San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-25

he moaned as he bent over ner.
81 have killed her!' he said. ''She is the
victim, not of her vanity but of my pride.
have slain herr"
Some hours afterward Lord Carlswood
sat by Ismay's bedside. A grave-faced
doctor was there, and he looked as though
he had no very favorable verdict to give.
1smay lay quite unconscious. No word
that was uttered fell on her ears
'You say" repeated the old lord, "that
she has had some great shock?"
yes" was the grave reply; ''this illness
comes from the mind, not the body; there
has been a strain upon the mind, and that,
followed by shock, has been too much
for not over-strong brain"
Lord Carlswood looked at him.
"She is in danger. you Think"
"She lies in the very shadow of DEATH"
said the doctor; human skill can avail
her but very little"
Days passed, and the shadow of death
did not pass from the house. 1t seemed to
those who watched Ismay so anxiously
that she was conscious at times, but even
then she lay with closed eyes, needless Of
everything and everyone around her.
A fortnight had elapsed, and one even
ing she looked at the nurse who stood by
her bedside.
"Will you tell Lord Carlswood / want
him?" she said; and the old lord fastened
to obey the call.
'Are you quite alone" she asked. 81
want to speak to you"
He kissed the worn face, he held fondly
in his own the thin, white hands.
''My darling, what can do for your" he
asked.
Grandfather" she said, 81 have not
long to live. l have never been what peo-
pie call religious; but am going to die.
1 shall have to face the great Judge.
What shall l answer about my duty as
wife,"
you will get better, Ismay; do not de-
spair."
But some time or other I must die
What am l to say? You tempted me
what shall say?"
do you wish it all undone, Ismay?" he
asked
YES" she whispered, family. 81 would
give my life to undo it; but it is too late
Paul says so. | went to ask him to take
me back; / would willingly have been poor
with him. But he is rich now. He would
not take me back; and it is killing me. ]
ALI dlTdlu W ult-Uy lie HAS Uttu So
empty, my sin so great"
Then she fell back faint and exhausted.
He rose in alarm to call for help; but she
caught his hand.
"Tell me before you go-you tempted
me-you are old and wise-tell me, what
answer shall give in extenuation of my
SIM"
MAY Heaven pardon mel" said the old
man. II do not know"
He could not bear it; he gave one more
look at the closed eyes and the white face
and then hastily quilted the room. Those
words haunted and frightened him-"You
tempted me. What shall l say?"
81 might have adopted the child, and
have left husband and wife together" he
thought. 81 have done wrong. For a
Carlswood to acknowledge that means
that he must frankly own it and atone for
1t. /, who prided myself ON my long de-
scent, on my unblemished honor, on my
stainless name-I must go to this man and
ask his forgiveness"
He went again to Ismay, and from her
learned where Paul was.
His wonder was great at finding in the
new member, the gifted orator, the "man
of the people," Paul Waldron, his grand
child's husband. He dared not wait to
express his surprise. She was in great
danger, and he believed that her husbands
presence would save her. Her life seemed
ebbing fast. Heaven help him if he should
be too late.
Once more Paul was disturbed at his
books-this time it was by the unexpected
announcement of Lord Carlswood." He
II 30,
had resolved upon leaving England after
that interview-he could not look upon
her face again.
He rose from his seat when he heard the
name, and stood ready to receive his visi-
tor. At last they stood face to face, the
injurer and the injured, the proud peer
and the proud commOner. Paul saw
stately figure bent before him, grand old
face quivering with emotion and pale with
dread.
In his courtly, high-bred fashion, Lord
Carlswood held out his hand.
81 have done you grievous wrong, sir,
he said land am here to ask your par
don." Lord Carlswood was gazing into
face as proud as his own.
81 have no pardon to give, Lord Carls-
wood" was the naughty reply. 1T is too
late to ask it,"
you must not refuse me" said the old
nobleman.
years ago. Lord Carlswood, you tempt
ed from me my wife, whom loved as no
man ever loved a woman before; you took
from me my child; you laid my life bare
and desolate; you robbed me of every hope.
For such wrongs have no pardon"
The old man bent his head with a hui
militv rare in him