San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-01

there was joyous shrek from some upper
apartment of the house. And a child's
steps came flying down the stairs.
PA, Pa! Where are you, Par"
"Here my darling" said Medhurst, from
the doorway; and the child, rushing i'm
petuously towards him, gave an actual
leap into his arms, and Rugged him by the
neck in an ebullition of joy which was al
most wild in its intensity. When the wo-
man who had opened the door returned
with a candle, Medhurst was still nursing
the child in his arms, and she, clipping
him with both hands, was leaning flush
ed face over his shoulder.
"This way, Monsieur" said the woman;
and he followed her upstairs, carrying the
child, who took his hat off with a laugh,
and Rugged him closer afterwards. Up
stairs, he was shown into a sort of room,
where there was a smell Of garlic in the
air. The floor was paved with hexagonal
tiles, not peculiarly clean, and was I'M
carpeted. The scattered furniture was
shabbily pretentious, and the wood fire
very meagre. The girl of one or two-and-
twenty, sallow complexioned, but not I'M
handsome, stood in waiting attitude by
the table, with piece of embroidery in
her hand. She was dressed in decent
black, and had dependent and careworn
aspect. She curtseyed to Medhurst on his
entrance, and then, seeing herself unnO-
ticed, resumed her seat.
Medhurst, dropping down on to a sofa,
took the child upon his knee, and possessed
himself of both her hands.
You didn't expect to see me. Lilla?" he
asked
NO" she said, pouting you haven't
written for a fortnight. Madam has been
nasty again. She was horrid this after
noon, and neither MademOiselle nor
could eat our dinner. All oil and garlicr'
She gave shudder half real and half
mimicry; and Medhurst looked disturbed.
"Never mind, darling" he said. you
sha'n't stay here any longer. We're going
to Monte Carlo together, and there you
shall stay at an hotel"
when shall we go?" cried the child,
springing to the ground, and Selling him
by both lappels of the coat.
"As soon as you can get ready" her
father answered. "There is a train in an
hour and half"
Twill Mademoiselle go, too"
Certainly"
The child turned eXcitedly upon her gov
erness and poured out the news upon her
in voluble French.
Come away!' she cried. Come at
once! Let US pack up. We shall miss the
train
II suppose you have not much luggage
Mademoiselle?" said Medhurst The young
lady shook her head with rather sad and
meaning smile. Run away, Lilla." said
~.
moiselle will follow in a moment. l have
some busincsItr ID vita her. and you can
be getting 20 I'd n WALL"
The child reaching out her arms to him,
he stopped and kissed her, and she raced
enthusiastically troll tn room.
81 owe you years salary" said Med.
hurst Will pay you now, ana you can
give me a receipt tomorrow. / think
owe you something for your patience and
fOrbearance, and if you will accept this
shall be obliged" He offered her bank
note for five hundred francs, and she &C:
cepted it as if she were too much dazzled
by this unexpected good fortune to be yet
quite clear about it. will you go to Nice
Tomorrow" he continued, land buy what.
ever may be requisite for Lila and your.
self? want you both to make good ap-
pearance. If you can tell me when you
will be ready will be back in time for you.
In the meantime, shall be obliged if you
will send the landlady to me-"
The governess withdrew, and the land.
lady shortly afterwards appearing, had
her claim settled and gave a receipt for
it. Then Medhurst betook himself to the
street, and wandered to and fro for time,
within hearing of the murmur of the sea
upon the beach. He was not conscious of
his immediate surroundings; but he saw
quite clearly the sunlit gardens of Monte
Carlo, with himself and the child, both ir.
reproachably attired, strolling there hand
in hand, with the governess, also ire
proachably attired coming on at little
distance in the rear. There was some
thing in this picture altogether delightful
to the fatherly affections but there was
something more than that. The group
looked eminently reputable. The British
father with the pretty daughter and the
sedately respectable young governess in
the neighborhOod looked very little dan.
gerOus, indeed. He was likelier to make
acquaintance so, who might be of use to
him. He caught himself at this mental
exercise, with such a sudden swiftness
that he gave grOan of shame and anger,
and, turning abruptly on his heel he be.
gan to walk rapidly, as if to carry himself
away from the sphere of that reflection.
But he had never used himself to scout his
worse or to encourage his better moods,
and by-and-by he resigned himself
Am to be without the child because l
shall look the more respectable with herr
Was it my intention in coming here to
make decOy of hersn