San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-01-14

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found him standing before the fire with his
face once more in his hands, and as he so
stood, he vsibly shuddered.
"Mr Henry, Mr. Henry" said, this will
be the ruin of us all"
What is this that have doner' cries he,
and then, looking upon ME with counte-
nance that shall never forget, "Who is to tell
the old mani" he said.
The word knocked at my heart; but it was
no time for weakness. | went and poured
him out glass of brandy. Drink that,
said |, drink it down" forced him to
swallow it like a child; and, being still
persisted with the cold of the night, | followed
his example.
at has to be told, Mackellar," said he. 1T
must be told" And he fell suddenly in a
seat-my old lords seat by the chimney-side-
and was shaken with dry sobS.
Dismay came upon my soul; it was plain
there was no help in Mr.. Henry. well"
said |, sit there and leave all to me-" And
taking candle in my hand, set forth out OF
the room in the dark house There was no
movement: must suppose that all had gone
unobserved, and was now TO consider how
to smuggle through the rest with the like
secrecy. 1t was TO hour for scruples: and |
"prned my lady's door without SO much as
knock, and passed boldly in.
There is some calamity happened" she
cried, sitting up in bed.
Madame" said |, Il will go forth again
into the passage, and do you get as quickly
as you can into your clothes. There is much
to be done"
She troubled me with no questions, nor did
she keep me waiting Ere had time to pre-.
pare a word of that which | must say to her
she was on the threshold signing me to enter.
Madame" said |, ''if you cannot be very
brave, | must go elsewhere, for if no one helps
me tonight there is an end of the house OF
DurriSdeer"
Il am very courageous said she; and she
looked at me with a sort of smile, very pain
full to see, but very brave too.
sit has come to a duel said |.
"A duel3" she repeated. "A DUEL Henry
and"--
"And the master" said |. Things have
been borne SO long, things of which you know
nothing, which you would not believe if l
should tell. But tonight it went too far, and
when he insulted yOu"-
Stop said she He? Who?"
ooh, madame!" cried |, my bitterness
breaking forth, ''do you ask me such ques
tiont Indeed, then, | may go elsewhere for
helps there is none herem
Il do not know in what | have offended
you" said she. Forgive me; put me out of
this suspense"
But dared not tell her yet; l felt not sure
of her; and at the doubt and under the sense
of impotence it brought with it, | turned on
the poor woman with something near to
anger
Madame" said |, 1--WE are speaking OF
two men; one of them insulted you, and you
ask me which | will help you to the an.
swer With one of these men you have spent
all your hours; has the other reproached youi
To one, you have been always kind; to the
other, as God sees me and judges between US
two, think not always; has his love ever
failed you! Tonight one of these two men
told the other, in my hearing-the hearing of
a hired stranger-that you were in love with
him. Before | say one word, you shall an
swer your own question: Which was It'll
Nay, madame, you shall answer me another:
If it has come to this dreadful end, whose
fault is it,
She stared at me like one dazzled Good
God!' she said once, in kind of bursting ex-
clamatiOn; and then a second time. in a
name OF mercy, Mackelar, what is wrongY"
she cried. 81 am made up; can hear all. "
You are not fit to hear" said l. What
ever it was, you shall say first it was your
fault"
"OhH' she cried, with gesture of wringing
her hands, TINS man will drive me mad!
Can you not put me out of your thoughtsw
Il think not once Of you" cried IL
nf .,tr, Il :,
'Ahl" she cried, with her hand to her heart,
''is Henry deadH'
Lower your voice." said l. The other.r
| saw hsr sway like something stricken by
the wind, and know not whether in cowar
dice or misery, turned aside and looked upon
the floor. These are dreadful tidings," said
at length, when her silence began to put me
in some fear, and you and behove to be
the more bold if the house is to be saved"
Still she answered nothing There is Miss
Katharine besides" ladded; unless we bring
this matter through, her inheritance is like to
be Of shame"
| do not know if it was the thought Of her
child or the naked word shame that gave her
dcliverance, at least had no sooner spoken
than sound passed her lips, the like Of it |
never heard, it was as though she had lain |
oSA 49, NA4NSi - AiLi olAd oOuSuG W IuONe IudL
burden. And the next moment she had |
found a sort of voice
ut was fight" she whispered 1T was |
mott and she paused upon the word
ut was fair fight on my dear masters |
part" said l. AS for the other, I've was |
slain in the veI.y act of foul stroke"
mot nowI" she cried
Madame" said |, hatred of that man
PlOMS In my hnsnm like q burning fro nv