San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-06-19
THE DATE

| AZ CnrInen spranS ont OK bed tha
morning she exclaimed with cxuberan
gayety:
"Today. today at last ! nm go year
old!"
And she ran to the mirror.
She surely expected to find her fac
entirely changed. The longing impa
tience of the little child, the still stronge
wishes of the grown up girl, the reading
of romantic verses and fantastic storie
everything contributed its share to
wards setting forth in magic brightnes
that so ardently longed for hour in he
life. And without doubt she was now sur
prised not to find radiant glory crown
ing her head, except the blonde braid
which formed halo about her forehead
Then she raised her eyes, and while
she rested her gaze upon picture tha
hung on the wall under wreath o
evcrlastings she could not suppress tn
words:
"How beautiful mamma was! We d.
look very much alike"
Indeed, the countenanco of the youn!
and beautiful woman, inclosed by tn
frame, and that of the charming maidel
resembled each other like two sisters o
the same age. The expression Of tn
face, the childlike, undecided glance
gave the dead almost the appearance o
younger sister, and perpetual smil
seemed to play about her lips.
81 am as beautiful as she," GARNER
continued, without taking her eyes from
the picture; "only it is noticeable that
have a moro decided character. o
course, for have 1 not been the head anC
mistress of our house so long now? Ant
if any one should perhaps not take nj
for such, just lot him ask papa. Blu
there, I chatter, and he is certainly ex
pecting me-"
Carmen hastily completed her toilet
gracefully grasped the train Of her morn
ing dress, and quickly left her room t.
go to that of her father.
Don Juan Crisostomo Lopez had jus
at THIS moment finished shaving. Eli
face resembled that Of priest. gontl'
and good. With little comb that Ii,
always carried with him he had onc'
more combed his gray perukc-that pc
ruke, so inseparable from his personality
with which Don Juan Crisostomo hat
covered his head ever since years ago hi
had passed some time on the island O.
Cuba, where an obstinate fever had shat
tered his health and robbed him Of hi
hair.
Garment exclaimed Don Juan OF
ho,,,,cr +1,a ppica NJ fbn 1npv- and hf
turned with open arms toward hi
daughter. He pressed her tenderly t.
his heart and murmured:
ayes, she is the living picture of hel
mother. Poor Consuclo! From me she
has not one feature! But is there Il bet
ter balsam for my wound? For does moi
her charming being, with all her beauty
and grace, return to me in this child, Sc
blonde and sweet, that she left behind il
the cradle when she stepped down into
the grave3'
Listen, little rogue" said he immeili
ately thercupon. "You must not think
that have forgotten this day. YondeI
on the table lies the present"
Quickly Carmen released herself from
his embrace and ran to the spot men
toned. A pretty little case stood on the
marble slab. Carmen opened it and
showed her delight
"Ah, what precious ring! A ruby
set in diamonds"
at is n memento Of your mother,
said Don Juan, whose eyes filled with
tears. 81 often heard her say that she
intended one day to present 1t to you.
1t must be one of the ornaments of her
girlhood, for / did not give it to her.
Put it on your finger"
Then they went to the dining room
and brealfasted in the happiest mood.
The southern sun, that floods with its
golden rays the coasts of Malaga, where
father and daughter are living, danced
in the bottles and glasses and drew vivid
flashes from the stones of the ring. Car
men did not take her eyes from them,
now taking the ring off, now putting il
on, as she examined it closely.
Suddenly she exclaimed:
"Ahl my God! have broken i'll Do
look, papai But mol 1t can be opened
like medallion; and there Is a date ON
il, too: IS Watt
She cleansed the ring with few drops
of water. and after she had carefully
rubbed it the date shone forth clearly
and plainly.
"June ,, 1850. Does not this date re-
mind you of anything, papay
June 2, iS65s- repeated Don Juan,
and dropped his fork. moi o yes! in
June. 1906. was in Cuba You have
made a mistake, little one Let, let me
SEE"
Carmen gave him the ring. Don Juan
Rad the date, and slight pallOr covered
his face. Thea, Struggling has shoulders
and smiling, he exclaimed:
sNothiu.i nothing, some forgotten
anniversary. perhaps entirely without
zi-uif-a1oe.
Bet I'd c-e k-sT better than he with