San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-06
A MAID FORL0RN.
BY THE DUCHESS.

Il wouldn't be guilty of such thing
for WORLDS" returns Cissy, gayly, land
besides. | shouldn't dream of interfer-
ing with Ronnie's special roIe. She
catches cold for all the family"-glanc-
ing fondly, even regretfully, at her fra
gile sister, who looks younger than her
self, but ii in reality two years her
senior. "The village is only a mile
away: | shall walk there, and see what
is to be seen, and if am showed up be-
yOnd hope of return, | dare say that fat
little woman at the inn will give me
shelter"
"YOu mean the woman who was so
kind to us, when one of our horses came
to grief the day of our arrival, the day
before yesterday" asks ROnnie. Mrs.
StiltOn. they call her. l never forgot
it; She did look 50 like cheese"
yes. Don't look as if this was to be
our final farewell. mamma" cries Cissy,
with an irrepressibIe laugh. You
haven't chance Of getting rid Of me 50
easily. L VIII return: you know me
well" But IN ease shouldn't"-she
has her hand by this time on the handle
of the door, and is looking back mis-
chievOuSly at her m0ther-"if it be my
lot to be discovered stiff and stark and
frozen in some picturesque hollow, re-
member, | leave my debts to Ronnie
and my Kittens to you. Don't let them
Starve."
al wish you would not jest on such
hOrrid subjects" says Mrs. Rivers, in
nervous tone that fills Miss Cissy with
delight. And | wish too"
But the door is shut before she can
disclose her second wish. and Cissy is
beyond reach of eyes and ears. OF
course she carries the day, and present.
ly comes downstairs, and starts for her
walk half-smOthered in furs. and with
the daintiest of little otter-skin caps up
on her head. The whole costume suits
her to perfection. and, with light
heart and a quick step. she runs up the
avenue through the feathery snow-flakes
that fall all around her. and passes the
entrance gate.
Oh, the joy of being i'll the open air
again-however cOld-after two days
confinement to the house! And the rapt-
ure of having fresh woods and past
ures new" before her! All is still I'M
known. Such a short time has elapsed
since Mrs. Rivers and her daughters
took possession of this their new home,
and as yet their present world is an I'M
explored territory. full. it may be, of
delightful possibilities and golden treas
ure.
To-day the spirit of adventure is rife
within Cecil's breast. She moves brisk
ly, with a buoyant air. up tho road; past
the wall that bounds her own place,
past gate that leads no doubt to some
near neighbOr's dwelling, and straight
on until she comes to the open highway
beyond. Here she comes to stand
still, and p0nderS a while. y broad
road stretches to her right. large COM
mon to the left; yet she has been told
that both will bring her to the village,
and that the common is the shortest
route by full mile Which shall she
take? After a short but severe strug-
gle with prudence she pushes it into
the background. and decides on speed
and the common. 1t looks vast-nay,
even vague: but. taking the little we'll
beaten path that lies through it, she
walks on bravely, with her head held
high. and delicious sense Of freedom.
light. air. youth. pervading her whole
being. AS she goes. and as the road
grows dim behind her, she even breaks
into song. and carols as Sweetly as airy
bird that flies the air.
So passes a long hour, and then-then
slowly. and without any undue mis-
giving-it occurs to her that the village
must be further off than she has been
told. Surely it is a good mile that she
has Travelled: and that was the distance
specified At this time she is not
frightened; but presently, as the storm
rises, and the snow falls ever faster and
faster. and she finds she has uncon-
sciously quilted the path, and is walk
ing upon grass. little feeling of nerv-
BUSINESS gains upon her. How can she
know where the path may lie. when all
is so even, so covered with an mbrOken
shrOud of purest white?
Rough BOreas has awakened. and.
ever and anon rushing at her, seiZes her
in his strong embrace, and. shaking her
slight frame with rude violence. leaves
her breathless and unstTung. The dark
ness is growing rapidly. Already veil
,f san,har bua iS pr-argh IN dpuipn tho