San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-29
NIL DESPERANDUM.
BY EDWARD STAPLETON.
CHAPTER |.


CHAPTER /.
A love that's kindled in an hour.
Oftimes will fade like summer fiow'r.
Introduction.
Those who honor me by reading the
folio wing story, which was written sew
eral years ago, | would beg to have pa
thence aud wade, as l did, through the
first two or three chapters, which were
necessary to introduce the to me
familiar characters.
On preparing the manuscript for the
LIGHT-my esteemed usher-I cannot
help feeling that the people, whose his
tories are here recorded. are about me.
see most distinctly, the good natur-
ed face OF Michael looking over my
shoulder with satisfied smile as | scan
the last few lines. They are all dear to
me, even in Lawson. l can see few
good traits, which cover all his INSIDE
meanors. Sincerely l hope the reader
will see them as l do; who knows? we
may perhaps hear more Of little Lucy,
named after her, who, like many Others,
has laid bare her very soul to a man no.
worthy OF such trust.
| simply had to write the intrOduc.
tory lines, for it seems like parting with
the constant, undivided, attendance OF
these people, whom 1 have, until now,
jealously called my own; now they are
going into the world. into your home,
! deal with them gently, some are fragile
and must not be judged too harshly.
Leary gave a ball In honor Of his daugh-
ter and heiress on her eighteenth birth
day.
The grand old hall was one blaze; each
sauarely cut window shot forth it's rays
Of light, making the long dark shadows
Of the old oaks reach down to the river,
which formed part of the boundary. In
a quiet nook boat was tied; evidently
| its owner wished 1t to be out Of sight,
and had chosen the most out-of-the-w way
place to land. Let US follow his steps
! up the slope, studded with oaks Of great
age. for Essex can boast of such. A tree
! yet stands where Prince Charles, after
! wards Charles the Second, hid himself
| in Its branches from CromwelPs rude
| soldiery. The red brick hall bursts
upon our vision as we reach the top OF
| the slope; there Mr.. Lawson, the owner
Of the little craft, stood Watching the
| floating figures keeping time with the
melodiOus strains which reached his
ears, the night was particularly quiet.
except for the busy hum from the ball
room The music had ceased for few
moments. Miss Lucy McLeary had just
been led to seat by Sir Hugh Power,
who was a ship owner, and had grand
old place in the neighbOrhoOd; he was
the head Of that respectable society
the Essex elite-and mothers with mar
riageable daughters were doing their
best to get him entangled In their many
webs; he sometimes flew SO near, that
these social spiders issued from their
normal quiet and prepared to receive
him In an everlasting embrace. when he
saw the danger and fled, leaving them
10 the midst Of their ingenious plans be-
wildered.
This ia my dance, believe Miss
Lucy" The speaker was above the
medium height. with broad shoulders,
his features were regular. with dark
blue eyes, which seemed to have Ian
gusge of their own. and a mouth, which
was partially visible under long
moustache, denoting a combination of
gentleness and determination, the whole
surmounted by an abundance Of brown
curly hair. was handsome.
"Mr. West" said Lucy, ~ know you
will excuse me, am rather tired"
Eyes, certainly. shall | take you to
the conservatory"
mo thank you" she said in an em
barrassed tone, dropping her eyes under
his steady gaze, for he was wondering
what was the matter, she was not her
self tonight. 81 think 1 will go to my
room. Should papa ask for me, please
tell him shall be down directly"
The waltz began as Lucy took the
hand held out to assist her, and giving
him look of thanks, she left the room.
Frank West sauntered along towards
the balcony that extended the whole
length Ofthe house; the light from hun
dreds of wax tspers shOne on the crys-
tai waters which were thrown high In
the air from the fountain in front, look
Ing like a shower OF stars as they fell to
the basin below, wherein a variety of
goldfish chased each other through the
forest OF water lily stems, whose lesves
spread out on the water, caught some OF
the drops rs they fell, and rested like
diamonds on rich green velvet.
The refreshing perfume OF flowers
greeted him as he stepped out and COM
menced walking to the end of the bal
cony, thinking, perhaps, OF the beauti-
full place he had lost by his fathers ut
ter ruin and death.
Two voices met his ear as he stood
looking at the threatening clouds gath
ering in the east. The speakers were the
two dearest to him on earth; one was
his sister Nellie. u girl in years, but wise
beyond the general run OF young ladies
Of her age. and in consequence boon to
her brother; though not handsome, her
face was one of which you never grow
tired. and made you wonder where was
the fault that placed her beyond the