San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-22

their race; but when these descended the
plank walk there was still another, end upon
her the eyes of the young officer were rfvsted
in establishment. The moon had risen high,
the dir was soft and balny, and Of clear
ness that rendered each feature OF the msidsn
distinctly visible. She was not vely tall, yet
her aspect was commanding; her face was
marvelously beautiful and her eyes seemed
TO shine like stars on q eloudless summer
night She was Gttired not like her compan-
ions, but in robe Of silvery white that glis-
tened like snow in the moonlight At her
waist was golden girdle and on her bosom
an ornament richly chased in gold Her
hair, which was as dark as the raven, hung
loose and long about her shoulders. In the
bright moonlight she seemed like the incar-
nation of an ethereal essence.
Her appearance excited the officers imaSi-
nation; he bent forward, curious to obtain
nearer view; as he did 50, he noticed that the
maiden fingered in the rear of her party and
seemed to be searching for something she had
lost Ills native politeness prompted him to
make his presence known and assist her in
her search. He stepped forward, and bis
spur touched something metallic on the
ground stopping he picked up the ornament
which she had dropped from her bosom, and
respectfully handed it to her. She took it
without looking at him and passed on; but
he caught her arm, and, seeing her in COM
pany of the Spaniards, hazarded a question
in that language SIN Gods name, who are
your And she answered, In pure, sdivery
tones, Il am Runa, the Evening Start"
There was proud defiance on her brow as
Oh 40 yrof hor M
dark, fell = heath the ardent gaze which the
officer bent upon her; she waved her hand
majesticaIly, as though 10 dismiss him,
and Mastering on joined her companions.
Tie cAevaIIrr prolonged his walk, pondsring
upon the events of that night He had seen
the sunny girls of France, had wood tho
dark Castilian maids, had smiled upon the
blue eyed Saxon, but never before had he
seen any one so strange, so romantic, so beau
tsful; hs recalled with pleasure her appear
ance, and dwelt with mingled wonder and
admiration upon her features. When at
longth he sought his quarters and retired it
WIS to dream that size was a star, far, far
bevond his reach iii the heavenly blue,
AID he, like the shepherds of old, could only
look MP and worship Der.
Morning found the ci'y in a state of excite
ment over the arrival of the governor and
his wife 1t was discussed in the salons, in
the cafes, i'll the streets. The French ladies
criticised his lack OK good taste in choosing
Spanish bride, the men avelred that her goh
was the main attraction But on one point
they were all agreed, and that was not to at
tend any of the site receptions of the hated
Spaniards, as such recognition might be con-
strued into an Insult by the dear France they
were 20 anxious to c"'@,liate. 50, though the
Sonora de UllOa threw open her salons three
times a week, it was to empty rooms, only
few officers vC:!t"r;rr to attend. Among
these was the ChevaI.r de St Gervaise, and
he, not from allegiance to the new powers,
bu. animated by the hope OF seeing Runa
a. lin In this he was Disappointed; for
many months, neither there nor ON the streets,
did be catch glimpse Of her who styled her
self toe ''Evc"ing Star"
One e2eni@; he was walking along the
river bank, the only portion of the city i'll
which, owing to the swaInpv nature of the
SOL, i. We lie to enjoy pleasant pro
ne. e. T., heart went back to France, to
MS ancestral Lom., -. the bright hopes Of
kH vAidLOod; and he sighed as he thought
Of the years that had been frittered away,
perhaps useleSSly, in this remote corner Of
the earth. The sun was setting as it sets
nowhere else but in our glorious southland,
bathing earth and sky in q mingled glow Of
crimson and orange and purple He wan
dered on till New Orleans seemed like a
spcck in the distance. Suddenly, by one of
those peculiar physiological sensations that
can never, perhaps, be explained, he became
vaguely conscious Of another presence in that
place, a presence that seemed to thrill him
imprcssbly, and siren like to lure him on.
He turned almost instIuctjvcly and found
himself in the presence of Runa, bJIs she saw
him not. Her eyes were fixed on the reccd-
ing sun; her lips moved as il in prayer. She
still wore robe of spo3less white, and the
chevaIier saw what had before escaped his
notice. that the ornament on her bosom was
golden image Of the SUI.
Was Runa, then an idolatress: He crossed
himself devoUtly, as if to exercise an evil
spirit; but still he fingered, stil he looked
upon her-he was young and she was very
beautiful. AS the last rays of the sinking
sun we're merged i'll the deepening blue the
pale crescent moon arose, and almost at the
same moment bright star glimmeTsd in the
east. She advanced toward it and bowed
thrice TO the earth, Ken, With a sigh, she
turned to 90 and the clevGicr stood bGore
beg. She reared herself Ia jsstically, aEd
proudly asked, Hast tlou ,!ired b fnEow
!ae hcleE And he answered, admiration
aGt r-sy>c; cI:':ol.lr G..s.lded in his features,
'N.', l"au4fltl Ru..a, too came ki.her to
So To sunset, not moving chat t1ou vert
Gcrn
E;42 scc.~p,. satisfied and walked on silently,
Lo foIiowi:.s respectfully. At length he
vcnl3r2.l u s'oa,;. Tell me, fair Evening
Gar. - -, thou "orShip the sun"
"i,..,. C..ris;ian," sllo answered simply