San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-21
CHAPTER III.

| i L
same for me again-I felt so sure that the
Squire knew my whole history.
CHAPTER III.
''Gracia, how did you get on with the
Squirrel" "Are you going away Does he
know anything about your
Such were the questions that asSaied me
the whole of the day, from Mrs. Paterson
down to the lOwliest handmaiden in the
place. None of the servants resented the
fact that did not care for their society, and
could not but admit that their curiosity was
only natural. They al! wanted Ia know what
| the Squire had said when he found that a
young girl had been brought up in his house
hold without his knowledge; but felt that
| all their interest was kindly meant.
1t was l myself who felt so strange. Twas
sure the Squire knew something of me that
| he would not tell; l had read 1t in his eyes.
Perhaps l was the daughter of some old
| friend of his; but, If so, why all this secrecy?
There was no need for it, My heart and my
| head ached more than ever with the burden
| of the question, "WhO am IP''
| thought the Squire would be dignifed
and avoid me; but, TO my surprise, on the
| morning following our conversation in the
library he sent for me. This interview diff
fered from the last he did not look at me or
| question me so much.
| Il gathered from what you said to me yes
terday, Gracia, that you have been accus-
toned to use the libraryp'
Yes" answered; ''it was my one place
of refuge"
And have taken it from you"
You are master here; it is your right"
answered.
| Then | will be generous master for |
will give up my right To that room to you"
1t was not merely the kindness of his
words that affected me; ii was the tacit ac-
knowledgment Of our social equality. These
| words proved 10 me that | was not the daugh-
| ter of one of his servants He would not
| have offered the USE OF his library 10 Mrs.
Paterson or to any OF her relatives. My
heart beat proudly as | recognized the su-
pTemc importance of this fact to myself.
II should not like your studies to be inter
| fered with, Gracia," he went on, especially
| il you wish To make any progress In music.
| Let us make this Arrangement. l pass my
mornings out Of doors, and my afternoons
with my books. will leave you the morn
ings, and you can spend the time in the way
you like best"
This from the proud Squire Of Heron's
| Nest! He was never proud to me after that
During the next three days saw him fire.
| quently, and it struck me that his face always
wore look of anxious brOoding care, as
though I'm his mind he were debating some
weighty matter.
All, how longed to throw myself upon
my knees at his feet and ask him TO solve
the mystery that shrouded me! He could do
it; I felt sure he could
O0 Tile 6NtlllllS VI Vi ultSt ulIcc uulS
he sent for me to sing some of my own COM
positions to him; he profeSsed himself de-
lighted.
What gift you have, ehildP' he said.
Your name will be famous one of these
days"
II am sure oft, although may not live to
see that day."
"But you look strong" said; .'you are
not old, though your hair Is white"
81 have lived" he answered, "fOr many
years with q ranking wound in my heart
care not how soon"
There grew up a strange intimacy between
us. We We're so near together, yet so far
apart. At times read love in his eyes, at
others something like aversion.
He came into the library on the second day
after our arrangement was made, and found
me engroSsed in the intricacies of one Of
ChOpin's difficult pieces. He stood for few
minutes behind my chair; then with his own
hands he lifted mine from the keys and
you have beautiful hands, Gracia," he
said-''the very hands for music" He look
ed at them until his eyes were dim with
tears.
Every time saw him, every hour passed
with him, deepened the mystery that lay be-
tween us. One day was out in the garden,
attending to some favOrite flowers, when he
came up to me.
you like hOllyhocks, Gracia?" he said.
YES" answered, "very much. i love
those verses in which Tennyson has enshrin-
ed them"
Does it ever occur to you" he asked,
show exact Tennyson is in his description OF
thing? How accurate that one line is
"'Heavily hangs the hOllyhock'l
1t does hang heavily. See howl bends with
its own weight. Do you remember another
line of his
"sBlack as ash-blIds I'm March?
l smiled to myself when read it. Twas in
distant land then; but remembered how
black the ash-buds were. Few other poets, TO
my mind, choose words so wisely or so well.
l learned some grim lessons through him."
Had he loved a Guinevere or a Vivian,
wondered, that he should say thatp
entered the picture-gallery one morning,
and found him there. He was walking up
and down, his face wearing its usual express
sion of deep thought and anxious considera-
ton. After greeting me, he said rather alb
aGraeia, do you like money!"
81 find that a very difficult question to an
swer," was my reply, ''for the simple reason
that have never had any"
TEL me, dear" he continued, laying his
trembling hands on my shoulders, and SEEM
ing quite to forget the difference and the dis
lance between us, would you like TO be rich
to have money, houses and land?'
After a moments thought / answered
WOulU raUnpT nave some one I'd love
me than have all the riches in the world"
"PoOr childr' said the Squire tenderly.
"f," he went on, after pause, ''you, could
have your choice between wealth and love,
you would choose lovep'
II am sure of itp' was my quick reply. 81
have lived in the world for seventeen years,
and no one has loved me yet. My heart
hungers for love"
Poor child 7, he said again; and after that
he seemed more thoughtful than before.
Ano. her morning found him in the IL
brary, writing busily. He looked up when
This is terrible breach of our agree
ment" he said. you must excuse me this
one morning, Gracia; | have something that
i must do. j wonder" he added, In dreamy
tone, what impels me to write II to-day. DO
not co." he said, as turned TO leave the
room. "You will not disturb me; on the
contrary, feel that l shall write better for
| seeing you. Sit down to your books, Gracia."
did as he babe me-tOOk my books into
| the sunny bay-window, and read, pausing
| now and again to glance at the Squire
My eyes, as though fascinated, followed
his movements. | saw him open several
| private drawers in his escritOire, drawers
that were evidently known only TO himself,
| from which he took one or two letters. When
he had finished the long epistle he was writ
ing, he looked up, and said
"Gracia, will you send Mrs. Paterson and
| James GrayStOne to me? | want them 10
witness this" He did not say what this"
was, but l saw sheet of parchment closely
written over. Come back when they are
| gone" he added.
1t struck me that, when the housekeeper
and the butler reappeared, they both looked
very important; but they said nothing; and
| went back to the library, as the Squire had
| told Inc.
/ remember, just as though it had happen
ed yesterday, every detail of what followed
| he -. To-,