly know what
you are saying" he cried.
81 dc" she returned Stiffiy. "Gracia has
spent the afternoon in those rooms, and
pet her stealing down the staircase with this
bundle In her arms. | want to know what
II contains. She refuses to tell me; and, as
she persists in her refusal, have brought
her here, and shall compel her to let me see
what she is carrying away with her."
II she knew-if she only knewl
"MOther, am surprised at you" he cried
Indignantly; II can hardly believe that you
can say such cruel things, l would trust
Gracia with my lfe."
Then found my voice.
"Sir Adrian" said, Il assure you that
what l have here is my own, entirely my
own, and belongs to no one else"
81 believe you, Gracia," he returned conf
IDENTIFY.
"And l, Adrian" said Lady Caryl, "call
upon you to help me to assert my authority,
and to force that rebellious girl to obey me,
and tell me what she is carrying from that
rOom."
l'Sir Adrianp' cried.
"My sOnp appealed Lady Caryl.
He looked from one to the other In great
distress, at loss what to say, indignant for
my sake, yet his respect for his mother pre-
venting him from uttering one word that
would offend her.
'Gracia," he said at last, 81 am quite sure
that what you have there is your own. do
not doubt your word; but could you not, as
my mother wishes it. tell her what you have
in your aprOnw
1t was hard to have to refuse his request
but must do it to save him.
II am so very sorry" replied; "but in
deed cannot Sir Adrian"
You see, Adrian" observed her ladyship,
shat she will not and dares not"
He looked deeply grieved, but turned to
Lady Caryl.
Mother" he said, 81 had almost forgot
ten what / came for. The Duchess of Nor
ley, your old schOOlfellOw, is here. She has
but few hours to stay, and she wishes to
see ESu.n ....,
ne DuCilcSS vi hOIlty .ItpcdVtu Lazy
Caryl hurriudly. 81 am delighted. But
what shall do with Gracia? | am quite de-
termined that she shall not conquer me. |
will see what she has there"
Let me settle that for a time," he rejoin-
ed. "Gracia, you trust me, do you n0tp Let
me take charge of that"
My heart gave bound. How could say
"Yes"? How could say No"
He turned TO a little buhl cabinet that
stood near.
"Give it to me, Gracia," he said. Il will
lock it up here until we have time to 20 into
the matter"
II was moment of terrible suspense TO