San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-22


pin money, gold, bank notes, silver pieces,
in all about 5000 lirel Then she sought
her husband in his study.
you, Adelinap he cried, startled by her
look. He seemed agitated. and looked old
and haggard.
81, Marquisl'' she said, icily. Last even
ing you said casually to me that you were
ruined; come on purpose to tell you that
4 great calamity has befallen me- My
daughter has typhoid fever, and the doc
tors fear the worst. My husband has
proved himself man destitute of honor,
faithfulness or truth; all Naples is talking
about the charming cause of his ruin.
They point their fingers at me, the deceived
wife, and soil my name with that of the
famous dancer who glories in being sue
cessful rival for the favor of my lawful
husband My trust in your honor, Mar
duis, my esteem for your character as
gentleman have been transformed into con-
tempt and disgust. Tell me yourself, sir,
can anything be worse than this for
wife?"
The marquis stood as if he had under
stood, and in truth only one thing was
clear to him: his daughter lay at deaths
door, "Marie-Merizcap' he murmured,
and tried to leave the room. Wildly ex.
cited, with a gesture like Juno, the mar
chioness barred the way.
"Stop, sir Do not dare to enter the pres
ence of my daughter! You must blush be-
fore her innocent look! I-Icannot permit
that, for you are her father-as | must do
my utmost to save you from open shame
and ridicule-since bear your name"
A short, quick breath, and then she laid
an envelope on his writing desk:
"Neverr' The marquis pushed the en-
velope far from him. 1t fell to the floor and
lay upon the carpet.
1T is done, sirl Could you, perhaps,
have raised the amount today? If the
jeweler were not at once pacitied, then to
morrow should be the laughing stock OF
the world. Besides, it was not hard to part
with the jewels: they were mostly presents
from you"
Enough, enough, madame" said the
marquis, again recovering his self posses
sion. Il must pass all this in silence, be
cause have been wrong and you are right.
But one thing must be said: You are not
quite innocent of my downfall!'
The marchioness opened her eyes wide.
She looked as if she heard something in.
credible
Look back, if you please, over the twelve
years of our married life! What offering
have you brought to our common welfare:
What have you done to make the hearth.
stone attractive to me? Have you ever shown
me spark of feeling? From childhood &C
customed to live in admiration, did you
know any other object in life than to be ad
mired by all the world, and by me most OF
all? And in truth, madam, you are worthy
of admiration. "a bow-an ironical smile.
Nature has lavishly bestowed upon you all
that makes a woman beautiful and at.
tractive; only-no heart! But it is just
that which will hold a mans love for his
wife, just that which every man looks fol
in his wife, and which have not found.
am man with manlike weaknesses, de.
sires and needs. One day | awoke with
the thirst for love-the longing for hand
that might dare caress without touching
a glace glove--the demand for lips that
would answer my kiss"
and you found it, sir. in-that dancerY"
Eyes, madame"
A slight pause. The roses on the cheeks
of the marchioness are visibly paling, but
her manner is unchanged in its proud self
consciousness.
"Sirr' she said, in measured tones, 81
see that | have no right to complain.
From this time you have only one plaintiff
and one iudge-your conscience and your
daughter"
Midnight. In the deep stiffness no sound
except the short, painful breathing of the
sick child.
The lamp behind the Japanese shade
sheds soft light in the spacious room,
while the bed, with its silken covering fall.
ing to the floor, is in shadow.
On the white lace trimmed pillow rests
the dark curly little head, over which in
gnawing anxiety the beautiful face of the
mother is bending. The marchiOness is
watching over her little daughters fever
ish slumber
From time to time she glances at the
watch set with diamonds on the table. The
crisis may come at any moment. A hectic
flush is on the childish cheek; how uncOn-
sciously she lies there, with half closed
eyes, only moving her head uneasily on the
pillow.
The door opens softly The marquis, en-
tirely dressed, enters the room. The beau.
tiful woman at the bedside in long, white
night dress noiselessly leaves her place to
withdraw to the window. She bestOws
upon the newcomer neither word nor look.
The marquis hurries to the bed.
"Marie-angelo mior' he whispers, while
he presses the child's burning hand to his
brow
She opens her eyes and recognizes him.
"BabbinO caro!-You?" she breathes, the
CLEAN of a smile passing over the mouth
drawing it's difficult breath.
Are you staying with me? Mamma is
away-at the ball-Ah! she is the most