San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-23

ZepPs eyes flashed. She sprang for
ward and grasped the young mans hand.
"Count on me-" she said. 81 hate her
as you hate him, aud will hate her when
she scorns you; for she will. Ay"-as
Roland shook off her hand her voice rose
almost to u shriek-'ft's of no use, Roland
Sabine! If she loves Philip Darrell, she
must die; and you know it. You take
her from him. Ha hav'-and she laughed
long and loudly.
Before the echo of her laughter had died
away, Roland was hundreds OF yards from
the spot, speeding lie knew not WHITTIER
Not homewards, for he dare not be seen
there; nor TO the Grange, for he could
not meet lima in her aunt's presence. He
dashed into the woods, and there remained
till long after darkness had fallen, now
walking wildly to and fro, now lying on
the ground in chaos ofthought that made
him feel at times as If his reason were
leaving him. He never doubted that lima
had met Sir Philip Dasrell by appoint
ment; and she had either forgotten her
promise to himself or had deliberately
ignored it. He swOre again that she
should be his, or die with the lover she
had preferred to him.
In Roland Sabine's nature there was
ferocity that no one would suspect who saw
in him frank, perhaps at times sullen-
tempered, NOrth-Country squire. His
love was, after all, a selfish passion; it
was capable of self-sacrifice. What he de-
sired to possess should be his or should be-
long to no one else; rather would he de-
stroy what he valued than allow another
to have it. He had displayed this trait
even as lad. He had shot favorite
pointer that had acquired troublesome
habits rather than allow neighbor with
whom he was on bad terms to have the
animal.
He would rather have seen lima Costello
stretched dead at his feet than happy in
rivals arms. Fearful as the thought was,
he did not put it from him, or even try to
do so. He nursed it with fierce triumph,
and even noted with grim satisfaction,
as he at length walked homewards through
the night, that heavy cloud hung solitary
in the heavens, otherwise clear, which
seemed to brood over the river, and that
the air was close and heavy. In few DAYS
it might be a week, it might be lesS-the
flood would be out!
lima, kneeling at the chamber window,
saw that cloud too, and bowed her sunny
head; and she prayed-ah, how earnestly!
with bitter tears, for her lover. She
had not told her aunt of her interview
with Sir Philip Darrell. The old lady had
received her with the joy of one relieved
from keen anxiety; and she had told lima
that Roland had called twice, and had
gone to search for her. lima had been
very penitent; but she had only said that
she had been for long ramble and did
no m n i,b
was strictly true; and Miss Durnford had
been satisfied with the explanation.
But now the old lady could not sleep,
for she saw the black cloud hanging in the
sultry sky; and she stole softly to Ilma's
chamber and opened the door. The girl
started up from the window and came to
meet her.
"Auntie ~
"My dear child" said Miss Durnford,
sit is past eleven, and you are not even
undressed. What are you doing by the
open Window"
"Watching that cloud, auntie. am
not tired"
Miss Durntord could not see the speak.
er'S face distinctly in the dusk Of the apart
ment; but size drew the slight form to-
wards her, aud said gently
81 cannot sleep Tonight, and came to
see if You We're wakeful too. Ny heart
fails me"--ant her voice faltered-" when
think of sir Philip Darrell--stll at the
Court"
lima gently disengaged herself from her
aunt's embrace, and went back to the
window, not kneeling down this time, bnt
standing with her forehead resting against
the glass. Presently she said softly, with
out looking round to where her aunt still
stood
II do not believe in the curse, auntie"
china dear" returned Miss Durnford,
''yOu must not mind my saying this, that
hope YOU are not speaking so because you
do not wish to believe in misfortune COM
ing to Sir Darrell. mean. hope you
do not think too much OF him. You UNDER
stand me-"
eyes, auntie; l understand"
Miss DurnlOrd paused; but lima said
no more; and the old lady felt disappoint-
ed. Why could not the child be frank
with her? Surely, she thought, in fear
and perpleXity, nothing had passed be-
tween lima and Sir Philip? If there had
been anything, the child ought to tell her.
Miss DurnfOrd did not know how difficult
is such confidence to sensitive nature,
even if willingly offered, and lima was not
willing. The secret belonged to herself
and Sir Philip, for the present at least.
Its revelation could only make her aunt
unhappy, and perhaps angry. Why should
any one know? So the girl stood silent.
china" said Miss Durnford ..you make
me anxious. You are not open with me,
as you should be. do not want to blame
you; Sir Philip is Almost fascinating man,
and it would be nothing strange if YOU
had allowed him to engnge your fancyN