San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-25
A MAiDcF! FAIR.
BY CHARLES GIBBoN.

linen her whole manner suddenly chang
ed, she became cold, almost stern.
You may come, of course, Mr. Cargill;
but you will not speak TO me until Mr.. Ross
is put right with my father
He was staggered, confused, muttered
that he did not see what business it was Of
his; and with clumsy haste made his way
on shore
Thinking over those parting words of An
MES he was a little disturbed and in very
Dl-humor when he arrived at his mothers
"beastly hut" as he called it. Entering the
room he did not observe the absence of any
salutation, querulOus or otherwise, from his
mother; but when he looked he was con-
sciOus Of a change in her appearance which
startled even him
She sat bolt upright in her chair, the
white mulch as carefully ''piped' as ever,
surrounding a face like that of a corpse.
Her right hand rested on a little table at her
side, the left grasped the arm of the chair,
supporting her in the erect position Of one
who is Just about to rise TO her feet.
He did note the singular camness Of her
voice, and was more started.Jy its tenderness
than by her appearance.
Pm glad yOu hae come, Jeems, for hae
muckle to say to you afOre get up"
What is it, mOther?'
His own voice was somehow subdued and
less self-assertive than usual.
You ken, Jeems that haze mOny times
had rizzon to cOmplee O. your way O. doing;
and mair than once in my passion was
actually meaning to take every bawbee AVA
frae ye and gle it to some O. the hospitalsT'
"Oh, yes; but that was only when you
were angry" he answered uneasily.
"Ay, but my anger lasted lang enough for
me to make out the will"
"Whatp
'Ye medina be feared. There was frien'
O. yours wha after lang speakin' CART me
put that paper in the fire."
who was that?' he asked, breathing
freely again.
ut was name ither than Bob Ross. Haze
We ma riZzon to be grateful tae him?'
The selfish nature of the man rendered
him Indifferent as soon as he knew himself
to be safe.
''Of course, and Pll thank him when we
meet"
The woman's eyes set in that gaunt, sal
low face seemed to glitter as If flame were
reflected in theme and there was weird
solemnity in her voice.
... Yell hae to put him RIGHT WI his folk.
Yell haze to tell how it cam about that he
fell doom stupefed at the Wheel"
There was none of Bells customary pas
sion in tone or manner. She pronounced
the sentence calmly, and there was atremu-
lOus sadness somewhere which rendered her
words the more impressive.
what do know about it." he said sulki-
ly after the first surprise, except that I
gave him dram, and"
"And you ken what was in the dram,
Jeems. You ken that there was nearly the
hale O. this stuff that was in this bottle
In It."
She lifted the right hand from the table,
and showed him small phial.
"Where did you get that?' he exclaimed
starting up, and then suddenly checking
himself, whilst inwardly cursing his own
stupidity in having laid down the phial in
ais berth on board the Mermaid and forgot
ten it, instead of throwing it overheard at
once. He was only for moment puzzled
as to how it came into his mothers possess
sion, for he presently remembered the visit
to Peterhead of the creature he now began
to look upon as hisev genius, Dick Baxter.
Bell Cargill went on.
You bought this on pretence that you
wanted strong sleeping drink, and you
gied It to Bob Ross 49,. Did you ma dae
that?'
"What is the use of asking such foolish
question: he growled restlessly.
The old woman looked at him long time.
and that strange sadness which was living
somewhere in the background became more
evident in the lines of the worn face and the
darkening of the eyes. Without anger.
scarcely with any change of tone, shespoke.
81 aye kenned we were fule, Jeems. but
never thought you were a william. Own
the truth TO me, or you'll hae to own 1t in o
court o. justice. Ye haze wranged the man
that was your best frien'-whenI get upPll
maxi amends tae. him. But that's ma the
question:. You mann maxi amends tae him
enoo, or never farthing % my siller ye
shall hae. Speak-yOu did It,"
Cargill saw how much In earnest his moth
er was, and after struggle with his vanity
which was overcome by his greed, he an
swered, with a clumsy attempt to be jocular
well, i did put few drops into his
dram, but it was only a joke, and meant no
harm. had no notion that he was going
TO wreck u.s."
"Hech, sirs, and that's a your repentance.
Ye ken fine that you were gaun TO wreck
him. ~. Put your name to this paper"
Cargill looked at the paper, which she
held under her hand, and read the writing
on it. 1t was plain, brief statement that
he had purposely given Ross a sleeDing