San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-11-22


Ever since that day have had a lurking
belief in presentiments. | know very well
that the confession will cause some superior
persons fortified in the lines of a sane com
mon sense. to smile with pity at my girlish
weakness am somewhat disposed to smile
with them. and yet it is not more certain
that plot existed to rifle the manor, than
that hour by hour after papa had gone
grew more and more vaguely but genuinely
uneasy said nothing to either Val or
Alice What was there to sayl Nor to Mrs.
Climber Somehow | had not taken to tho
fresh arrival so warmly as the others did
not dispute that her recommendations were
first class; that her demeanor to each of us
was precisely what it should be-neither
overdeferential nor too familiar-that she
was a skillful house mistress and a paragon
of order.
Dusk thickened at last, and we had the ap-
proval of our consciences in closing blinds
and drawing curtains to, and shutting out
by every recognized expedient the driving
cloud rack, the desolate landscape, and the
constant drip, drip of the complaining trees.
And then Val accepted a stray challenge
mine or Alice's | cannot now be sure the
point is immaterial-and proceeded, with q
flow of boyish eloquence which promised well
for his intended future at the bar, to vindi-
cate his latest hobby, the science of graphi-
ology He had notable little collection OF
autographs and specimens of caligraphy
which he rummaged out of his hoard of trea-
sures; and upon these he descanted with all
the dogmatsm of the professor and all the
fervor Of the disciple As he was pointing
out to half skeptical critics and listeners an
alleged resemblance between traits in the his
torical character of the Duke of Wellington
and features in the great warriors hand
writing be was interrupted. To the surprise
of each of us we heard the rumble OF ap-
preaching wheels on the soaked avenue with
out.
"Can papa be back after all, and as early
as thisr' Alice cried
mot be- That isn't our carriage. It's
brougham certainly: but Spence isn't driving
1.-THE rattle is different" Val answered, at
the end of u short pause
Then who can it bef" said with wonder
and recrudescence of anxiety.
Val crossed to the window and caught
question and reply of visitor and coachman.
'ls this the placer inquired the former
Eyes; this be Mr.. Escott's o t Manor,
Walnsey," returned the latter.
Clang went the hall bell; and In another
half minute Josephs, our butler, looking any
thing but pleased at the interference with his
session of enjoyment in the kitchen, opened
our door and ponderously announced: "Mr
Lidlaw."
The name was entirely unknown to me, as
also the purport and occasion of the call !
debated for a second whether l should send
Alice in search of Mrs Climber-who was, |
believed, writing in her own room-or
whether | should myself assume the respon-
sibility of confronting the stranger. This
question was decided for me- On the heels
of the domestic advanced Mr.. Lidlaw; he, at
least, appeared to have no doubt as to the
course to follow. Under sized, middle aged,
clean shaven, gray-this is the best and
fullest description which | could have given
at the moment of the easy going intruder,
and it will suffice for my narrative.
"Ah, three of you" he said my old
frie' 5 daughters and son, l presume. l
wash aware he was so favored"
The human voice is a wonderful instru-
ment. In one case it shall of itself convey
suspicion, in another reinsurance. 1t was
the latter here. A tyrannical imagination
had painted before my mental vision with
swift brush the portrait of a dangerous con-
Spirator The living enigma spoke and how
ever puzzling and mysterious bis presence
continued to be, my courage revived. The
circumstance is rs ! state, the explanation
IeaV@ t. others.
My name ~ Esco~C, this IS my brother
and my sister, ! stamimerlngy answered.
But who--to what 10 we owe was
ptiiul!y uoor inquisltor Before | had
framed my query was stopped.