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

a streak OF the tar brush when they see it.
They took your measure when they came
here last year and sized you up fairly. So
had |, for the matter of that, when first
saw you. And we compared notes. But
the major Is square man, for all ne is your
husband, and we reckoned he had a big
enough contract on his hands to take care
of you and L'HOmmadieu's half breeds,
and sO"-he tossed the reins contemptuous-
ly aside-''we kept this to ourselves"
And now you want what, 'ehe"
We want an end to this fOolery," he
broke out roughly, stepping back from the
vehicle and facing her suddenly with his
first angry gesture. 1--WE want an end to
these airs and grimaces and all this dandy
niger business We want au end to this
cake walking through the wheat and
floating of the honest labor of your betters
We want you and your de Fontages' to
climb down! And we want an end to this
ropin' in of white folks to suit your little
game. We want an end to your trying to
mix your niger blood with any one here
and we intend to it. We draw the
line at the major"
Lashed as she had been by those words,
apparently out of all semblance of her for
mer social arrogance, a lower and more
stubborn resistance seemed TO have sprung
up in her as she sat sideways watching him
with her set smile and contracting eyes.
"Ah," she said dryly, 80 size is here. I
thought so. Which of you is it, Ell? It's
a good spec; Mallory's rich man. She's
not particular"
The man had stopped as if listening, his
head turned toward the road Then he
turned carelessly and facing her again
waved his hand with gesture of tired dis
missal and said: Col You'll find your
driver over there by the tool shed. He has
heard nothing yet, but I've given you fair
warning. Go!'
He walked slowly back toward the shed
as the woman, snatching up the reins,
drove violently off in the direction where
the men had disappeared. But she turned
aside, ignoring her waiting driver in her
wild and reckless abandonment of all her
old conventional attitudes, and lashing
her horse forward with the same set smile
on her face, the same odd relaxation of
figure and the same Squaring of her elbows.
Avoiding the main road she pushed into
a narrow track that intersected another
nearer the scene of the accident to Roses
buggy three weeks before. She had nearly
passed it when she was hailed by a strange
voice, and looking up perceived ahOrseman
laundering in the mazes of the wheat TO
one side of the track. Whatever mean
thought Of her past life she was flying
from, whatever mean purpose she was fly
ing to, she pulled up suddenly and as sud
denly resumed her erect, aggressive stiff
ness. The stranger was middle aged man,
in dress and appearance n dweller of cities.
He lifted his hat as he perceived the occu-
pant of the wagon to be lady.
Il beg your pardon, but fear I've lost
my way in trying to make short cut to
the Excelsior COmpany's rancho
You are in it now" said Mrs. Randolph
quickly.
Thank you, but where can l find the
farm house,"
"There is none" she returned with her
old superciliousnCss, unless you choose to
give that name to the shantieS and sheds
where the labOrers and servants live, near
the road"
The stranger looked puzzled. Pm look
ing for Mr. Dawson" he said rehectively,
out may have made some mistake. Do
you know Maj Randolph's house here
abouts?"
q do am Mrs Randolph" she said
stifly.
The strangers brow cleared, and he
smiled pleasantly. Then this is a fortu-
nate meeting" he said, raising his hat
again as he refined in his horse beside the
wagon, for l am Mr. Mallory, and was
looking forward to the pleasure of present
ing myself to you an hour or two later.
The fact is, an old acquaintance, Mr.. Daw-
son, telegraphed me yesterday to meet him
here on urgent business, and felt obliged
to go there first
Mrs RandOlph's eyes sparkled with a
sudden gratified intelligence, but her man
ner seemed rather to increase than abate
its grim precision.
Our meeting this morning, Mr.. NAL
lory, is both fortunate and unfortunate,
for | regret to say that your daughter, who
has not been quite herself since the earth
quake, was missing this morning and has
not yet been fOund-thOugh we have
searched everywhere. Understand me-"
she said, us the stranger started, Il have
no fear for her personal safety am only
concerned for any indiscretion that she
may commit in the presence of these
strangers, whose company she seems to
prefer TO ours"
But don't understand you, madam"
said Mallory sternly. You are speaking
of my daughter and'-
Excuse me, Mr.. Mallory" said Mrs
Randolph. lifting her hand with her dry
est depreciation and her most desiccating
smile, I'm not passing Judgment or crit
icism am of foreign race, and conse-
quently do not understand the freedom of
American young ladies and their famil
iarity with the opposite sex. l make no
CHARGES; ! only wish to assure YOU that she