San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-08

nc COUtUnt cfGu1lge YO1tf DCOOd."
1t was nearly noon when Mr.. Dawson
finished rubbing down his sweating mare
in the little stable shed among the wheat.
He had left Rose at the hotel, for they
found that Mr.. Mallory had previously
started by circuitous route for the wheat
ranch. He had resumed not only his
working clothes but his working express
sion. He was now experimenting the I'M
loading of a vain of stores and implements
when the light carryall of the Randolphs
rolled into the field. 1t contained only
Mrs. Randolph and the driver. A slight
look of intelligence passed between the
latter and the nearest one of Dawson's
companions, succeeded, however, by dull
look of stupid vacancy on the face of all
the others, including Dawson. Mrs. Ran
dolph noticed it and was forewarned. She
| reflected that 10 human beings ever looked
naturally as stupid as that and We're able
20 work. She smiled sarcastically and
then began'with dry distinctness and mar
rowing lips:
Miss Mallory, young lady visiting us,
went out for an early walk this morning
and has not returned. 1t is possible she
may have lost her way among your wheat.
Have you seen anything of herr"
Dawson raised his eyes from his work
and glanced slowly around at his COM
panions as if taking the heavy scene of the
| assembly. One or two shook their heads
mechanically and returned to their sus-
| pended labor. He said coolly:
Nobody here seems to-"
She felt that they were lying. She was
| only "A woman against five men; she was
only petty domestic tyrant. She might
have been a larger one, but she had all the
courage of that possibility.
Maj Randolph and my son are away"
she went on, drawing herself erect. But
| know that the major will pay literally if
these men will search the field, besides
making it all right with your employers
for the loss of time"
Dawson uttered single word in low
| voice to the man nearest him, who appar-
| emily communicated it to the others, for
| the four men stopped unloading and moved
away one after the other, even the driver
| joining in the exodus. Mrs. Randolph
| smiled sarcastically; it was plG,n that these
| people with all their boosted independence
| were quite amenable to pecuniary COnSid
| eratiOns. Nevertheless, as Dawson re-
| manned looking quietly at her, she said:
Then | suppose they've concluded to go
| and see:"
mo, I've sent them away so that they
couldn't hear"
Hear what?'
What I've got to say to you"
She looked at him suddenly. Then she
said with "A disdainful glance around her:
Il see am helpless here, and, thanks to
your triCkery, alone. Have a care, sir.
warn you that you will have to answer to
Maj. Randolph for any insolenCe.
Il reckon you won't tell Maj. Randolph
what | have to say to you" he returned
COOlly.
Her lips were nearly grayish hue, but
she said scornfully: And why not? Do
you know who you are taking to-"
The man came lazily forward to the
carryall, carelessly brushed aside the slack
reins, and resting his elbows on the horses
back laid his chin on his hands as he
looked up in the woman's face.
Yes, | know who I'm talking TO-" he
said coolly But as the major don't,
reckon you won't tell him"
Stand away from that horse" she said,
her whole face taking the grayish color of
her lips, but her black eyes growing smaller
let me pass. What canaille are you to stop
met
Il thought So" returned the man with
out altering his position. You don't
know me You never saw me before.
Well, I'm Jim Dawson, the nephew Of
L'HOmmadieu, your old master!'
She gripped the iron rail of the seat as if
to leap from it, but checked herself suddeI
l. l., H..
mouth that seemed stamped there. IL was
remarkable that with that smile she flung
away her old affectation of superCilious-
ness for an older and ruder audaCity, and
that not only the expression but the type
of her face appeared to have changed.
II don't say" continued the man quiet
ly, that ne didn't marry you before he
died. But you know as well as do that
the laws of his state didn't recognize the
marriage of a master with his OcUOrOon
slave. And you know as well us | do that
even if he had freed you he couldn't change
your blood. Why, if I'd been willing to
stay at Avoyelles to be a Niger driver like
him the plantation of DE FOntageS,"
whose name you have taken, would have
been left to me- If you had staid there you
might have been my property instead of
your owning a square man like Randolph.
You didn't think of that when you came
here, did your he added composedly
"Oh, mon Dieun' she said dropping rap
idly into different accent, with her white
teeth and fixed mirthless smile, so it is a
claim for property, Ell? You're wanting
money-you2 Tres bien. You forget we
are in California, where one does not own
a slave And you have fine story there,
my poor friend. Very pretty, but very
hard to prove, m'sieu. And these peasants