San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-18

ralsea voices, he had not been lin the room
These gentlemen (meaning the oEicers) often
had disputes among themselves. No one
thought much about it; it was no ones con-
Germ but their own"
left the man, and started on an evening
walk through the town, before retiring to
rest IL was already dark, warm and star
less August night; the sky, heavy with one
cloud that spread from hill to hill. seemed to
weigh upon ones head; now and then drop
of rain fell: could see the sultry splash on
the dusty paving stones by the light of an
occasional oil lamp Pickering here and
there street led from the old market
place down to a steep, one arched bridge that
spanued the river, and connected the town
with the opposite heights. l crossed the
bridge, then returning on my steps, stood
leaning on the parapet looking down upon
the river revealed through the darkness
by its slow onward rush, and by the rare
lights reflected on its back surface. A
belated barge came swinging down stream,
its lantern sending long yellow CLEANS
across the parting water; it passed and was
lost in darkness beyond. Lights shone from
the clustered gables Of the darkling town.
Close at hand, on the river bank. girl sat
at an upper window mending stocking by
fame hardly moved in the heavy air; it
lighted up her fresh young face, her yellow
braids of hair and busy hands. So she had
sat many night BEFORE SO she would sit for
many night to come; but 1.-THE thought
passed through my mind-should have no
consciousness of her For between her and
me it would be always night
l fingered, remember, on the bridge; it
raS ono IF thOSa hours haconinO rorar with
every day of travel, that hold in them some
realization of fresh and strange impressions.
The town clocks were striking 10 as made
my way back to the inn. had left a book
in the room where had dined, and l went
to fetch it before going up stairs to bed. The
young Englishman was still there, seated i'll
the chair where / had left him. Had he
never moved2 could not tell, but he was
not now alone. A young girl stood opposite
to him leaning against wooden press, her
head thrown back, her arms folded under
long colored apron that she wore over dark
blue gown. | knew the girl by sight; once
she had waited on me at table, once or twice
had seen her gathering fruit in the garden;
she seemed to have no fixed service in the
house, but to make herself useful as occa-
sion required Without much beauty, some
thing singular in her appearance drew at,
tention. She was brown faced girl, with
masses of sun faded brown hair, and sleepy
blue eyes that had trick of opening sud
denly to accompany a sudden smile which
revealed two rows of small white teeth;
otherwise her expression was sullen and
rather scornful So much l had noticed,
paying little heed to her, however, as she
came and went about her work. Her pres
ence in the room now surprised me. She
was speaking as came in, but ended or broke
off abruptly on my entrance, and stood as /
have described her, leaning against the
wooden door of the press. She shot glance
at me from her half closed eyes as l took my
book from the table where had left it, but
did not change her position. The young
Englishman, on the other hand, sprang to
his feet.
II tell you," he said, facing her and speak
ing with certain vehemence, 'you have
nothing to do in the matchmaking. Keep
out of it."
He thrust his hands deeper into his pockets
and swung out Of the room. The girl looked
after him. did not like her look, but it was
no affair of mine l took my book and
quilted the room, leaving her standing there
with her folded arms. At the foot of the
stairs met my acquaintance, the waiter.
"Who is that girlF' said, describing her.
II have seen her several times about the
house"
"You mean Lotte7" said the old man
Have nothing to do with her, young sir;
she is bad one The master took her in out
of charity, but tomorrow she leaves. There
is nothing she likes better than to set on the
young men who come here to quarrel about
her. There have been two duels fought al
ready in the twelvemonth she has been in
the house. No great harm done, to be sure;
but the master won't have it, and so to-mor-
row she goes He has found her place
where there will be no young men to set by
the ears. Oh, know her ways; I've seen
her at it. She treats them like dogs till they
turn and insult her, and then she gets one of
them to take her part When the mischief is
done she rubs her hands. Oh, I've seen her
at it, know her ways. No, no, she'll come
to no good wherever she is"
A bell rang and he left me- I made my
way up stairs to my own apartment on the
second floor. At an open window in the pas
sage, saw the young Englishman standing
and gazing out into the darkness. He started
at my approach and preceding me rapidly
along the corridor, opened the door and dis
appeared within the bed room next my own.
| heard bolt drawn as / passed and match
struck, and saw him no more.
was tired, and although the night was
oppressive, fell almost at once into uneasy
siumbers | woke again restless with the
heat. The room was perfectly dark; l struck
my repeater; it was nearly o'clock in the
morning. My windcw stood open, and
conld hear the even temDerata sound of