San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-24
GRAY FUR.
BY Z. GERARD.

Journey BY a passing Irritation, and had
thrown her over without conjunction at
the first necessity.
Some women might have thought of
applying to justice. and endeavoring to
recover the lost property by bringing an
action against the man who had caused
the loss, but such course did
not even occur to Clara. Her only wish
was never to meet him again, and, if pos
sible, forget him.
AS soon as she had rested sufficiently
she would resume her task of service
seeking. She must find some engagement
before nightfall if she did not wish to beg
her bread in the street. But she was not
yet rested enough by any means, and
must sit here little longer. She felt so
comfortable, so safe in this secluded sane
tuary, with it's incense scented atmos-
phere, and that pale faced saint with
great calm eyes keeping watch over her.
By and by her weary eyes began to close,
and Clara had fallen asleep in the corner
of the church bench.
Clara had slept for more than an hour,
and the short winter day began to close
in around her. Out there in the street it
was still light, but it was very dark with
in the church, and the figures on the wall
could scarcely be distinguished. Still she
slept on, and was dreaming of the dreary
pine forest when a voice struck in upon
her ear.
"Clara, Clarap' it said.
With an effort she raised her heavy lids,
still drunk with sleep; then, vaguely re-
membering where she was, closed them
again This was the church, she recol-
lected, and that was the picture opposite.
"Clarar' repeated the voice, louder this
time.
She opened her eyes again, not yet re-
alizing who was speaking to her. There
stood the saint in front of her, with the
woolly lamb in his arms, but his eyes
looked deeper and fiercer now, and he
seemed to have stepped out Of his niche
and to be coming quite close up to her.
"Clarap it said a third time, and then
she started to her feet with cry of dis
may, fully awakened at last.
No Byzantine saint this, pale and
shadowy, that stood before her, but man
of flesh and blood, with deep imprisoned
eyes, holding gray fur muff in his hand.
"Have you come here to persecute me?"
she cried wildly. "Could you not have
left me here in peace2"
"Clarar' said Hugo, taking hold of her
hand, 81 do not understand you. You
must hear me, you must let me explain"
"Never," she replied shuddering.
tThere is nothing to explain. If you have
any pity go away and never let me see you
again"
II shall co." said Hugo, turning rather
pale and dropping her hand, but not till
I have spoken. l have q right to be
heard"
"What do you want2 Why have you
come in here?' she said family.
First of ALL in order to give you back
your muff," he said, laying it down on
the bench beside her. "Your cap, unfor-
tunately, it is not in my power to restore.
Secondly, to pay my debt"
He drew out large pocketbook filled
with Russian bank notes. "Seven hun
dred roubles, was it not, of which you
were robbed? Here they are"
Clara now looked at him almost as stu
pidly as she had looked at the moment of
the robbery.
81 do not understand" she stammered.
"Then why did you-why?"
'Why did / betray you to the robbersS
Why did l suffer your savings thus ruth
iCcoly W NC oclAcu uPoh! ludU was QulCc
simple. / merely sacrificed small sum
to save large one, and used your money
as a deCoy in order to detract atten-
ton from myself. I had been in
trusted with 100000 roubles from
the head of nay firm for carrying
through an important negotiation.
Had been searched the sum must inevi-
tably have been found upon me and lost,
and my future compromised. l had no
time to apprise you of my intention, the
danger was too great, and word might
have betrayed me. Besides, had fancied
Il hoped-that you understood me well
enough to have trusted me- Is it possible
that you should have judged me wrong,
and that it was from me you tried to hide
yourselfr'
Clara covered her face with both hands.
ooh, what fool have beenl | see it
all now" she stammered. Then, raising
her head: "But how did you find me here
l thought that in here l should be quite
safe from detection"
"You could not hide from me, my dar-
ling. My eyes would have found yon ont