San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-16

lessly pushed aside the heavy curtains
and looked out.
The moon had set, but by the frosty
starlight the outline of the great snow
laden trees and the wide sweep of white
drive were still dimly visible. All was
silent without as within. Not branch
moved or let fall its freight of snow.
There was not breath of wind stirring
| was on the point of getting back into
bed when thought in the distance /
heard sound. listened intently. No!
| must nave been mistaken. All! again.
and nearer! held my breath. | could
distinctly hear stealthy step coming
up the stairs. My room was the nearest
to the staircase end of the corridor, and
any one coming up the stairs must pass
my door. With a presence of mind
which am glad to say rarely deserts
me l blew out my candle, slipped to the
door and noiselessly opened it chink.
Some one was coming down the CORR
dor with the Gghtness or cat, candle
IN hand, as faint light showed me.
Another moment and saw Charles, pale
and haggard, still in evening dress, COM
ing toward me. He was without his
shoes. He passed my door and went
nOiselessly into his own room, little
further down the passage. There was
the faintest suspicion of sound, as of q
key being gently turned in the lock, and
then all was still again, stiller than ever.
What could Charles have been after,
wondered. He could not have been re.
turning from seeing Denis, who was not
only mush better, but was in the room
beyond his own. And why had he still
got on his evening clothes at o'clock in
the morning! determined to ask him
about it next day as l got back into bed
again, and then, while wondering about
it and trying to get warm, fell fast
asleep. was only reused, after being
twice called, to find that it was broad
daylight, and to hear the boxes being
carried down of many Of the guests who
were leaving by an early train.
was late, but not so late as some
Breakfast was still going on. Evelyn
and Ralph had been up to see their
friends off, but Gen. and Mrs. Marston
and Carr, who were staying on, came in
after did. Lady Mary and Aurelia
We're having breakfast in their own
rooms. think nothing is more dreary
than long breakfast table laid for
large numbers with half dozen pick
niclsing at it among the debris left by
earlier ravages. Evelyn, behind the
great silver urn, looked pale and pre-
occupied and had very little to say for
herself when l journeyed up to her
end Of the table and sat down by her.
She asked me twice if l took sugar, and
was not bright AID alert and ready in
conversation, as think girls should be.
Carr, too, was eating his breakfast III ST.
lence beside Mrs. Marston.
1t was not cheerful And then Charles
came in, lstless and tired, and without
an appetite. He sat down YEARLY on
the other side Of Evelyn and watched
her pour out his coffee without word.
The Carews and Edmonts and Lady
Delmour and her daughter have just
gone" said Evelyn, and Mr.. Denis"
Yes" replied Charles, seeming to pull
himself together; Denis came to my
room before he went. He looked
wreck, poor fellow: but not worse than
some of us. These late hours, these
frisbing5 with energetic young creatures
in the schoOlroom, these midnight revels
are too much for me. | feel perfect
wreck this morning, too"
He certainly looked if
Have you had bad letters?" said
Evelyn, in a low voice.
He laughed a ittle-a grim laugh
and shook his head. But had yester-
day" he added, presently, in low tone.
Il shall have to try change of air again
soon, am afraid"
was just going to ask Charles what
ne had been doing walking about in his
socks the night before, when the door
opened. and Ralph, whose absence had
not noticed. came in. He looked much
perturbed. 1t seemed his father had been
taken suddenly and alarmingly i'll while
dressing.
In a moment all was confusion. Eve
Ign precipitately left the room to go to
him, while Charles rushed round to the
stables to send groom on horseback for
the nearest doctor. Ralph followed him.
and the remainder of the party gathered
in little knot round the fire, Mrs. Mar
ston expressing the sentiment Of each of
us when she said that she thought visit
Ors were very much in the way when
there was illness in the house, and that
she rerr,.cttal tnnt shn and her husband