San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-13
MANY A SLIP"
BY n. J. sTAPLEToN.
Written for the LIGHT.

lawyers wife," said my aunt to me al
We sat around the fire on her birthday
"Yes, do" interposed Miss Somerset
III for one, have only heard a scraps
homeopathic scrap and | long to heal
more"
"well," replied, If you promise moi
to upbraid me for not taking, Mr.. Collins
Twill tell you"
at was on the 18th OF September, IS
well 1 remember the day. My father be.
came bankrupt, so to speak; he had In.
herited his title when the estates were
greatly mortgaged, almost TO the hal
door; he tried to save enough to keep
the interest paid but could not. One
morning he sent for me to his study.
knew by his solemn face that something
unusual had disturbed him, and that he
wished to consult me, being his heiress
and only child"
Evelyn, my dear" be began In a
tremulOus voice, ~ have sent for you.
- you are the only one who can
help me out of this difliculty;"
pointing to large sheet Of parchment
spread out before him. | went behind
his chair and kissed his prematurely
white hair.
TELL me, dear Dad, what is this ter
rible looking document" For | always
called him by that irreverent name.
"Tell me how l can help you; and |
wili," added decidedly.
"You are a brave girl my child. and
sorry, sorry am l to have to breach a
subject which may part my only comfort
from me-"
"Ah Dad! what are you saying?" |
exclaimed, for | could not understand
why l acknowledgements of the paroh-
ments-leave the grand cid Abbey In
which l was born, with Its oaks, | don't
know how many hundred years old, and
the deer which gsmbOlled with me in
the summer evenings, and the two
swans which, when they saw me coming
to feed them, would travel so fast that
they left track OF small whirl-pools
behind them. What could IL mean? All
the pleasant life l had, passed through
my mind in an instant.
"0h, my dsrling!" he said lean
ing back In his chair, and put
ting his arm around my waist,
n don't want you to leave me,
but have received letter from Mr..
Collins and -"
"Mr. Collins" interrupted, ''does be
still persist In wanting TO marry me?
Dad, | am only eighteen years old, and
hate him; why do you encourage himP
he must have some power over you, or
you would never permit him to address
you again." turned away.
mo! No! child, II ia not my desire, but
fate so wills It," His voice became
thick as he continued. "GOd forgive
my ancestors for bringing me to such an
expedient; there Is but one step TO take,
It will save the estate and me-" turned
on hearing the last broken words, his
head was resting In his hands, with his
elbows on the parchment. lifted his
face and put my cheek against his.
my dear Did, do you really mean it
depends on me to save you? Tell me
how marrying Mr.. Collins will benefit
you"
Read that deed, Evelyn, then the
letter. and you will understand better
than l can tell you" He got up, walk
ed to the window, and folding his arms
stood looking out upon the beautiful
scene.
No wonder he WAS white-headed.
as understood after reading
the document which had been
growing larger and and larger during
the last fifteen years. could not be-
lieve my father had been extravagant,
surely | thought there must have been
foul play somewhere; however, after
reading the letter, my mind was made
up; 1t ran as follows:
My LORD: II you will look at your
copy OF an agreement between your
LOrdship and myself, you will see that
the SUN OF money advanced by me to
your deceased brother, of which you
took the responsibility. is due to me on
the 10th of September, IS.
am making arrangements to see you
today, when hope there will be a salts
factory settlement. Should your Lord
ship be unable to meet my demands, you
have still an alternstive-the hand OF
your daughter.
She has refused me, as you know, but
ifyOur Lordship will put the facts be-
fore her, | have no doubt she will &C.
cept my liberal offer OF becoming Mrs
Collins. Your obeGient servant,
JOHN COLLINS.
You are a hard man, said to myself.
nevertheless, for my fathers sake, / will
become Mrs. - Collins.
stole behind my father. and, putting
my arm through his, we silently looked
at the hill before us, on whose slope
stood mansion OF rather imposing ap
pearahce, with its tall pines, under
which ii seemed doubly guarded; its
Beautiful lawn ran gradually down to a
crystal stream wherein spOrted the trout.
which had fed for many years. Yes
Dad, no wonder you have grown az
white" said aloud, "when you saw
this old Abbey and that beautiful place.
passing into strange hands. 1t shall not,
for will marry him, and you will re-
main here; who knows, perhaps all will
come right; remember the passqpe.
Thrice armed is be who has his quarrel
just" for | am almost certain Justice has
not been yours" | threw nv arms
around his neck and saw two large tears
running down his cheeks. My dear old
Dad, don't look so grave Ii is to make
you happy that | am going to marry,
and you shall never think you have lost
your Evelyn, for | shall always be with
you; so, now, give me kiss, and | will
20 write some letters" He embraced
me and pressed fevered kiss on nv
forehead, saying, "brave girl, God bless
you" turned at the door and waited
another kiss to him and sped to nv room.
l had kept back the tears which
threatened 10 flow until | reached NV
room, then wept for long time, not
for Mr. Collins, but for one who was
dearer to me than any had met. Ilay
thinking OF him, when nv maid raped
at the door, to say that Lord Holbrook
was In the drawing room. | hastely
brushed my hair, and efiacing the traces
OF tears, descended to welcome him. lie
came forward, with hands outstretched,
to meet me.
you have been weeping" he said. as
he seated himself near me. Il am sorry
l cannot congratulate you on your in
tended marriage with a MIR. Collins. ~
How! WHO'LL l stammered, "could
have told you so soon ?"
IL