San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-18
PASSIVE CRIME.
BY TIE DUCHESS.

what q niue, Irdgue InnT she looks,
fitting about in the sunshine, in spite
of her merry laugh and joyous DISPOSE
tiOn-a thread that might be easily
snapped!
Yet how slow is the great King of
TerrOrS in claiming those whom we
would wish away-hOw swift to clutch
ut those we would give our hearts
blood to retain.
At this moment he sees the children
leaning over the bank perpendicular
and utterly UnproteCted). at the base
of which the water runs 50 rapidly.
The boys warning to stand back
comes to him upon the air.
What if the child, STOPPING too far,
should OYerbalanCe herself, and sink in
to the fOaming depths beneath-swol-
len with last nights rain-and be ear
ried onward to the cruel ocean! Whose
fault would it be? Who would he to
blame? Such accidents happen very
frequently.
Idly the awful thOUght presentSitself
bearing with tia fascination hard TO
combat. Heart and brain it fills, to the
exclusion of all other thoughts.
Meantime, Ililda has stopped short,
and in her Shrill, sweet treble has order
ed Dick to 90 indoors and bring her
out the dolly that shall represent an
other unhappy captive to his powerful
and daring arm.
Dick engrOssed in the reality of his
game, departs for the fresh prey, moth
ing lOath, leaving her alone i'll the quiet
garden, with no eye upon her save his
who watches with diSfaVOr her every
movement.
~ nLSI; MIleli IeiC aIolic, sue Stallus,
nel lIttlc hliTel III ilVl liioutIl' 40 TiiouSn
t HilCel taii M,l"o H IA ~ uo, ieLi d
UulIti II! n.ue a. tt'o Sh f;i "ToNo nel;
ClossimS HCt PAU oLlo Str1o w,,oIo' anu
runs ullI.t II 10 peH "liu ltel ieaCH, anu .I
SUE ilTlaeLl 10 "liCT iiioie 'l"Ho " '"e
ldlal DallN "e'"ie ueScl ioeu.
she Is SIN ing Soltly hIlle gay song
all about That silly Bo-peep OF ancient
memory. ana the song IS borne ihWarqS,
even TO lhe ears OF PelTudd0cN, as he
sits Dehlnd me cul'a MS, cold ana mo-
u0nlesS, waiting Tor lie hardly KNOWS
what.
Whatever fiendish thought has taken
possession of him. he is, as vet. scarce
" aware of it. but taITies. with white
lips and diStCnded eyes. that follow
eagerly and glarlmgly each fOotstep of
the child outside.
I1llud, WIFI ali Tile NOullll Ill lOnSlIS
for forbidden fruit. gazeS eagerly down
upon the water-lilieS that are rocking
to and fro on the disturbed breast of the
agitated river
STOPPING over she examines them
infinitely. lOngingly. her eyes intense. a
faint smile of pleasure on her lips.
Presently: kneeliEg down. she sus-
ponds half her small body over the slop-
ing bank. as though to gain nearer
knowledge of the coveted flowers.
Penruddock. shrinking back. with
one hand grasps the curtains. and trem-
bles violently, whilst great drops of
dew lie thick upon his forehead, that
already in anticipation seems red with
the cursed brand of Cain.
Eagerly he gazes on the little one.
She is barely balanced: the slightest
touch. the fantest motion, may send
her over into the river.
Prompted. it may be. by his good
angel. he makes step forward. as
though to stay the catastrophe so i'm
minent. Then he suddenly stops.
A wretched memory that but belongs
to his vile desire comes to him. and
brushes all good within him.
Has he not somewhere heard that to
speak. or call. or cry aloud to a child
when i'm dangerous position is but
swift and sure means to cause its sud
den destruction? Therefore will he not
sneak,
And, as though yirtuous feeling alone
prompts him. he holds his peace. and
tries TO believe that his non-:nterfer-
ence NAV vet save the child.
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