San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-02
CHAPTER XIX.


was received by my aunt with infinite wall
ing. The poor soul, knowing that for some
time past | had been the mainStay of the
house, saw nothing before her but misery
and starvation; indeed she was for going
straight TO Redruth House and appealing to
the master, but checked her
Don't grieve, aunt" said. at will all
be right, by and by. Say | am dismissed
from the mine-what then? The mine isn't
all the world / shall get something, never
fear"
But my aunt shook her head.
at be like young folk to make light o.
things. When yOu'm bit awlder Hugh,
you'll see things as | dO-trOublc ahead. lis
vary easy to talk, but what is there in the
village but the mine?
But Pm going up to London, aunt"
ITO LunnOn! Lawd save the lad land
what for should 'un gaw to Lunnon?'
81 am going up to see the company, and
tell them what's going on at the mine Keep
your mind easy till come back, AUNT. Twill,
may be, all be right then"
But my aunt continued to cry quietly, and
greved as bitterly as if she knew of the dark
clouds which were gathering above.
As for my uncle, he sat and listened, and
madsnO remark Whatever | concluded he
did not understand. 50 | made no attempt to
trouble him at ali.
There was no time to be lost, and as soon,
therefore, as had finished my task of COM
fOrting my aunt. began to turn over IN my
mind what it would be best for me to do. |
was as fully conscious of the gravity of the
situation as my aunt herself, though | had
thought tit to make light of it in order to les
sen her pain. To be turned from the mine
meant facing StarvatiOn-unleSS | could find
a similar situation to the one had lost the
only way to facilitate this being to see the
company who might consent to place me
over some other mine. Besides, it was ne
ceSSary that should see them and plead the
cause of the wretched creatures who daily
faced death at George Redruths command.
Having fully made up my mind that the
journey must be taken, | resolved to Start on
the following morning, and began making
my preparations accordingly.
During the years that had been Overseer
of the mine my salary had not been large,
but had been able to put by a small sum
weekly. My first care was to break into this,
to put into my pOcket-bOok sufficient for my
journey and give Il sum to my aunt.
Don't be afraid to use it," 1 said; there
Is more yet; and before its all gone I'll have
work. please G0dP'
MY hOpefulness, somehow, soon infected
my aunt, and she set about putting my things
together with brighter face. She dried her
tears and talked quite cheerfully of my go
ing.
They do say" she said, "that averything's
for the best and may he It's saw nav, though
us can't just see it. Mayhap you'll meet our
Annie in London and bring her back to us,
Hugh"
ats more than likely" | returned. Our
black cloud won't last for ever, the silver
lining must be coming round"
When all was ready, / stepped down to
the village to tell John Rudd to call for me
on the morrow, when he was TO start before
daybreak. Having done my Grand, l lit my
pipe and strolled slowly back to the cottage.
1t was a splendid night. All the earth,
hardened by the keen touch of frost, was
flooded by the brilliant mOonrays; and the
sky was thick with stars. All was so quiet
and peaceful, could hear the click clack Of
my footsteps on the frosty road.
My mind was sorely troubled, walked up
and down the road until my pipe was finish
ed, then knocked out the burnt ashes upon
the ground and turned to re-enter the cot
tage, when started back with half-sup-
pItSotu lnclt, nOt very l'Onh
standing in the shadow of one OF the laurel
bushes in Annie's garden was the tall figure
of woman. She came quickly toward me,
and laid her hand upon my arm.
"Madelinep' L murmured, for IL was in
deed she, dressed in her evening dress, with
her mantle thrown lightly over her head and
shoulders, and her dear face raised wistfully
to mine
"Mr. Trelawney," she said, quietly, sis it
true that you have been dismissed from the
mine?'
Yes; it's quite true Miss Graham"
"0h, why will you not be as you were just
now, and call me Madeline" she cried, pas
slonately. "Why have all those years come
and gone since we were children, and left us
so far apart, Mr.. TreIawney. Hugh, let US
be children againl l was your help and So
lace once, let me be so tO-nightp
She had spoken truly-why should few
years separate us? Once before she had of
fered me her friendship and had accepted
1t; why not now? took her hand and kiss
ed it.
"YOu shall be the same To me now as you
were thenP answered, "you shall be my
friendp
think she understood me. She made no
reply, but for moment she turned her head
aside; when she looked at me again, she was
as calm as the moonrays which lay all about
her.
Tell me what has happened" she said,