San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-18
TWENTY YEARS AFTER.
Early Life in Texas.
BY EDITH AIKEN.

the two lying helpless, the head of
the young man on the breast of the
other, until found at night. will
not dwell on the months of suffering
that followed. Colonel Nighthawk
conceived great liking for the young
union soldier, who lived and gained
physically, yet could give no account
to be removed home. So he took
Richard with him, and by the most
devoted care, and advice from the
best physicians, after three years of
patient waiting and doing, he saw
tally and physically.
Is it any wonder the boy learned
to love this great hearted man? He
did, with a love greater than is often
found between father and son, and
in the years that came and went,
was able in a measure to repay the
kindness he had received. The Colo
mel was very wealthy, owned large
estates all under perfect cultivation,
and gave employment to hundreds
of persons, Il large proportion of them
were his slaves when he came in
DOSSeSSlOu vi Ills property.
His first act of authority was to
free every man, woman and child,
even those who protested. To all
the men with families who chose to
remain and work for fair wages he
gave q few acres of land, his cabin
and its furnishing, to those who
wished to try their luck elsewhere he
gave an outfit. This change reduced
his fortune one half but he said he
meant to start in life with clean
hands. I tell these things that you
may have an idea of the man who
organized the famous Nighthawk
band. After his wound healed he
in a measure recovered his health
but was crippled in his legs, and
could only get about on horseback,
and having no son he urged Richard
10 stay and be son to him, since the
latter confessed he had no parents or
prospect except the army of which ne
had conceived thorough disgust.
He had been north but the visit was
not satisfactory. His uncle was dead,
his vast wealth left to his wife during
her life-since then 1t has passed to
Gould-and saddened almost beyond
mortal bearing, he stood and watched
the woman he loved, holding and
caressing the child of his rivaln
Not his! not the child of Martin
Gould! but your own child Richard!
Oh 1 know you!" as Maurice turned
with kindling eyes and some amaze
ment-"You could only deceive me
while 1 thought the grave held you.
1 defy your black hair and beard,
you are my husbandW
She clasped both hands about his
arms and laughing through her tears
snuggled close to him as only such
a woman, abandoned to her love
can, and forgetful of all wrongs,
was only conscious that she was rest
ing on the breast, and meeting the
warm lips of the beloved one SO long
thought dead.
Moments went by and they might
have been content to have rested in
this happy silence indefinitely, but
they were approaching critical point
in their journey and Richard Gilbraith
had yet much to hear and say in the
new light of things.
Eyes you know me, Elinor, as /
knew you from the first when Ivolun-
teered my services to see you safety
to the end of your journey. Tell me
dearest Jour side of our sad story.
What could have induced you to for
sake me in one short month and
marry Gouldw
"Can you not see? can you not under
stand my situation! I heard nothing
from you directly, not word to me,
only from others that you were well
and in good spirits. 1 was nearly
heartbrOken with grief but when 1
became dimly aware that a change
was taking place in my health was
nearly wild with fright and despair.
Sleepless nights spent in tears began
to tell on my appearance, and then
my mother with tenderest love won
my secret. She did not reproach me,
but comforted me as best she could,
promising to see what could be done,
and left me quite hopeful. But you
remember my father, his hard I'M
changing will, and how stern and
cold he could be. Well it appeard
that Mr.. Gould had approached my
father, and gained his consent to
win me if he could even before you
went away-so that when my mother
told him all / had confided to her he
was furious, and for days refused to
see me, / knew he had long con-
ferences with Gould, and have rea-
son to think from what after years
revealed that some financial pressure
was brought to bear. The result of
it all was dreadful to me. A week
after my first talk with my mother,
she came to my room in great agita.
ton, and told me my marriage with
you was false, that you had taken
me to the house ola discreputable