San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-01

SpotSWOOd laughed, aud turned his
horse into the rofl to the left. TO let.
'em know It's all right and we've gone
on to the church" he explained. 1--WE
were afraid something might happen to
prevent your coming, in spite of what
you wrote Phyl. And it wouldn't have
done for her % 80 to the chn-ch and no
wedding after al, you know, Shed
have been mortified, even il you couldn't
help il. Women are different from u.s."
with protective assumption. Their
feelings have got TO be allowed for. Tom
and l put up that JOB. He had = little
bigger on hocscbac,; in the woods there.
and when | whoOpad he was to gallop
back to the house and tell EN-. There's
a short cut that way. If you hadn't
come I'd have howled twice. They'll get
to the church almost as soon as we will"
The lads consideration touched ROYAL.
In his frontier experience the life had
been too free from conv~entionality, and
human Independence had been too read
lily and practically recognized, for him to
wonder over the interest these people al
peared to take in each others concerna
and the trouble they voluntarily put
themselves t. in each others beh. If.
That seemed TO him legitimate and nat
ural. but at the same time it increased
the difficulty Of the position. In tn
love and care for the girl these peo-k
would doubtless demand not only elab.
crate explanation of his plan, but some
sort of credentials for himself before they
would allow so unprecedented a thing as
a marriage by proxy to take place. The
bucolic mind did not asSimilate ideas
readily, nor was it avid of experiment.
And what could they know of the an.
guish, the inSiStence of the poor fellow
dying down there in Matoacca? If only
he had time to make them feel the pathos
of those last words John Royal had ut
tered as they shook hands ere his own
departure: Man, see TO it that you dc
your work we'll! I'm trusting with you
what | value more than life. Don't fail
me! Help me to save her from poverty
from dependence"
They seemed TO ring in his ears, to
beat on his heart, to grasp and hold and
compel him like sentient things.
He looked at his watch. Three-quarters
of an hour to expounl his scheme, COM
bat objections, satisfy curiosity, allay
scrupleS and Set through the marriage
ceremony. 1t could not be done. Nc
thought of abandoning his plan crossed
his mind; he simply readjusted it. He
would marry the young lady first and
make the explanation afterward. So far
he had been accepted as John Royals
self instead Of John Royals representa-
tive--any changes in appearance appar-
emily accounted for by the lapse of six
years in intercourse. He must carry out
the deception until the ceremony should
have been performed, after which, of
course, must come the explanation. The
spirit of adventure was strong in him,
and he was conscious of the thrill an
actor knows when his cast is on the
razor edge between success and failure.
and may be made or marred by an ex-
preston or 2 gesture.
The lad, busy with his horse and in.
tent on speed, vas silent. The road left
the woods and emerged on to a lovely
plateau, gently rolling and studded with
groups of superb trees-oak, hickory,
maple and sweet gum. 1t was sheltered
by hills and carpeted with short grass
which showed green even in December.
Near the center, amid a clump of oaks,
stood aquairt, picturesque stone church,
with pointed windows and ivy covered
walls. 1t was inclosed by a stone fence,
and the space inside was evidently used
for q burying ground. Under the trees,
outside the in~closdre, a spring gushed
and a place where the animals might
drink. Royal noticed several vehicles,
spring wagons mostly, standing about,
and horses, a dozen orso, some tied TO the
racks and some to swinging limbs, ac-
cording as their dispositions were sedate
or nervous.
Spotswood drove round to a side gate,
and a negro came and took the horse.
He looked smiling and important. and
bowed afa5ly to Royal, half extending
his hand, which Royal grasped and cor
daily shook. not knowing him, of course
but assembling.
MANY folks inside, Uncle Jeff the
boy questioned, indicating at the same
moment by a gesture to his companion
the spot where Miss Royal had been
buried.
"Tolr'ble smart, sir; de body's fullin'
up, an dar's a right smart sprinklin' in
de gall'ry. Dan come mo- folks now.
Dey been practisin' de music over, sir,
an hit SCUM mighty pretty an con-
solin'."
This last was addressed to Royal, who
dumbly felt that before he should get
through with the affair he might be in