San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-22

riage, and Zuleika was to follow them
AS the farewells were being said, Roland
continued to whisper to his cousin
"YOu remember what asked tonight
about explaining to your"
EYES," said the girl wonderingly-
"What do you mean:"
"May l come and see you, Ilma?"
81 suppose so; but not yet, not-not be-
fore Thursday"
"But you will come here before then?"
"Maybe. Good night. Aunte is wait
ing"
She ran away quickly, and Darrell hand
ed her into the carriage; then he mounted
Hassan, and rode with the ladies as far as
the Grange. He would not go in, but babe
adieu to them on the steps, lifting Ilma's
hand to his lips, as his custom was; but
this evening the soft moustache hardly
touched the little hand, and he turned
away without parting word.
But there was deeper meaning in that
reticence than even in lingering kiss and
passionate words. And when he was gone
lima stood quite still for moment in the
summer night, and pressed her hands over
her eyes with low quick sob that was half
bitter pain and half the very agony of joy.
Did Philip Darrell love her? was the
question that lima asked herself over and
over again that night. Had she been a
few years older, there could have been no
doubt as to the answer-scarcely any need
for the question; but, even when there
seemed none other than one solution to
what had passed that day and evening,
still the torturing thought came that she
was foolish and only child. He might be
fond of her in a fashion, but love herl And
yet Did he fear to bring sorrow on
her? So only could she read what must
otherwise seem like trifling with her; for
his looks, words, and tones that day, his
manner when he parted with her, would
not agree with i mans affection for
child; that would be frank and free, quite
different. He did not then regard her as
"only q child" but sometimes tried to
make her think he did for her sake, not
for his. He would not seek her love; but,
alas, had he not won it?
She knew now in this solitary self-com.
muning-shrink from it as she would,
self-analysis was forced upon her-that
he was right about the flowers; that it was
because he had given them to her that she
valued them; she knew that he was more
to her than all the world besides. And,
oh, If he loved her, why should the curse
on his house blight his life? She did not,
would not, believe in it. There was no
stain on his honor; the ban of Heaven
could not be on such US he; and, if it were,
she would rather die with him than live
without him. But he was going away, and
she was glad, for that might save him.
She could not resist the influence of the
general belief that deadly peril lay for
the last of the barrels in the Coalmere
floods this year. Would he go without
seeing her? She tremb.ed at the thought
ofmeeting him again, and wept passionate
ly at the thought OF not seeing him.
Morning found the girl with no feeling
of WEAKNESS; every pulse was beating
high, and every sense on the alert. She
f0se before the sun was above the horizon,
and, dressing quickly, went down to the
stable and saddled Zuleika, and went for
0 ride. She rode miles before Miss
Durnford had opened her eyes; and, when
lima came in to breakfast, she looked 50
bright and fresh, and seemed so happy,
that 10 one could have guessed how she
had suffered and suffered still.
Rose came over early to the Grange. and
wanted lima to go back with her for
game Of lawn tennis; and lima went,
having no excuse for refusing; but she
took care never to be alone with Roland.
The shadow Of the approaching Thursday
hung over her like pail. She could not
now avoid more than suspecting what
Roland wanted to speak to her about;
and she shrank from that with dread
that grew more and more as the day APP
preached.
Meanwhile nothing was seen of Sir
Philip Darrell. He was still at the Court;
all Scarth Abbott would have speedily
known it if he had left.
"Maybe, Missy" said Job Heston grim
ly to lima, as she was crossing the lock
bridge early on Wednesday morning, and
met the miller, she's setting his house in
order at last; time he did, if he means to
stop till the rains come. They'll be on us
in Il day or two, or my names not Heston."
elbow do you know" asked lima, with
a sinking heart.
"Know? Oh, can tell! His days are
numbered, missy"
81 don't believe it," said lima steadily.
'HDon't you, missy? But then, you see,
you're foreigner"
Show do you know" asked the girl.
.'What is meant by life for life ,? That
implies a life possibly saved"
"Suppose it did, missy, his would be
lost" said JOB grimly; "and both must
be lost"
"Why? A life is given if it is given by
the will actual death is not a necessity"
"Well, of course" returned Heston,
"the curse is doubtful to some extent;
but l fancy Sir Philip himself takes it
rather that he'll lose his life some way.
Don't be the other party, that's all, missy;
you're far to handsome to lose your life"
lima turned away haughtily and walked