San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-20
IN CUPID'S NET.
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY AUTHOR OF "DIANAs
DISCIPLINE" "A BROKEN WEDDING
RING" "THoRNs AND ORANGE
BLOSSOMS" DORA THORNE,"
&C. &C.
CHAPTER I.

No matter where the Christmas stars shone
OF the Christmas snow fell, there was not in
the whole world so desOlate girl as /. L
had watched them, those fair stars, shining
In deep blue sky, In a different cline from
this-a cline where roses grow well-nigh all
the year round, and the silver seas are rarely
ruffled by storms. had watched them from
between high gray walls which know now
to have enclosed the court of q convent; and
since then / have watched them from the
grand old gardens Of Heron's Nest. All
through my lonely, desolate childhood un:
cheered by the warmth and the brightness OF
the sun Of love, the stars were as friends to
me.
remember, as In dream, Journey over
stormy seas; hear far-of echoes of voice;
and I have q faint recollection OF face
bending over mine But the first vivid i'm
preston Of my life is Of standing at the win
dow Of the housekeepers room at Heron's
Nest, watching the shadows grow darker and
the snow fall one Christmas Eve. There was
no rejoicing in the grand old mansion. 1t
was all dark and dismal. The snow beat
fiercely upon it; the wind sobbed round It;
but loud and sweet above the moan Of the
wind came the Ginning of the church bells.
To me they spoke plainly enough They
said, "Christmas is come-Christmas Is
comep wondered II they said the same to
every one else. 1 spoke to the only friend l
had Mrs Paterson the e. hGaseeeRe Church
really sCyP" asked her.
BELLS do not speak," she replied, smiling.
you cannot say they are dumb" reJon-
ed. "Listenp'-and slowly i sang with
them, christmas is cOme-Christmas Is
Gomez
Mrs. Paterson shook her head.
too full Of fancies."
ITO tell you the truth" answered, ~
hardly know what are fancies and what are
not Is 1t fancy Of mine that because 1t Is
Christmas Eve the snow falls more softly and
that puts real music into the chime Of the
bells-that fills the air with strange sense
of mysteryG'
'Gracia," said the housekeeper solemnly,
'you had better go to bed"
"Oh, mop cried. do not send me away.
1t Is cold and dark In my room. Let me stay
here in the warmth and light with you. l
want to watch the sky and see II the Christ
mas star shines tonight"
She murmured to herself wish that Heav-
en- would bless the child and her fancies, but
allow fondly mothers will kiss their chill
dren to-nightp l went on. How warmly
will old friends clasp handsl II one man
has wronged another, how freely he will be
forgivenI wish some one would kiss me-"
II will kiss you, Gracia," said the house
keeper.
And she did; but It did not seem to satisfy
the craving that felt
Are you not happy here" she asked kind
"How can be happy when / belong to no
one, when have not friend or relative In
the world-when have not even namew /
said bitterly.
you live in beautiful house, you wear
good clothes, and have everything a girl can
wish for, she answered.
~ want none of those things" cried. II
want some one TO love me-"
II have made plum-pudding and some
mince-pies,' said Mrs. Paterson, with view
to diverting my thoughts. "You shall have
hot mince-pie for your supper, Gracia, II
you will stop talking. You almost frighten
me-"
But plum-pudding and mince-pies had no
charms for me. loved the pale moonlight
the softly-falling snow, the light of the stars
longed TO 20 out and see II l could pene-
trate the mystery that seemed 10 lie around.
wanted 10 hear more distinctly the bells
that seemed 10 chime Christmas is come
Christmas is Gomez
That is my first vivid recollection. How
the fair cline where the roses grew, how the
high gray walls had disappeared, could not
tell. Here / was, child of ten, and no one
bad the slightest knowledge about me. No