San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-22

sailing. Do you know" she added, in a
more confidential tone, "that was actu-
ally frightened beforehand at the idea Of
this Journey"
Eyes, know you were afraid" an
swered Hugo, quietly, land will tell you
something else: you could not just at first
make up your mind as to whether 1 were
robber or merely a harmless indi-
vidual'
Clara laughed somewhat guilty.
What made you think that"
'Then it is true, is it not?''
Perhaps" she admitted; "but who
told your"
Nobody don't always require to be
| told things" said Hugo, in the same tone.
81 know q great many things about you
that you have never told me. AT least,
not with your lips"
"You lay claim to be all knowing-to
guess peoples thoughts
~ did not speak of people, he replied
with emphasis 81 only spoke about you.
have never tried to guess the thoughts
| of another woman"
He spoke so earnestly that Clara felt
herself coloring under the directness of
his gaze. In her embarrassment she
| made an effort to turn off the subject.
AU any fdtt, ain uOV dS
parent as you seem to think. can keep
| secrets when | choose. For instance, I
will lay any wager that you do not know
where have put my money!"
"Will you give me three guesses, like
in the fairy tale of Rumplestiltskin?'
''Oh, yes; thirty guesses if you like"
laughed Clara. 81 am quite safe"
II only ask for three; and what will be
nv reward if I pueSS correctIy2'
"You will never guess; besides, have
no rewards to give"
"You have something to give said
Hugo very low. But 1 am willing to
take my chance and trust to your gener-
| osity. Let me see, the money is in your
trunk hidden under false bottom"
Clara shook her head.
Gin the sole of your left boot" said
Hugo, after some apparent meditation.
Wrong again." she cried. Now for
the last guess"
Then, without preparation, he quickly
said: at is in your fur cap knew it all
along"
Clara now stared at him dumbfounded.
1t was not that she had any objection to
him knowing her secret; for, had he failed
to guess, she was on the point of telling
him herself. Besides, he looked so up
right, so honest, that she was beginning
to feel herself ready to trust him with
something far more precious than gold.
But that he should have guessed her
secret appeared to her little short of super
natural, for she did not know that every
lover is magician, and that his eyes are
all seeing.
Glow could you have known"
Nothing simpler" said Hugo, smiling
a little at her CONSERVATION. 81 noticed
how very careful you always were to make
sure that your fur cap was firmly secured
on your head, and that you never by any
chance laid it aside for a minute, even
| when resting in the heated inn parlor. In
your sleep, too, you never forgot it, and
instinctiyely put up your hand to feel
If 1t were safe whenever the carriage
jolted."
"And l thought 1 had hidden it so
| well" said Clara ruefully. "And now 1t
seems that every one has guessed my
secret"
Hardly that You may make your
mind easy that your fur cap is the last
place in which robbers will think of look
ing for money. No one is likely to study
you as closely as I have done, and yeti
he continued with a sigh-"there Is one
ing. Would that had indeed the power
to guess your thoughtsr'
Clara made no answer. She was play
ing nervously with the shabby green
tassel of the window, and looking out on
to the snowy landscape with unseeing
eyes. Presently, however, feeling that
this silence was growing too significant,
she turned round again to her companion,
and with rather obvious effort at light
ness she said:
"Well, since you affect to be all know
ing, perhaps you can likewise name the
exact amount of money my head Is at
present worth?"
"How can l put a price upon what is
| priceless?"
Nonsense" said Clara petulantly,
feeling provoked with herself for not
being more mistress of the situation, for
| try as she would to be evasive everything
she said seemed only to drive the con-
versatiOn more surely into one mOmentous
groove. "That is not what mean, but
what is the amount of the fortune carry
inside my cap' Can you tell me that?'
well, no." replied Hugo. "Here 1
must confess myself worsted at last, for
even If you are transparent, gray fur is
not, and SO 1t may just as well be hun
dreds as thousands, or else glittering dia-
lnonds, which are sewed into your cap.
| Only if they are diamonds"-he added
| laughing-''they must be very hard and
uncomfortable, and are likely to give you
headache if their value is something
very overpowering
Clara now laughed also in her former
natural manner, forgetting the momen-
| tary embarrassment.