San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-21
This story was commenced August .2OI
INCUR[D'S NET.
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY AUTHOR OF 'DIANA's
DISCIPLINE" "a BROKEN WEDDING
RING" ''THORNs AND ORANGE
BLOSSOMS" DORA THORNE,"
kC. AC
And the maid repealed

II understand you nave young person
named Gracia here, Who is sheT"
mo one knows sir" was the reply Il
found her here when came, and she is here
still"
"IIow did she come hereP' was the next
question.
II cannot tell, sir. ] have heard the sery-
ants say that the late hOuSekeeper was call
ed away suddenly, that she was absent some
time, and returned with the child. 1 do not
think any one in the house knows who she
is"
A look of relief passed over the Squire's
face.
but that is mprobable-impossible, may
say! Some one must known he exclaimed
"rO begin with, sir, | do not" returned
the hOusekeeper, with a dignitied air. 'As
Gracia had been in charge of the former
hOusekeeper, took her under my protection.
Mr. Graham said he was sure that you would
not like her to be taken 10 all Orphanage or a
wOrkhouSe. No one owned her though we
all believed her to be Mrs. BlencOwes daugh-
ter"
She paused for moment while the Squire
paced up and down the room angrily. At
length he came 10 stand-still and said abb
ruptly-
He went TO the piano, which stood at the
other end of the room, and opened it: ~
who taught you music and singingW he
asked.
THE man who has taught me everything
else" / answered Holt"
On the day before had found beautiful
little poem, and the words had pleased me
so much that set them to music. l did not
now stop to think whether the verses were
suitable or not, but sang them.
Whose words are thOSeY' the Squire ask
ed, when had finished.
told him.
"And whose music is it,"
And l answered him-Oh, so proudly
hat hA Gin min
"YOurs?' he questioned, in surprise. "You
must be cleverI Sing. something else that
you have set to music"
This time the song was quite different; 1t
was more lively air. When | finished
cry Of delight fell from the Squire's lips as
the last notes died away.
"Excellentp' he exclaimed. "a girl who
can compose such music need not despair"
Then l took courage and, looking into his
face, asked the question that had been hover
ing around my lips from the moment first
saw him.
Squire Dacre," said, mo one knows
anything of me; tell me, do you know who l
amp
l saw that for one moment at least the
question paralySed him; but he soon recov-
cred himself.
''If could solve the mystery he return
ed slowly, 81 should not need to ask all the
questions | have put to you"
To my mind his evasion of the truth was
painful and perceptible. If he had answer
ed me frankly Yes" should not perhaps
have dared to ask more. If he had said
NO" | should have believed him. As 1t
was, felt that he had evaded my question.
From that moment a strong conviction that
"Send to me all the old servants in the
house."
So the butler, the head-gardener, all the
old servants who were at HerOn's Nest be-
fore came, were called before the Squire;
but not one amongst them knew anything
more than this-that Mrs. BlencOwe, after
being absent for some time, had returned
with me; but whence she had brought me no
one could tell.
Was it anger or relief on the Squire's face
when they were dismissed, and he stood
thinking so deeply? At last he rang the bell
again, and, when one of the fOOtmen answer
ed il, he said
Tell Mrs. Paterson Osend the-the young
person Gracia to me-"
Mrs. Paterson brought me the message
herself.
Go, Gracia," she said, land do not be
afraid, Let the Squire hear you sing, and
he will put you in the way of making for
tune, am sure"
But went in fear and trembling to the
library, where the Squire awaited me. l
found myself in the presence Of a tall stately
gentleman, whose hair was white as snow,
and whose face, though marked by lines OF
fire Of his blue eyes undimmed. But they
were no longer laughing eyes; they were
stern, and cold, not at all like the eyes OF the
portrait. What was 1t that flashed into them
when they fell upon me? could not tell.
Was it surprise, fear, love, or whatP knew
not; but IL was q look such as L have never
seen on any human face since.
We stood motionless for while, each look
ing steadily at the other; then he started,
sighed deeply, and shuddered. He, came
step nearer to me, then drew back finally he
babe me approach him. He looked into my
eyes as though he would read my soul, and
so you are Gracia?'-"Yes," replied.
Nothing more"
had to pause, my heart was beating so
fast / wondered what was stealing over
me. My eyes filled with tears; the sound OF
his voice seemed to stir the depths OF my
soul.
v.I th SSIIa he said slowly that Gracia
81 was child not long since" I answer
ed; now am growing up-yet helpless as
sand who are your" he asked.
Always that same cruel question: Iraised
my eyes, blinded as they were by tears, to
Il do not know" / answered. mo one
knows who am. The happy birds have
home; but have none"
"Heron's Nest has been h0me-has 1t
not?" he asked gently.
mo one can have home who has neither
friend nor name" returned bitterly.
"And you"
"Have neither" / interrupted.
He looked at me for some moments in ST.
lence, then asked
"How old are you, GraciaP
seventeen" i replied.
'Tell me-" he said hesitatingly, what you
rpmamhar
ait is so little that 1t is hardly worth tell
Ing" 1 answered. II remember first being
near the sea, in a land where roses grew even
to the water edge; and l can recall face
that used to bend over mine"
saw the color leave his lips.
Nothing moreT' he asked sharply.
"Then / recollect high gray walls-convent
walls know they were, because l remem-
Der the sisters faces-a stormy passage across
the sea, and my arrival here. 1t was only
when reached Heron's Nest that l really
"Did Mrs. Blencowe know your historyP'
he asked suspiciously.
II believe not"
"She let fall no hint which might have
proved clue to your parents%'
"No," replied. II might have dropped
from the clouds for all that any one seems to
know about me"
He murmured something could not hear
distinctly, but 1t sounded ike Poor child"l
docs II not strike you as very strange
thing that i should return home and find In
my house young lady"-how that delighted
mei-'who has been living here for years,
and Of whom no one knows anythlngw
II do think 1t strange; and, what is more,
/ think 1t cruel" answered. II must have
had parents, like other people. 1t is to Heay-
en- they must answer for their neglect of me-"
He was still looking at me intenty.
do you know" he said, that you are
very beautiful grip
My heart beat with pleasure. No one had
ever told me so before, and knew so little
of the outside world that could hardly tell
whether | was beautiful or not