San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-16
ID snan, !" be sara, stern1y.

station JeSsica remained alone while her
companion smoked cigar on the platform
She took advantage of the gathering twi-
light TO rise, and unperceived, to examine the
label on the hat box reposing in the rack.
She had some difficulty in deciphering it,
and fell back into the seat as the owner of it
stepped once more into the carriage. He fan
cied she looked very pale, and asked her if
she was tired. She did not answer at once,
but as soon as the train was fairly under way
she said, abruptly, "Is your name Montgom-
cry Swift"
1T is" he said, surprised; but glancing at
the hat box, which lay in an altered position,
| he added: Have you guessed that, too, you
fortune teller?"
"And you call yourself captain?" con-
| tinued Jessica, in the same harsh voice.
Il do, till become major"
"ImpossibleI There is not a Capt. Mont
| gomery Swift in the whole British army"
IL beg your pardon. am that humble
| officer"
mo, you are not; there is no such man in
| the army liSt-there was not year ago"
Possibly not at that time, for year ago
| | was Monty Gordon. Last Christmas
| good old man, who was my godfather, died
and left me all his fortune and estates, on
| Iuab L SuOuIu Jdhe anu Dedl Ills
name complied. A Swift was manufac-
tured out of Gordon, and yet remained
captain. Under either appellation equally
at your command. But now l must ask Of
| your dressing bag the same introduction fur
nished by my hat box, and learn by what
name can address my travelling incognita
when meet her again at the Towers" He
| quietly bent over the flap of Jessica's neat
Russia leather bag, but saw only the letters
| u. NJ. s."
"Ah," he said, ''the same initials as mine;"
then, interrogatively, they spellP
''Jessica Montgomery Swift"
A dead silence followed Jessica lay back
against the cushions motionless, with Grim
son flush on her cheeks and forehead. Capt.
Swift felt that some painful mystery was
about to be disclosed and that the woman by
| his side was gathering strength for great
effort. He generously repressed every sign
OF curiosity and establishment, and waited her
| pleasure.
After few moments she turned toward
him and spoke slowly and hesitatingly.
Il throw myself upon your mercy, Capt
Swift; do not deny publicly tomorrow that
you ever were married to Jessica Wynne
Do not pursue those who originated that
libel. Give me time. | assure you that
will do my utmost to undo what have done
She looked very young and fair, with hel
earnest eyes and moist lashes. What have
you done" he said, simply.
Listen to me and forgive me if you can
When first came to London, at IS, founc
it horrid place; only married women were
admired, petted and courted-we girls were
nowhere SO made up my mind to come
back to town-married; and as | had not
husband handy-they are so scarce, you
know invented one. | thought l wa
quite safe | wanted him to be an officer, be
cause England has such a lot of troops il
places people never go to. looked all owe
the army and navy lists to make sure l die
not choose a name belonging to any livinG
man; | chrstened him Montgomery Swift
haphazard put the paragraphs in the pa
pers. He was very likely sort of HUSBAND
to have, you know, and it seems so natura
that he should forever be among the savage
anywhere. Nobody seemed to care about
him at all; but they did for his wife simply
because she was not girl, and it was al
working beautifully. Oh, why did you turf
| up2 Why did you have a Swift for a god
father2 Why did he die!"
| ''Would it have suited you to keep up thi
farce much longer?" said Capt. Swift, grave
ly, but an amused look passed in his eyes,
Only little WHILE" said Jessica, prompt
ly. IL intended becoming a widow very
soon-some of the climates out there are sc
unhealthy-no one would have asked any
questions One accepts anything in Londor
when it is convenient to be credulous; bu
if you are that horrid man please don't ex
| pose me yet"
mot till am dead, eh?"
II can't make him out dead now" she sale
petulantly; but | will go away, hide my
self, never show my face again"
That would be pity; there must be some
other way to achieve widowhood."
| Don't be cruel. 1t is dreadful! and
| know have been very foolish. But really, ;
she added, with a resumption of her OLD
| quaint cuquctry, II can't do moro than ash
| your pardon
Yes you can; you can ask for my advice,
he said, extending his hand, land, on my
honor as a ge;.t. .nIan, will help you to ge
| out of this acrape"
They talked low and earnestly for the re
mainder of the journey At Edinburgh they
shook hands warmly and parted. But nei
Their Jessica nor Capt Swift went to the Tow
ers. Two separate kilograms informed Mrs
Bellune that her expected guests were una
voidably prevented from joining her party
nor did Mrs. Montgomery Swift again glad
den the hearts of her faithful SWANS by hel
| presence at the fashionable resorts of lat,
summer or early autumn.
| Three months later Jessica was walking OF
the seashore only mile distant from pref
ty village near Bagni di Lucca, looking a