San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-04


existing between us; we seemed less re-
mote from each other.
During our absence Miss Iascelles had
devoted herself entirely to Van Hoeck;
her sympathy had a remarkable effect
upon this strange man. When | took
him up to his room TO dress for dinner,
he asked me 10 open the windows. and
place him where he might feel the air.
He sat before the open window; the set
ting sun was reflected upon his sightless
eyes. i believe he became unconscious
of my presence, and / stood there watch
ing the play of his features. His nostrils
dilated, his brows creased together, his
lips parted, showing his teeth closely
set, the whole expression of his face in
dicating extreme dread; then the muscles
relaxed, for a moment his cadaverous
cheeks were tinged with color. the ewes
closed, and the lips trembled as il in &C.
stacy. Again his lids rose, and the look
of dread returned to his face. He shrunk
back in his chair, and blinked his ewes as
though struggling to give them light;
then suddenly he flung out his arms
wildly, and with smothered cry Of inn
potent rage, buried his face in his hands,
his long, thin fingers pressing the throb-
bling veins which stood out knotted and
hard upon his temples.
What is the matter, old man?' I ask
ed, putting my hand on his shoulder.
He started, and answered impatiently.
Nothing. nothing-a dreamT And
then he asked savagely-"Who watches
you in the night"
"This is not the night" replied, fan
cying he was yet but half awake.
isn't it, he asked, turning his eyes
| al do 10 hn oil ar
ing out his hands, as if to heaven, he
cried-"Then what is the nightF
Poor wretch, all was indeed night to
him. tried to engage him in converse
ton, but he waved his hand impatiently,
and, getting up, felt his way to the wash
stand.
$50 down." he said; "Miss Lascelles is
more pleasing to the eye than l am; she
must be beautiful, for her voice is music,
her touch is like the petal of rose.
Where do you keep the diamonds it
safer
told him that I now kept it in q belt
buckled to my waist.
''Strap it to your wrist again, it is
safer" he said; and then, bending his
head aside, he listened attentively for a
moment and continued, i'm lower voice:
''They are talking together down there.
Creep down and listen. l tell you we
are not safe here-I see that through my
blindness. have faculties in place of
that l have lost. Do you hear them?
Come closer, Thorne; there is conspir-
acy in this house-a plot to rob us of our
treasure, and turn us beggars again upon
the street. II could trust you, I'd tell
you more. But everyone is thief who
has the power to steal"
1t was not the first time / had heard
him talk in this vein. At Natal on the
ship, he had been in constant dread of
being robbed. was glad to get away
from him. As passed the head of the
stairs in going to my room, distinguish
ed the sound-too distant before to tell
upon my dull ear-of Sir Edmund's voice
and the Judges; they were in the library
below. After dressing, l Joined them,
and found Sir Edmund greatly interested
in Braces description of gold-mining in
CALIFORNIA; subject upon which he
could be eloquent by the hour together.
On the 18th, Sir Edmund, Miss Las
celles and Irode over to Southampton.
Miss Lascelles was in her gayest, happi-
est mood, and in her riding-habit looked
more charming than ever.
In returning we met friend of Sir
Edmund's; he accepted the invitation to
take lunch at the abbey, and rode beside
the barOnet, ahead of us. We two took
the hill 50 slowly that, coming to the
crossroads, we could not see Sir Edmund
and his friend. There were two ways to
the abbey. After a little deliberation,
Miss Lasceiles laughingly consented to
take the longer one.
The morning was superb; the woods
were glorious. The rich, warm tints of
the reddening foliage were reflected on
my beautiful companions cheek: her
eyes seemed to catch the glitter of the
dew that still hung ON the gossamers. /
forgot what we talked about, but she
was full of mirth, and now and then the
still woods rang with the musical ca
dence of her laugh. But suddenly the
smile died from her face, and she said:
1--WE forgot poor little Lola"
And then, as if the words had con Injured
up her presence, the girl appeared, swift
ly speeding between the red boles of the
fir-trees, We stopped, and called:
Lola, dear, come and speak to me-"
She stood still, and looked as if irreso-
lutte whether or not to respond to my APP
peal.
Il will stay here. Go to her," said
Miss Lascelles, softly.
"But, as if she had OWNED my inten-
ton, Lola shook her head mOurnfully, as
she had done before, and going her way
was presently hid by the tall brake. AS
we crossed the opSling where we had
previously seen her, looked back, and
perceived her standing in the same place
gazing after us. 1t was easy to conceive
her misery, and the bitter feelings of her
heart. She was unaltered, but | was no
lone t,,t nj fnp in
of water fetched from the stream. All
that was passed. l was no longer her
companion. l should never, never more
share her hard fare, and look to her to
lessen the hardships of existence,
On the 10Th, we went again into the
woods, but on foot, Miss Lascelles and l,
straying thither without purpose from
the garden, where we met. We came to
stream bridged by a single plank sup
ported in the middle. There had been q
hand-rail, but it had fallen away in de-
cay. gave her my hand, the fear of
falling made her clasp my fingers tight
ly. She seemed to enjoy the little dam
ger; it animated her face and eyes with
the prettiest, most bewitching expression
imaginable. Her hand seemed to COM
municate the quickened pulsation of her
heart. But it was not fear-it was in
toxication that agitated me; and when
she put her foot in safety on the bank,
and looked up into my face with bright
laughter, lost my head completely.
kept her hand in mine, and when she
tried to withdraw it, forced it to my
lips, and pressed kiss upon it. The
color left her cheek, and in tone of re-
proach she exclaimed: "Oh, Mr.. Thornew
and was ashamed We walked home