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

Three years ago | was a girl Of sixteen,
unemancipated from the schoolroom. My
father was-and is-banker at SistOn- The
town lies in a valley, and by a great many
people is thought unhealthy. Having kins-
man whom he can thoroughly trust as acting
manager, papa these many years since has
abandoned the red house in Siston Broadway,
and resided at the Manor, Walnsey, This is,
however. twelve miles from his place of
business-eight by rail added to four by road.
The Manor has one drawback-it stands in a
very isolated situation. Our nearest neigh
bors are our nameSakes, the Escotts of Vain
sey Cross; and Valentia Lodge, the country
seat of Capt. Milne Escott, lies westward
across the wilderness we call the Heath a
good three miles
The month when my story opens was that
of February Fil-dike, and it was justifying
its maine Or storms we seemed to have
ceaseIess succession Heavy rains and high
winds had been for several weeks the pre-
vailing meteorological condition Alchemy
younger sister--and were prisoners within
doors. and we should have found time drag
more heavily thar !; did but for the presence
OF Val An nuIy hrorner is always girls
hero and Va was ours. In age he came be
tween Us, ard his proper place at this period
OF the gear was ut Rugby But he had met
with an acrIdeut at Christmas, and was only
Just convalesceut Hence his holidays had
already lasted in excess full fortnight Of
the working term. AS perhaps Val may read
this, / will be candid and add that there
were seasons when, owing to his teasing We
heartily wished him back in the MIdlands
The Tuesday on which papa announced his
n y-uS M
ever not oneot those occasions BoreaS was
doing his best to bring the house about our
ears We could not possibly go out in the
TEMPEST. We were not ultra enthusiastic
readers, aud fancy work was ever AHce's
bette uor therefore we must have settled
into tame subiectlon to enuui but for Val
1t was his business. as he put it, to make
things lively, and he did.
had veEJured to demur to papa's gong
Surely it was my place to care for him as
mamma would have done had she lived and
his health had troubled me of late, thought.
less as too frequently was.
at is a dreadfully rough day, papa" |
said Cannot ST Hugo Ferris waite 1t is
such a distance too, to Ferris Court; and all
across country You can't reach the place
readily by rail"
No, | wish that | could" papa answered
But the Journey is quite imperative. Sir
Hugo is one of our best patrons. He tele-
graphs that his departure for Algiers is fixed
definitely for Tbuisday-an alteration of a
week III his arrangements; and have urgent
matters to discuss with him He insists
foohshly. but cannot help ton nego
tatIng with the principal, he will have none
OF Mir Bellows" | suppose my face was
visibly lengthening, for before | could reply,
papa added Don't look SO glum about it,
Maggie. You'll be quite safe here in charge
OF Mrs. Climber, our new housekeeper. | am
convinced that, after many changes and mis-
haps, we have secured treasure | say this
because it is uncertain if shall return to-
night"
mot return to-nightr echoed helplessy
mo" he said. 81 have decided to take the
horses the whole way; and as the road'are
in bad state, Spence will put the cattle up
in the next village and then drive me back
the next morning. | shall be sure of com
Portable quarters at Ferris Court"
"Is it quite-safeT | asked.
"For me, do you mean~
moo, for us This house is so lonely, and
it is known that there are mammals jewels
sSS Eas DICUur sS-s.S.a1 Ga,7 Uraps =,