San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-21
PASSIVE CRIME.
BY THE DUCHESS.

40. no; II IS not true she cries, All
her courage fOTSakimg her. Il will not
believe it. What can y,U know more
than all the others? An. is it for this
reason have dreaded you? Have pity,
and uus"y your words"
81 do uuJ speak without authority"
replies he. qUiCKy. Stung again by her
adm SSiOn that she breads him. Il
know all about your birth. there is
an air of undoUbtcd truth about these
words that strikes cold to her heart
and | tell you again, that you are not
only humbly but basely born"
She shoulders violently.
A low CrV escapes her. and with the hand
that still remains free She covers EGr race.
At this instant prnrUddOCk, followed ny
Mr.. Wilding with whom he is earnestly con
verSing). enters the room lie is umt0rtu-
nately i'm time to hear Miss Neville agunI-
ed cry, and to hear Summaries last words.
Going ND To the latter, he pushes him back
ward. releasing Maud from his grasp.
''WhO has dared 10 apply SuCll words as
.basrIv born to Miss NcyilIc?' he asks, IN
fiery tones.
SalmareZ, with his usual evil Snrcr
You are cOward!' says Pemrudlock,
losing all command Of his temper; amt rllN-
ing his glUyCd hand, he strikes hih across
the face.
There is a seconds awful silence; then
SaUmarpZ-whO has inStinctiNely raised his
hand to his cheek, on which a pink line may
be tacPd-SayS, quietly. turning to ithilW-
dock when and where?
THE sooner the better, says DICK, sui
white and wild with fury.
Maud, who had shrInk aside. and who Is
now standing close to Mr.. Wilding, says to
him. i'm nervous whisper. 80 low rs to be
almost unintellgiblc, "What does it all
meany' ,,.,,.
Fighting. | think" says Nj. Wilding,
who is plain-SpOken man at times, and
given to electriiy the Judges in court on Ger
tain occasions. 'Thry are arranging due,
unless am greatly mistaken.
but it must he prevrnted!' says Maud.
wildly. something must he dOne!
Going up to PcnruddOck, she lays her hand
upon his arm. Let me speak, DICK. She
says. in trembling accents.
The WOrd-hiS Christian namc-haS uncOn-
SciouSly escaped her: but he has heard IT,
and proudly. gladly. takes the little hand up
ON his ann between both his own, as though
this unexpected mention of his name had
made her hiS-had been an informal cOlleS-
sion of her love.
There is no need that you should quar-
rel" she goes on, with lowered eyes and pal
lid lips. ''IIe is right; he has but spoken the
truth. am lowly born. as all the world
knows: though, sir confronting Saumarez,
| and TcprOach in her glance, 1t has yet to be
proved how you came to use that word base
ly.'"
MY conduct to you has been unpardOn-
| able, madam" says SaumareZ, bowling ana
drawing back, with set lips and stern eX-
| preston. II ask your forgiveness, IOyOur
| friend. Mr.. PenruddOck. shall give every
| satisfaction neceSSary-the very strongest
| satisfaction concludes he, with a grim
smile: after which he bows again, and with
| draws.
Miss Neville bursts into tears, and SobS bit
| trrly for few minutes. Penluddock' WIN
| his arm round her, supports her head AGAINST
| his breast for some time unTebuked. Tres
entity. however, she checks her emotion, and
drawing away from him wipes the tears from
her eyes, signing heavily.
| You have got your work cut out for you,
| you know" suggests Mr.. Wlldlhg' III low
! tone To Dick, who had forgotten everything
but Maud'S grief.
IL am quite aware Of that muttelS Dick
IF YOU are going to cross to the other side
you will have but very little time to arrange
matters before starting
There is little to arrange, says Penrud
| dock. abSently. my Cousin George falls III
for everything if | come to grief in the en-
counter" 80,
| Then he goes up Ia Maud, who is still 81
lentIy crying, and takes her hand again.
Tell me the truth now. he says. IA
this last moment il would he Solace. com
| fort to me- That tine-a few minutes since
when YOU called me 'Dick'-yOur tone, YOU
whole manner thrilled me; it almost CAUSED
| me to believe that | was not quite mdliteren
to you. Was that presumption, madness, OIL
my part? Speak, darling.
He bends his head, and she whispers some
thing i'm a voice halt-brOken.
1t must have been some word Of encourage
| mpnt as PenruddOckS ViSage brlghtenS, al'
| his whole manner changes.
"And if return? he begins eagerly.
But she interrupts him.
"Oh, you muSt-yOu iCUt return! she says
painfully.
''If do, you will marry me?'
She shakes her head.
Even at this solemn moment her great re
solve is not To he broken.
my dear PenruddOck, this is out OF al
bearing" says Mr. Wildmg, who has beel
engaged in an engrOssing examination Of
bit of old Chelsea, hut now feels II ms dut.
to come to the rescue and deliver Miss Ne
vile from her embarrassment Let us Ills
CJlSs what you have got to do.
That is simple says PturuddOck, with
frOwn. IF luck stands 10 me, shall shoe
him through the heart
mo, nor says Maud family. putting u
her hand in quick protest. To XIII min
that would be murder! DO not have Ia
| death upon your conscience
Would you shrink from me because q
thaty asks he wiStfuy.
ut would be- 50 tgrTiDle,' she iaters.
yet. remember, il would be M you
cause"
"For that very on''-earncsty-"
should feel it all the more. And later o.
when YOU had grown cool, IL would be
! yourself AN everlasting regret, amt | ShOui
be the author OF it. On, let him 1--we
"Well, dare say shall says Penru,