San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-22

ThS Egnt was long-the morning more so,
and as soon as les convenances permitted it
Roger presented himself at the villa. What
else could you expect him TO doi 1t was a
case OF marriage, you see, and he was in a
hurry.
But the villa; well, the villa was topsy
turvy mile. Armande could see no one,"
was the announcement at the door, and in
the garden the domestics were all assembled
curiously regarding something in the middle
of great cluster of peonies in the corner of
the parterre.
Jim, the false Jim, or rather Jim No 2, as
he saw the moment he approached, accom-
panied-his legs trembled under him as he
counted the catastrophe-by six little cats,
evidently just brought into the world, and
which Jim was licking lovingly.
Nj. de Gramont had not made sufficient in
quiries. Pressed by the train hour, and with
out a second to lose, he had contented him
self with asking show much" and now, scar
let with embarrassment, thunderstruck at
the turn of affairs, he stood there, the gaze
of the servants bent upon him curiously, an
inner voice crying il his ear:
"a nice mess you've made of It'll What
will you do now3 What will become of youa
The kitchen and the office laugh together;
they accuse you already; they knew before
you the habits of the true Jim, his passionate
taste for the chase. Deduction is the SIM
plest thing in the world; they devise instinct
lively the facts of the case; the death of tho
poacher the substitution of this interesting
motherl
Poor Roger! poor unhappy loverl He
dared not lift his eyes for fear of encounter
ing Armande's at the window. and remained
there unable to tear his gaze from that young
and interesting family! Maternity had
plainly ysweetened the nature of the cat; it
was no Gpger the least in the world ferocious.
but lay Were continuing to cares her chill
dren and to fix her yellow eyeballs upon
Roger with all air of positively thanking him
for having shaped her lot and landing her in
so comfortable place.
All these thoughts buzzed in the brain of
NJ. de Gramont like swarm of bees; to
struggle against fate was useless; this last
stroke finished him. He yielded he aban-
doned everything, and, tearing himself from
the spot to which he had been nailed, he ran
without word, without a gesture, without
turning his head even; yes ran with all bis
legs, gained the gate, the outer road and dis
appeared. Returned to his room he fell
upon chair and wiped his brow, from
from which the sweat ran in streams
An hour later there was a knock at the
door and a servant entered with an urgent
letter from NJ. de Plagnolles. my death
sentence~ thought Roger, holding out hes
itating hand.
MY dear Roger" began the letter; 'all
is discovered; your embarrassment your
fright, your flight betrayed you. Armands
was furious, cried Historically; swore she
would never see you again. Then she de-
scended to the garden. She has seen the
substitute for Jim and been seized with a
sudden affection for the new born. She is
mad about them already; intends to raise
| them all, and awaits your coming to find for
them collection of good English names
the only suitable Ones she contends, to be-
stow upon the feline race. Come quickly
all will be forgiven. Thine,
PLAGNoLLEs.
Happiness is not to be described, and
Rogers was complete.
A month later the marriage was solem-
nized, and year later the young Nine
de Gramont renowned Of her own accord the
education and bringing up of cats
| One doubtless divines why.-Trapslated
from the French of Praedel by E. c. Wag
! gener for New York Mercury.