San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-02
CHAPTER ".

When Sandy entered the room he
saw Jessie standing looking out of the
quaint window upon the mists and
darkness of the night.
Tears glinted on her long laShes; her
cheeks were white and her lips drawn.
She seemed strangely anxious and I'M
haprv
Rex. IN the contrary, looked jolly and
comfortable, smoking in the big chair
by the fire. His handsome face was
flushed, his eyes bright with excite
ment.
Snndy took in the fuel, and the wOm-
an I, lowed with the whisky, looking
curiOusly at the picturesque figure in
the windOw-Seat.
Jessie's head was turned away from
them. She seemed lost in thought, till
her cousins voice reused her by saying
merrily:
Come along, Mrs. Vennimore.-
Drink glass of true mountain dew. 1t
is bound to cure the blues
Mrs. VennimOrel" What did he
mean?
Jessie was reused out of her reAec-
tiOnS, all her faculties on the alert.
Always suspicious of him, she at
once jumped to the conclusion that he
She shook back her curls with her old
proud gesture, and went to the table,
and stood full in the feeble light of the
old-fashiOned oil lamp that hung from
the ceiling.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes
flashed ominously, as she asked
Did you call me Mrs. Vennimore?"
81 did, my beauty"
"How dare you! You know l shall
never hold that title"
Nonsense! What stupid talk Why
will you fight against fate? Bring my
wife glass of wine, if you have it.
Flora Mackay looked from one to the
other curiously.
She could see the battle had begun,
and wondered vaguely how Jessie could
hope to stand out against her handsome
young husband.
She was going to fetch a bottle of
homemade wine, when Jessie's voice
commanded her to remain where she
was.
Jessie had grown white as death; her
great, pathetic eyes blazed out like twin
stars in a stormy sky.
Please remain where you are. ap-
peal TO you as woman to help me, and
save me from that mans plots. l can
fathom his scheme. He hopes, by his
bravado, to establish claim upon me.
We are in Scotland, and he knows how
little here can constitute a marriage,
but even here both parties must be con-
senting, or there is no legal tie, and l
earnestly entreat you to take heed of
what say, for L swear before God am
not his wife, but his cousin. Let me
go with you. l am but a weak woman,
and | fear to remain alone with him,
now | know how cruelty he intends to
use my wOman's weakness against my
self"
Rex laid his hand on Jessie's arm as
she was about to cross to FlOra's side;
bitter contempt curled her lip as JeS-
sic flashed round on him fiercely, and
said under her breath:
You coward! you shall answer for
this outrage"
Then she turned to Sandy imploring-
ly, and said:
SANDY, you know what your master
says is untrue; surely you are not
leagued against me. Think of two
men fighting against one weak wOmanl
In pity say you will befTiend me and
save me from this mans wicked pow
err
"The law gives him the power, Mrs.
VennimOre; no one can come between
you and his love, for love it is, and not
hate, as you would have us believe.
Were / in his place l should show you
little pity; he has been too patient with
you. If you ask my opinion, should
tell you my sympathies are with the
man you make miserable by your cruel
caprices. not with you. who forget the
duties Of wifehood and deny your obed-
fence where it is due"
Sandy delivered this speech with the
| gravity of an orator. Flora looked re-
lieved. Jessie fairly gasped; she saw
her cousins cruel power closing in upon
her life and crushing out all hope of
happiness. A despairing thought Of
| Bob came to her, and moved her to
] one more effort for freedom.