San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-10

came l was overjoyed; this dead room be-
came terminated; had found some one to
feel interested in. ] watched you come in
and go out; heard you murmuring in your
sleep; / watched you reading, and my eyes
followed the pages. found you were nicely
behaved, and had a fresh, innocent way
about you that pleased me-in short, fell in
love with you. | tried to make you under
stand; sighed-you thought it was only the
signing of the wind; l made signs to you;
looked at you with languishing eyes, and
only succeeded in frightening you terribly.
SO, at last, in despair. resolved upon this
rather improper course which l have taken,
to tell you frankly what you could not take a
hint about Now that you know | love
YOU
The conversation was interrupted at this
juncture by the grating Of key in the lock
of the chamber door.
Omphale started, and blushed to the very
whites Of her eyes
"Adieu," she whispered, It'll tomorrow
And she returned to her place on the wall
walking backward, for fear that l should see
the reverse side, doubtless.
1t was Baptiste, who came to brush my
clothes
"You ought not to sleep with your bed
curtains open, sir" he remarked; "you
might catch a bad cold-this room is SO
chilly"
The curtains were entnally open aid as
had been under the impression that l was
only dreaming, ! felt very much astonished;
for l was certain that they had been closed
when l went to bed.
AS soon as Baptiste left the room, ran &c
the tapestry, felt it all over; it was, indeed,
a real wooden tapestry, rough to the touch
like any other tapestry. Omphale resembled
the charming phantom of the night only as
dead body resembles living one. lifted
the hangings; the wall was solid through
out; there were no masked panels or secret
doors. | only noticed that a few threads
were broken in the ground worktof the tapes
sry where the feet Of Omphale rested This
afforded me food for reflection.
ALI that day remained buried In the
deepest brown study imaginable; longed
for evening with mingled feeling Of anxiety
and impatienca | retired early, resolved on
learning how this mystery was going to end
got into bed; the marchioness did not keep
me waiting long-she leaped down from the
tapestry in front Of the pier glass, and
dropped right by my bed; she seated herself
by my pillow, and the conversation com
menced- asked her questions as had done
the evening before, and demanded explna,
tons. She eluded the former, and replied in
an evasive manner TO the latter; yet always
after 50 witty fashion that within a quarter
of an hour felt more charmed than ever
While convsrsing she passed her fingers
through my hair, tapped me gently on tie
cheeks, and softly kissed my forehead She
chatted and chatted in a pretty mocking
way-in a style at once elegantly polished
and yet familiar, and although like great
lady-such as have never since heard from
the lips Of any human being. She was then
seated upon the easy chair beside the bed
1t was indeed Q charming and handsome real
woman-a veritable marchionese whom |
found beside me Poor student of seventeenI
There was more than enough to make one
lose his head, so lost mine.
And Monster lie Marquis, on the wall up
thsre-what will he say7"
HE will not say anything" replied the
marchioness, laughing heartily. "Do you
suppose he ever sees anythingi Besides, even
should he see, he is the most philosophical
and inoffensive husband in the world. Do
you love me, little ones"
"Indeed, l do-ever SO much-ever 30
muchm
But morning dawned, and the marchionss.
returned to her tapestry.
The day seemed to me frightfully long
At last evening came. All happened as on
the evening before The marchioness be
came more and more adorable; and this state
of affairs continued for a long time As |
never slept at night, wore somnolent ex.
preston in the daytime, which did not augur
well for me with my uncle He suspected
something; he probably listened at the door
and heard everything; for one fine morning
he entered my room 80 brusquely that An
toinette had scarcely time to get back to her
place on the tapestry. He was followed by
a tapestry hanger, with pincers and ladder
He looked at me with shrewd and severe
expression, which convinced me that he
knew all 4...-.........,
'fhis Marchioness de Bellerive Is Ger.
tainly crazy; what could have put it into her
head to fall in love with brat like thatr'--
muttered my uncle between bis teeth-"she
promised &c behave herselfi"
jean, take that tapestry down; roll IL UP
and put It in the garrett"
Every word my uncle spoke went through
my heart like poignard thrust
Jean rolled up my sweetheart Omphale-
otherwise the Marchioness Antoinette dc
Benerive-together with Hercules. or th~