San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-07
A MAID FORL0RN.
BY THE DUCHESS.

"DranKsmere! The Wnitleys' Old
pIace-and this is Oaklands. My Certie.
but YOU have had a walk" eXclaims the
housekeeper. lifting her hands i'll dis
may. why, it is four miles from here
by Uncommon. and eight by the road!
And what an evening for such jour
neyl See-hOw dark the night has
grOwn"-drawing aside the curtains to
peer out. Il fearmO human being could
find his way to BrankSmere this hour,
in such weather, unless he knew the
road well, and even then it would be
dangerous to make the attempt. Hear
how the storm RACES. and the wind
hOwlS: and the snow comes thick and
fastl 1t is a wild time, Pm thinking,
we shall have before the morning. But
rest easy, miss; if, as yOu say, you told
YOUR mamma you were going to the vii
lage, she will believe you are safe there
with Mrs. StiltOn of the inn"
81 hope So" says CiSSy, with a sigh.
At this moment there is knock at
the door. and somebody. without wait
ing for permission opens it and walks
boldly i'll. The newcomer is a young
man of about twemty-nine. tall, and
finely formed, with Well-shaped head
So much can be disCerned in the shad-
Ow; and then he comes quickly up to
the table, right within the ray of the
lamp, SO that CiSSy can see him distinct
ly.
He is evidently "the master" the hero
of the hour, the one ingredient indis-
penSable if she would throw touch of
romance into the adventure; and there
fore it is sadly diSpiriting that at first
sight CiSSy must acknowledge him dis
appointing. In spite of his fine figure
and commanding height, he Is like any
thing in the world but Greek god. In
fact he is decidedly PLAIN. His mouth
is large, his nose Is long, his eyeS-hiS
only redeemng tedlUIe-are a dark
gray, kindly ana honest. His hair does
not admit of description, being crop
ped SO closely 0 his head, i'll the pre-
Valling fashion of the present day. as to
he almost invisible. Ills forehead is
somewhat too square. yet there is a
genteneSs, brightness. and wIthal an
amount OF strength about his face that
redeems its want Of beauty.
MAY come III. Mrs. Il chardS?" says
the young man, with Il smile that lights
his whole facC-perhaps lac is smiling
at the aDsurdity of h.S question, de
livered from the middle of the room.
Mrs. II Cnards courtcsieS and bids
him welcome. Then he comes IL little
nearer, even To the hearth-rug, and ad-
dresses Inns, if to his unexpected guest.
Peters has Just told me OF your I'M
lucky walk Ike says, politely. Il am
so sorry about It. but glad more than
can say that YOU iounu your way here"
He is gazing with suppressed, but
evident curiosity at the pretty girl, who
appears half lost in the embrace of the
big armchair. and who has raised her
self and is gaZ ne back at him shyly,
with heightened color, but clear carr
est eyes.
81 hope you are quite comfortable"
he goes on. with increased cordially,
now he has seen her. Il know Mrs.
Richards has done all she can for you;
Observation-Disclosures is ready, and
you must be hungry. you know, and [
thought | would come in myself and
ask you to dine with me. There is no.
body but myself"
This wind-up to his speech is so naive
that Miss Rivers has much ado to sup
press the smile hat turks in the corners
of her mouth, threatening every mo-
ment to betray her. This is an advent
IRE with a vengeance. She begins to
feel like heroine IN a novel. all hut in
one point. lie IS right; she is hungry,
disgraceiully. most automatically
hungry. and thinks with pleasure not
to be Subdued of the dinner beyond.
An hour ago wien first she arrived.
she had felt too exhausted to partake Of
anything Mrs. Richards had laid before
her; but. now that recovery had set in
and warmth and rest have done their
work, she can not help remembering
she has eaten nothing since two o'clock
and that il Is now almost seven. Yet
will it not be rather a strange thing to
dine teie-d-tC with her unknown host?
And yet again. will it not seem prudIsh
to refuse. as evidently he sees nothing
in it? In her pelplcXity she glanCeS APP
pealingly at the only other woman III
the room.
Mrs. Richards is equal to the Occa-
sion.
81 think, Miss Rivers, some dinner
will do you good" she says, respectful
". You have eaten nothing since you
came. And. if you will permit me, l
shall have a cup of tea for you here di-
rectly dinner is at an end"
Now this last is n master-stroke on
the part of Mrs. Richards! 1t gives
-Cissy a feeling of protection, a sort of
conviction that she belongs to Mrs.
Richards. and that-thOugh parted
from her for a little while-she will
ultimately be expected TO return and
deliver herself uptO her rightful owner.
She smiles at Mr.. Craven-Cissy's
smile is thing of beautyand joy for
overland. rising. accepts the arm he
,.tf..r, ba,. NVallys ,,.i+I, ~, Il