San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-21
time to think 10 over alone. {"

than ever, he thought. She had been out
In the garden tying up the roses; the per
fume Of the crimson blossoms seemed to
linger about her; her face was exquisite in
its DAINTY bloom. She smiled graciously
when she saw her visitor.
You have returned to make the SKETCH"
she said; but there was no answering smile
on his face.
81 have returned" he replied because
I want to speak TO you, Mrs. Waldron. /
have something most important to say to
you. Can you spare me little time, now,
ut onceS
Her beautiful face grew pale with APP
prehension.
1T is nothing that need brighten YOU"
he said "Some people would perhaps
call it good news: l shall leave you to
think of it as you will l should like to
see you alone" he continued. and Isnay
led the way to the pretty seat under the
elm-tree
"This is my drawing ROOM" she said,
with bright smile, but l do not know
that have received visitor here before"
She had gathered some roses as they
walked down the path. and while he talked
to her she pulled the fragrant leaves from
the stems Long years afterward. the
perfume of rose wildly recalled the
scene to her-so wildly that she could not
endure the flowers Nor did he ever for
get 1.-THE garden with its fragrant bios
SONS, the tall elm-tree the cool spreading
shade, the bright, lovely face framed in
the bright brown hair, the white hands
playing with the crimson buds--a picture
SO beautiful that Mr.. Ford looked on in
admiration too great for words
He was silent for some little time, his
heart troubled within him at what he had
to say He looked at Mrs. WaldrOn, and
while he owned to himself that he had
never seen any woman one half 50 fair, he
thought how much better and happier she
would be living here in the midst of beau
ty and peace than tossed about on the
waves of the great world.
Ismay wondered what he was thinking
of, why he looked so grave. what anxious
thoughts brought so stern in expression
to his face, and why he was glancing at
her with so strange a minglng of won
der, fear, regret, and admiration Her
face grew crimson under his lingering
gaze.
II have no need to fear him, she thought
to herself, with some little impatience.
He must have something important to
say, or he would never have asked me to
come ont here
What have you to tell me- she asked
at length, with a coquettish smile
And then the grave look returned to his
face, and he sighed deeply
Il do not like my mission he said.
"You must always remember that | I'M
dertook it sorely against my will. but that
fA,. r IL i- fhlt L
be of use to you in the time to come"
His grave voice. his earnest manner, sur
prised her. She raised her lovely face to
him, and on it was the simple wonder of a
startled child.
Only Heaven knows continued the
grave voice, whether what have to say
to You is for your good, or whether evil
will come of it. Listen. Mrs. Waldron,
| and decide as you will"
Slowly, graveiy, deliberately weighing
each word, Mr.. Ford told her the whole
story, emitting no single grain of evid-
| ence, dwelling on her mothers folly as
lightly as possible, yet making it quite
apparent. AS she listened the dainty wild
rose bloom faded from her face, her lips
grew white as the lilies, her eyes dilated
with wonder that was almost fear. Her
whole figure trembled as a leaf sways in
the wind. He finished, and his last words
sounded to her as though they came from
the clouds. A red mist SWAN before her
eyes, and then she recovered herself with
great gasping sigh.
You must be brave" he said you
have worse to hear"
And l." she said, IAN really that great
lords grandchild?'
There is not legal doubt of it," ne re-
piled. Listen yet, Mrs. Waldron. You
are undoubtedly the daughter Of Katrine
Ismay CarlswoOd, who ran away from
home with Thornton Cameron. You are
the grandchild of Lord Carlswood the
master of Bralyn and its rich dependen-
cies. The child playing there may one day
be Lionel, Lord Carlswood: you yourself
may be wealthy heiress. But there is
one condition attaching to all thiS-a con-
dition am ashamed TO lay before you,
and one that cannot advise you to &C
cept. The option rests entirely with your
self"
"A condition." she repeated, her face re-
covering its color, her eyes flashing with
light. You do not know how have al
ways longed to be rich. cannot believe
that my longing is gratifled; there will be
no conditions too difficult for me to ae-
cept."
az am not so sure of that" said the man
of Law. Lord Carlswood is very proud
man-I should say no man living is proud
er: he has the creates reverence for what
he calls the honor of his house; he would,
believe, rather die any death than tarn-
ish it. Think how he values it when he
treated his only daughter as one dead be