San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-01

time that was gone forever. He turned to-
ward Kit then. and said, slowly and solemnly,
"God help me, Kit, willr'
That night they discussed their plans and
prospects, and resolved what had best be
| done first Kit saw her father brighter and
more hopeful than for many a day, and
| knew that to keep him 30 he must be kept in
action. So it came about that they made the
little necessary preparation for Grale to go
! to the city in the morning. It was rare
| pleasure to Kit to see how he strove against
| the gloomy inertia that had grown habitual
| with him since their troubles; to see him
| once more interested and thoughtful of the
future. She lay down to rest that night, not
indeed without anxiety, but with thankful,
happy heart.
Grale took the morning boat, Kit watching
him off and wishing him safe back. He
missed her CHEEKY voice and smile when he
was gone; he was feeble yet in mind and
body. The old weary, stolid feeling stole
upon him again, while the steamer plowed
on down the sound, through the river, and
ran in to the wharf
He turned into Ship street and walked
along slowly, watching the shipping at the
wharves. 1t was a sight very familiar to
his eyes. Many and many a time he had
walked there and watched the same strange,
bustling scene, when his step was quick and
strong, and his blue eye bright with the
light of hope and the pride of life. But
times were sadly changed since then, and he
was another man. Street and shipping and
busy life were pretty much what they had
been years before. There was the very pier
before him where he had moored the Flying
Fish a hundred times. But strange
schooner lay in her old berth now, and John
Grale stood there broken man-broken in
spirit. He stopped and looked about him
awhile at the familiar surroundings, and the
memories of the old time came thronging
upon him very sadly. He stood irresolute-
had no heart to 60 on.
at amt no use," he muttered. They're
all gone now-au gone. There was George
went first on that cursed reef, an that was
nard enough, God knows. l wish I'd "a
drowned along of him that night. Then
there was poor Emily went after her brother,
an now the Fish is gone, too, with the rest
It's late in the day to begin it all over again
it amt worth the while a-tryin'."
He leaned against wall a while in gloomy
abstraction. But after little he started up
with a changed expression, put his hand
one who suddenly RECEIVERS broken thread
of memory:
Eyes, yes, I forgot. 1 remember now.
No-not all gone, not ALL That's what l
said to Kit. An Kit, she said, wouldn't /
anyway: an you're worth any mans work
ing for, late or early. Yes, yes, promised
an l will-for your sake, Kit, for your
sake"
He started on then more briskly than be-
fore, with an evident purpose in his gait
down Ship street, up Bullion lane. 1t was
summer time, and the sun glowed hot and |
sultry on the bricks and stones. The human |
tide rolled onward up the street, went swirl |
ing and eddying round and round him. He |
found the number he wanted, 209, and went |
up to the second floor where the Office was.
Was Mr.. Wyckel ins He was; would the |
gentleman walk into his private Office!
Grale went in The lawyer sat at |
his desk, writing rapidly, his head screwed |
round to one side to clear his eyes of |
the smoke of the cigar which was always |
between his teeth. As Grale entered, he |
looked up keenly from under his brows, with
out lifting his head, his hand still driving the |
pen. His eyes dropped again. He scratched |
and pulled on to the end of his sentence, his
head all the while screwed awry. He sat up
then took the cigar from his mouth, and
said:
"Ah, joint it's you, is it, How do you
DOR
He got up, put the pen between his teeth,
and offered his hand
whats the newsr he asked, behind the
penholder. "How's all the folks in Hilburyl |
You amt just looking like Samson yourself,
john
pretty well, sir; pretty well, thank'e. Not
much news, l reckon. Hilb'ry's pretty much
what it was when your father had the Pine
Hill place But what l come in today, Mr..
Wyckel, was to see if you couldn't help me in
a little matter o. business"
He took the pen from his teeth, replaced it
with the cigar, and sat down, relapsed at
once from his cordial appearance of interest
in all old acquaintance and his early country
home.
You want legal advice, suppose" he
said. Take a chair. Let me hear your
case"
"No," Grale answered IT don't want no
advice, want money"
"Oh, money, ehi Well, let's hear" said
Wyckel
''Ill tell We how tis," Grale went on. Eye
know l been a many year now runnin'
packet tween Hilb'ry an town. l started in
a little sloop, the Lapwing, forty-seven ton,
in '89. We got along pretty well, an laid by
enough in five year to sell out an buy the
Fish You know the Fish, Mr.. Wyckel?
You come down in. her with me once for a
iCOntnued on next page1