San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-28

NAiAi liz y v
A SUNBEAM THE COTTAGE

II Sttlllt'l as IL Tue udNS bl lily DONHDOu
had come back to me. Never since then had
| experienced such feelings as now filled my
heart for with her fading they had faded,
and during the years of Our separation had
passed my time with tOlerahle tranquility;
but now that she had been 50 miraculOusly
restored to me, the old fire was rckindled in
my soul, and became another man.
Her very presence in the house that night
drove away all thoughts of sleep. | paced
my room with restless footsteps, and when
the dawn broke hurried off to the shore.
What a change had come! The wind had
died, the sea was like glass, and the only
record left of the storm was the wreckage
which had been cast upon the sands. Early
as was, there were Others before me, gaz-
ing eagerly seward, and searching along
the cliffs for prize.
took a walk round by the mine, and, hav-
ing made a hasty inspection, | hurried back
to the cottage, eagerly hoping, yet half
dreading, to see Madeline. But was disap-
pointed. My uncle had gone to his work.
My aunt was busy, but alone. | looked
round the kitchen, and my heart gave a
great thrOb After all, the events of the past
night were real. There. hanging beside the
fire, was the cOak-a rich mantle of silk and
fur-whici had been cinging round Made
lines form when took her from the wreck.
inquired eagerly for Madeline. "lIave
you seen her, amt?' asked. is she well?
How docs sh" l0ok?'
/ suppose there WAS something peculiar in
my manner. for my aunt gazcd at me curl
OuSy, and said
"Who be she, Hugh? Dost knaw who she
be?"
Yes" replied; "she is Miss Madeline
Graham. She was at school with me long
ago. Just before my father died she left,
and have never seen her since
At that moment the door opened, and the
figure of the black woman appeared. In the
light of day she looked foreign indeed-a
slight. delicate girl, Shivcring with the cold
OF our raw climate. | asked her how her
mistress did. She made no answer, hut
stared yacantly at me; and | then discovered
that she knew no language but the one in
which she had spoken to Madeline. | look
ed at my aunt, and she understood went
herself into the bedroom to see how her
guest was getting on.
She was away only few minutes, yet it
seemed to me an hour. When she came back,
she smiled at my anxious look.
at be all right, lad, it be all right" she
said "The lady be nawn the worse O her
waiting; but she he tired, and will stawp in
bed to-day. She be pratty creature, Hugh,
and rich, darsay; for her fingers be cover
ed wiz dawmOnd rings"
All that day, overcome by the fatigue
through which she had passed, Madeline re-
NAMED in her chamber, while l. utterly UNI
able To work, hung like a restless spirit about
The house. The next morning she awOke re-
freShed; and when we three sat at breakfast
she astOnished us all by appearing amongst
us, fully dressed, and looking bright and
well.
Her advent caused general exclamation;
my aunt ran forward to her assistance; my
uncle placed our most comfortable chair be-
side the fire; while |, dumb and powerless,
stood in the background doing nothing.
Madeline! Could this be Madeline?-the lit
tie girl had dreamed of all these years.
whose hands had been covered with passion
ate kisses and marked with my tears, and
who had even wept little herself at parting
with me; could this be the same?-this glOri-
Gus creature, with dreamy black eyes, warm
brown skin, and glorious black hair Her
form was tall and straight as a willow; she
moved like queen!
As all her own clothes had been lost in the
wreck, she wore dress of my aunt; over 1t
she had thrown the cloak which she had
worn on the wreck, and which was now
thoroughly dried. She came forward Ian
guidly, leaning on the shoulder Of her black
attendant, and sank down into the chair
which my uncle had placed for her, while
the native began crying and kissing her
hands. They spoke together In the foreign
tongue; then Madeline raised her eyes and
looked quietly around. All this while had
been standing in the background, longing,
yet dreading To speak to her; for | saw clear
ly enough that to her all the past was forgot
ten; but now, as her eyes swept the room
and finally rested with look of recognition
on my face, felt the hot blood mount to my
temples.
"Am mistakeny' she asked, softly; did
you not take me from the wreckP'
bowed my head. In a moment all her
languOr disappeared, the old fire darted from
her eyes, the old flush suffused her cheeks
she was the Madeline Of my childhood once
more. She looked at her hands, with one
quick movement pulled off the most valuable
of her rings and held it toward me.
"Will you not take it?" she said, with a
bright smile. "You saved my life."
Her whole manner was that OF lady
speaking TO an inferior. Under my excite
ment l hardly noticed it. Scarcely knowing
what did, sprung forward and took the
ring; then, eagerly kissing her hand, placed
1t again upon her finger.
Madeline" said, don't you know meP
Madeline-Miss GrahamP'
She. looked at me more critically, and
shook her head.
"IIave you forgotten Munster'sP'' 1 said,
land Hugh Treawney"
II | eXpected wild Ontbnrst of pleasure at